Kevin M. Askew
Partner
Los Angeles
Kevin Askew represents companies, and their officers and directors, in securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, complex business litigation matters, regulatory proceedings, and internal investigations. For nearly two decades, he has litigated matters in federal and state courts around the country, in arbitration, and on appeal.
Kevin has extensive experience defending securities class actions, including on behalf of high-profile clients in the technology and finance sectors. He also regularly represents clients in shareholder derivative suits, including actions alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and failures of oversight.
Kevin has handled a wide range of other complex litigation matters, including contract disputes, civil RICO actions, and cases related to corporate breakups.
Clients also turn to Kevin when they face scrutiny from government regulators. Kevin represents companies, and their officers and directors, when they receive subpoenas in connection with investigations by the SEC and other agencies. And when necessary, Kevin defends his clients in regulatory enforcement actions, including cases brought by the SEC and state Attorneys General.
Kevin devotes significant time to pro bono matters. Public Counsel’s Immigrants’ Rights Project awarded Kevin its annual Pro Bono Award in recognition of his representation of an asylum seeker in a long-running Immigration Court matter.
Kevin has authored articles on securities-related topics in numerous publications, including the Daily Journal, the National Law Journal, and Bloomberg BNA.
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Kevin’s notable engagements include:
- In re Apple Securities Litigation. Representing Apple and certain executives in a securities class action and related derivative actions arising out of the company’s issuance of revised earnings guidance.
- In re Silicon Valley Bank. Representing the former CEO of Silicon Valley Bank in matters arising from the takeover of the bank by regulators.
- In re McKesson Shareholder Derivative Litigation. Represented certain directors of McKesson in a derivative suit relating to regulatory compliance issues.
- In re Fisker Securities Litigation. Representing electric vehicle company, and certain of its officers and directors, in a securities class action and related derivative actions.
- Representing certain founders and directors of Zocdoc, a leading digital healthcare marketplace, in a suit filed in New York state court by the company’s former CEO.
- Represented a California municipal official in connection with an SEC enforcement action in federal court arising from a bond issuance. After years of hard-fought litigation, the SEC agreed to voluntarily dismiss its claim against the official shortly before trial was scheduled to begin.
- Defended co-founder of high-profile technology company in various litigation matters across the country, including claims for personal injury and economic damages in multidistrict litigation proceedings in the Northern District of California, and actions brought by numerous state Attorneys General.
