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Experience:
Andrew Morris litigates complex commercial matters, particularly disputes involving financial reporting, securities, and corporate governance. Recent engagements include defending entities and individuals in major securities class actions, defending national accounting firms against fraud and malpractice claims, representing clients in matters brought by financial regulatory agencies, and handling disputes involving topics such as corporate governance, contracts, and pension valuation. His clients have included major public corporations and their officers and directors, major accounting firms, and other entities and individuals. He also writes regularly on securities, accountant liability, and other litigation topics.
Andy has experience in class actions, multi-district litigation, and parallel proceedings. He has tried cases before courts in various states and before administrative tribunals, has conducted arbitrations, and has argued federal and state appeals. He has written many briefs and papers for trial and appellate courts. Andy has represented witnesses in internal investigations, before administrative agencies, and in grand jury proceedings. He has also represented pro bono clients at every level of court and in administrative forums.
Before joining Mayer Brown in 1994, Andy served with the US Department of Justice, Office of Professional Responsibility (1994), and was Associate Independent Counsel under the Ethics in Government Act (H.U.D. Cases) from 1990 to 1992. His prior experience also includes practicing from 1986 to 1990 with a major national law firm in Washington, DC, and serving as Law Clerk to the Honorable Max Rosenn, US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1985-1986). In addition, Andy is a Certified Public Accountant.
Notable Engagements:
Defended a national accounting firm in litigation arising from the failure of its audit client, which was a bank that purchased sub-prime loans and sold them into securitizations. Litigation included:
Malpractice claims brought by receiver: Defended the client, through a bench trial.
Securities class action: Prevailed in Fourth Circuit decision that reversed class certification and established principles relating to requirements for fraud-on-the-market cases.
Enforcement action brought by federal regulator: Defended client, through full evidentiary hearing.
Claims by client against third party: Represented client in pursuing claims against third party.
Defended the former chairman of a major public company in a securities class action arising from an accounting reserve charge.
Defended a corporation and its officers, through jury trial, against minority shareholder challenges to a merger and related transactions.
Defended a national accounting firm against malpractice claims brought by a former audit client, and against securities and other claims brought by shareholders.
Defended a national brokerage firm, through judgment, against fraud and other claims brought by former branch office (FINRA arbitration).
Defended a major public company, its directors and senior officers in a securities class action arising from various accounting charges.
Defended a major accounting firm in arbitrations of malpractice claims.
Defended a software company and its officers against securities fraud and corporate governance claims.
Represented a major public company in a dispute involving valuation of pension liability.
Education:
University of Oxford, BCL (Master�s Degree), with honors, 1993, University of Virginia School of Law, JD, 1985; Order of the Coif, University of Virginia, BS with distinction (highest honors), 1980. | 