Jonathan Shapiro is a partner in the firm's Securities Department, and a member of the Securities Litigation and Enforcement Practice Group. He joined the firm in 1996.
Practice
Mr. Shapiro's practice focuses on the defense of securities litigation and government enforcement actions. He represents public and financial services companies, officers and directors, investment bankers and other market participants in class action litigation, challenges to corporate transactions and governance, and other matters involving allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Mr. Shapiro defends and conducts internal investigations for those subject to enforcement action by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Department of Justice, FINRA and other government agencies and self-regulatory organizations.
Recent Highlights
- Defended technology, life sciences and financial services companies against more than three dozen shareholder class and derivative actions alleging federal securities fraud, improper accounting, director and officer malfeasance and insider trading
- Represented issuers and registrants in many parallel SEC, FINRA and United States Attorney investigations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire and Washington DC
- Conducted independent investigations for boards of directors of NYSE, AMEX and NASDAQ issuers
- Defended leading mutual fund companies against market timing, directed brokerage, ERISA and excessive fee claims, including in consolidated multi-district litigation involving 200-plus class actions
- Obtained dismissal of constitutional challenge to mutual insurer's corporate reorganization, which was affirmed by the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- Represented investment advisers, insurers, and broker dealers in class actions and regulatory proceedings involving the marketing, distribution and performance of mutual funds, annuities, and traditional and variable insurance
- Defended securities class actions alleging biased research and market manipulation by investment bankers
- Defended non-disclosure, fiduciary duty and mismanagement claims brought directly and derivatively by minority investors in failed close corporations, partnership and limited liability companies
- Defended officers and directors of publicity traded bank in control contest and against disclosure claims based on filings with federal banking regulators and the SEC
Professional Activities
- Contributing Editor, Federal Securities Law, CEB California Business Law Reporter
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Boston Bar Association
- Member, Editorial Advisory Board, Securities Law360
- Co-Chair of the White Collar and Corporate Investigations Subcommittee for the Securities Litigation Section of the American Bar Association (ABA)
Honors and Awards
- Recognized for exceptional securities litigation practice in the 2010 and 2011 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers in Business
- Selected as one of the Boston Business Journal's "40 under 40" for 2005. Chosen for his superior securities practice, pro bono work and involvement in the community.
- Named a "Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star" in securities litigation in the 2005, 2006 and 2007 editions of Boston Magazine. Also named a "New England Super Lawyer" (formerly "Massachusetts Super Lawyer") in 2007 and 2008.
Publications
- Shapiro, Jonathan A. "Recent Trends In Shareholder Derivative Litigation." Legal360 (January 19, 2010).
- Shapiro, Jonathan A. "Court Ruling Preserves Emerging Technology Collaboration." Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal (March 7, 2008).
- Shapiro, Jonathan A. "Corporate Governance and Board Risk Assessment Post-Sarbanes-Oxley." Corporate Board Member (Fall 2004).
- Shapiro, Jonathan A., and Stephen A. Jonas. "Parallel Prosecutions and Their Collateral Consequences." Chief Legal Executive (Winter 2004).
- Shapiro, Jonathan A. "Securities Fraud Class Action Dismissal Rate Drops in the Wake of Sarbanes-Oxley." Hale and Dorr LLP E-Alert (February 2004).
- Shapiro, Jonathan A. "Parallel Criminal and SEC Prosecution Present New Risks for Public Companies and Complicated Questions for Their Officers and Directors." Hale and Door LLP E-Alert (June 2003).
- Shapiro, Jonathan A. "Recent Developments Under the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act." Paper, Boston Bar Association, November 2003.
Speaking Engagements
- ACI’s National Forum on the Regulation and Enforcement of Broker-Dealers & Investment Advisers — "SRO Roundup: FINRA Enforcement Activity and Initiatives Impacting Broker-Dealers
and Investment Advisers" — New York, NY — March 31 - April 1, 2011
- Executive Enterprise Institute: 30th Annual FASB/SEC Accounting Institute — "Latest Issues in SEC's Revenue Recognition and Financial Reporting Enforcement" — Las Vegas, Nevada — November 17-18, 2009
- Executive Enterprise Institute: 29th Annual FASB/SEC Accounting Institute — Las Vegas, Nevada — November 19-20, 2008
- International D&O Liability: Foreign Exposure, Indemnification & Insurance — Palo Alto, CA — May 29, 2008
- Damages in Securities Litigation — Boston, Massachusetts — May 5, 2008
- Advanced SEC Reporting & Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance — Las Vegas, Nevada — June 21-22, 2007
- 2007 Revenue Recognition Update and Fair Value Measurements Workshop — Las Vegas, Nevada — May 16-17, 2007
- Biotechnology Industry Organization Annual World Conference — "Legal Issues for Life Sciences Companies: Shareholder Litigation and SEC Enforcement Threats" — Boston, MA — April 5, 2006
- 29th Annual SEC Reporting Institute-"Accounting Fraud Enforcement Trends" — Boston, MA — September 20, 2005
- Investment Management: Challenges in a Turbulent Time — "Private Excessive Fee Litigation under the Investment Company Act" — Boston, MA — May 24, 2005
- Advanced SEC Reporting and Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance — "New Issues in SEC Revenue Recognition Issues" — April 29, 2005 (Las Vegas, Nevada) and June 24, 2005 (New York, New York)
- Boston Securities Analyst Society — "CFA Institute Code and Standards in Litigation" —Boston, MA — June 2004
- Staying Out of Trouble — "Solutions to Litigation Threats Facing Life Science Companies" — Boston, MA — June 2004
- Advanced SEC Reporting and Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance — "Revenue Recognition Enforcement Trends" — Boston, MA — May 2004
- Conference Board Council of Senior International Counsel — "Crisis Considerations for General Counsel" — Boston, MA — April 2004
- Bio-Pharma: Mastering the Business of Science Conference, Babson College Graduate School of Management — "Securities Litigation Risks to Life Science Issues" — Wellesley, MA — April 2004
- "Blowing the Whistle on Risk: A Legal Perspective on Sarbanes-Oxley 304 Shareholder.com webcast — April 2004
- Massachusetts Class Action Practice — "Recent Litigation under the Securities Litigation Under Securities Act (SLUSA)" — Boston, MA — November 2003
- Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) — "Legal Perspective on Safe Harbor for Forward Looking Statements under the PSLRA" — Boston, MA — October 2003
