Mary Manesis joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan in 1992 and is Special Counsel. Prior to joining Stroock, Ms. Manesis was an associate with Mayer Brown & Platt from 1990-1991. Ms. Manesis has extensive experience litigating actions brought for violations of the federal and state securities laws and for fraud and misrepresentation. Ms. Manesis has represented numerous directors and officers, issuers, investment banking firms and accountants in federal and state courts across the country including California, New York, Washington and Texas.

Ms. Manesis has obtained summary judgment on behalf of several clients in securities actions including an investment banking firm and its analyst and a pharmaceutical company and its directors and officers. Ms. Manesis also has negotiated favorable settlements in a number of other securities actions. Ms. Manesis has pre-trial and trial experience and was one of several attorneys who represented a major accounting firm in a several-month trial for fraud in state court.

Ms. Manesis also has handled coverage disputes in her securities actions and represented directors’ and officers’ insurers as defense and monitoring counsel. Ms. Manesis also has significant experience representing major banks and credit card companies in commercial disputes and in consumer class actions brought under privacy and unfair competition laws.

Representative Cases

In Re Metropolitan Securities Litigation, ED WA, representing an underwriter in a Section 11 action involving the collapse of a mortgage company

In Re Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Securities Litigation, SD NY, represented a pharmaceutical company and its officers and directors in a Section 11 and 12 action arising out of a merger and drug trial suspension, negotiated a settlement on the eve of trial

Dartley v. ErgoBilt, Inc., et al., ND TX, represented an underwriter in a Section 11 action, negotiated a nominal settlement for the client

Parnes v. Harris, et al., ND CA, represented an underwriter and its analyst in a lengthy Section 10(b) and 11 action, obtained summary judgment

First Pension Cases, Orange County Superior Court, represented a major accounting firm in a several-month trial for fraud and misrepresentation

In Re Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp. Securities Litigation, SD CA, represented a pharmaceutical company and its officers and directors in a Section 10(b) action arising out of a drug trial suspension, obtained summary judgment

Activities

Author: Application of the Bespeaks Caution Doctrine to Federal Securities Fraud Claims, 1995, Practising Law Institute (PLI); Standing Under Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the Securities Act in the Post-Gustafson Era, 1999, PLI

Admitted to Practice

California, Illinois; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth and Tenth Circuits

Education

J.D., University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, 1990

B.A., University of California - San Diego, 1984