B Warren Pope (Warren)

Warren Pope is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation Practice Group.  Mr. Pope’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, including securities, shareholder, and professional liability litigation.

Mr. Pope has represented clients in class actions and shareholder derivative litigation involving the federal and state securities laws, directors’ and officers’ fiduciary duties, and other matters of corporate governance.  He has also represented corporations and directors and officers in internal and government investigations and related litigation.  Mr. Pope has extensive experience in litigation unrelated to shareholder matters, including professional liability.

Mr. Pope is recognized by The Legal 500 as a recommended securities litigator.  The Legal 500 describes Mr. Pope as “responsive and easy to talk to” and commends him for his “knowledge in the area and good judgment.”  He has been named a Georgia Super Lawyer each of the last three years.

Representative Matters Include

• Defended Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings in various 10b-5 securities class actions, obtaining dismissal of all claims.
  
  
• Represented Eclipsys Corporation and its directors in shareholder class actions challenging the $1.3 billion merger of Eclipsys and Allscripts; obtained a full dismissal with prejudice.
  
  
• Defended Caremark Rx, Inc. and its directors and officers in class action and shareholder derivative litigation involving the Company’s $26 billion merger with CVS Corporation.
  
  
• Defended American Tower and its directors and officers in various 10b-5 securities class actions and shareholder derivative suits related to stock options accounting.
  
  
• Defending America Service Group in 10b-5 securities class actions and derivative actions arising out of a financial restatement.
  
  
• Defended America Service Group in M&A litigation; obtained dismissal of all claims.
  
  
• Represented Cellu Tissue Holdings and its directors in connection with shareholder litigation challenging the merger of Cellu Tissue and Clearwater Paper Corporation.
  
  
• Representing BlueKnight Energy Partners and its officers in securities class action and separate breach of fiduciary duty action.
  
  
• Defended Georgia-Pacific Corporation against shareholder litigation challenging its merger with Koch Industries.
  
  
• Defended Post Properties, Inc. in connection with various shareholder litigation arising out of a contest for corporate control.
  
  
• Defended major investment banks in securities class action litigation arising from a secondary offering.
  
  
• Defended Humana, Inc. and certain subsidiaries in a consumer class action relating to the pricing of certain small group policies.
  
  
• Advised board committee regarding internal investigation.
  
  
• Defense of public company in SEC investigation.
  
  
• Defended private equity portfolio companies in RICO action.
  
  
• Representing Aon Corporation in various litigation alleging breaches of professional duty by insurance brokers.

Recognition and Other Notables

• The Legal 500 recommended securities litigator
  
  
• 2010, 2011, 2012 Georgia Super Lawyer
  
  
• Emory School of Law, Kessler-Edison Program for Trial Techniques Instructor

Recent Speaking Engagements

• “Negotiated Corporate Acquisitions:  Litigation Related To Public Company M&A Transactions”; ICLE Seminar, February 22, 2012; March 2, 2011
  
  
• “The SEC Ramps Up Enforcement,” February 18, 2010 e-Learn Program