Daniel Halston is a partner in the Securities and Litigation/Controversy Departments, and a member of the Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice Group and the Business Trial Group. Mr. Halston is also a member of the Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Working Group, and is a former chair of the Hiring Committee.
Practice
Mr. Halston focuses on securities litigation, general commercial litigation and administrative law disputes. He has represented numerous public and private high technology, life sciences, and financial services companies and their officers and directors in a wide range of complex litigation matters, including securities fraud class actions, derivative litigation, mergers and acquisitions disputes, investment advisor claims, closely-held corporation disputes, proxy contests, non-competition claims, trade secret claims, software license and development disputes, and a wide variety of public law matters. He also regularly represents clients in internal investigations and before the SEC, NASD and state regulatory agencies.
From 1991 to 1994, Mr. Halston served as an assistant attorney general in both the Administrative Law and Trial Divisions of the Government Bureau of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office. He represented the commonwealth before all courts of the commonwealth in various disputes with regulated industries and professionals.
Recent Highlights
- Successfully defended a major pharmaceutical company against a challenge to enjoin a substantial M&A transaction
- Representation of Sonus Networks, Inc. before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in obtaining dismissal of derivative litigation arising out of Company’s Restatement
- Representation of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority in corporate governance dispute with its now former Chairman, and appointed as a Special Assistant Attorney General representing the Governor of Massachusetts in a successful effort to remove the Chairman from office
- Representation of Biogen Idec before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in successful challenge to State Treasurer's enforcement of the abandoned property statute
- Representation of Eclipsys Corp. in dismissal of securities fraud class action
- Representation of Triton Network Systems in dismissal of securities fraud class action
- Representation of SinglePoint Financial Corp. in successful defense of appeal to Delaware Supreme Court concerning advancement of attorney's fees
- Representation of many high technology life sciences and financial services companies in challenges to enjoin M&A transactions
- Representation of several high technology clients in parallel securities fraud class actions, derivative litigation, FINRA and SEC enforcement proceedings, and internal investigations
Professional Activities
- Director and Former Officer, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
- Director and Secretary, Traveler's Aid Family Services
- Member, Supreme Judicial Court Historical Society
- Member, American Bar Association, Boston Bar Association and Massachusetts Bar Association
- Former Lecturer, Boston University School of Law
Honors and Awards
- Recognized as a Massachusetts leader in the litigation: general commercial field in the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
- Named a "New England Super Lawyer" (formerly "Massachusetts Super Lawyer") in securities litigation in the 2004-2011 issues of Boston Magazine
Publications
- Delaware Corporate Law: Notable Developments in 2010
- "The Meaning of the Massachusetts 'Open Courts' Clause and its Relevance to the Current Court Crisis," 88 Mass. L. Rev. 122 (2004).
Speaking Engagements
- Boston Bar Association: "M&A Litigation: The Latest On An Evolving Area of the Law" – May 11, 2011
- MCLE Panelist: "Federal Court Judicial Forum 2011, Civil and Criminal Practice and Procedure" – April 13, 2011
- Boston Bar Association Securities Litigation Committee panel: "Securities Litigation ‘Three Peat?’ A Discussion of Tellabls, Dura and Stoneridge" – November 15, 2007
- William Gallagher Associates Executive Briefing: "When the Target is You … Will You Know How to Protect Yourself/Your Company?" – May 8, 2007
Community Involvement
- Former Officer, Vassar Club of Boston
