Robert E. Gooding, Jr., represents clients facing complex business litigation in US state and federal courts and in arbitration. Bob’s experience ranges from defending public companies and officers and directors against securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation, to representing clients in regulatory and enforcement proceedings before the SEC and other regulatory bodies. Special board and audit committees also rely on Bob to conduct internal investigations. In addition, Bob represents regional, national, and international law firms in professional liability matters.
Bob has experience in complex commercial class actions and all phases of trial and appellate practice in US state and federal courts and in arbitration proceedings in California and throughout the United States.
He represents public companies and their officers and directors, as well as law firms and accounting firms, in high-profile Rule 10b-5 shareholder class actions, derivative litigation, and related regulatory and enforcement proceedings. He has defended technology companies and their boards in putative shareholder class actions and derivative cases challenging M&A transactions, and banks and financial services firms in consumer class actions and related litigation. Most recently, he has successfully represented Sempra Energy and Southern California Gas Company in securities class action litigation and related shareholder derivative cases growing out of the Aliso Canyon gas leak near the Porter Ranch community in Los Angeles. Plumley v. Sempra Energy, et al., 2017 WL 2712297 (S.D. Cal., June 20, 2017); Fischman v. Reed, et al., 2017 WL 1166349 (S.D. Cal., March 29, 2017).
His practice also encompasses conducting internal investigations involving stock option backdating, revenue recognition, and related issues.
Bob also has experience defending regional, national, and international law and accounting firms in professional liability litigation, including securities and malpractice litigation.
Consistently recognized as a Southern California Super Lawyer by Law & Politics magazine, Bob has held leadership positions in the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association, including co-chair of the Securities Litigation, Amicus Curiae Briefs, and Pretrial Practice and Discovery committees.
From 1970 to 1971, Bob served as law clerk to Justice Harry A. Blackmun of the US Supreme Court.Member, Law Firm of the Year, Securities Regulation, US News/Best Lawyers – Best Law Firms (2019)
Recognized, Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions, Costa Mesa, The Best Lawyers in America (2019, 2020)
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