Book Provides Valuable Advice for Counsel and Corporate Boards on Shareholder Derivative Disputes

April 7, 2014 (Washington, D.C.) – Global law firm Proskauer is pleased to announce the publication of the latest edition of Ralph Ferrara's "Shareholder Derivative Litigation: Besieging the Board" book by Law Journal Seminars-Press. Written for the full array of corporate counsel who can be drawn into shareholder derivative proceedings, this second edition provides a comprehensive review of an exceedingly complex subject and offers step-by-step review and practical analysis of the challenges involved.

Given the rapidly evolving business landscape, the viewpoint Mr. Ferrara provides is both timely and more comprehensive than current resources available to the corporate officer, manager or general practitioner who becomes the subject of a shareholder demand or is in the position of advising those who are. This edition discusses updates to the legal framework governing the areas of shareholder derivative litigation, including the history of the derivative form of action and the role of the business judgment rule in shareholder disputes. It also provides highlights on how the derivative litigation landscape has dramatically changed since the book was first published in 1995.

Mr. Ferrara is well versed on the topic and has extensive practical experience litigating and writing on such matters.  His practice includes a wide range of litigation, business, regulatory and corporate governance matters. He represents corporations and individuals in complex securities class and shareholder derivative actions as well as contested mergers and acquisitions; advises corporate clients on Securities and Exchange Commission reporting and disclosure requirements; represents corporations and individuals in government investigations and enforcement proceedings; conducts corporate internal investigations; handles consumer financial services issues; and counsels corporate officers and boards on all of these matters.

Among other recognition, in 2014 Mr. Ferrara was named one of the country's leading lawyers in nine categories by the Best Lawyers, a status shared by only 100 of the 50,000 lawyers globally recognized by Best Lawyers: "Bet-the-Company" Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Litigation - Mergers & Acquisitions, Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy), Litigation – Securities, Securities / Capital Markets Law, and Securities Regulation.  Chambers USA ranks Mr. Ferrara in the first tier nationwide for securities regulation, saying that he is "considered to be very creative and great for the complex class actions" and also ranks him for his work in securities litigation. The US Legal 500 says that he is "clever and energetic ... a quick thinker, very creative and top notch within this area and should be at the top of anyone's list for securities litigation."