Samantha Kavanaugh

Securities Class Action Defense

• Defended federal and state securities class actions against officers and directors of a medical supply company.
• Defended federal securities class action against global technology distributor.
• Defended federal securities class action against a VOIP telecommunications company.
• Defended federal and state securities class actions against an officer of a bankrupt entertainment company.
• Defended federal securities class action against a pharmaceutical company related to the status of new product development.
• Defended federal securities class action against a company in the education industry.
• Defended federal securities class action against a company providing software and services to the healthcare industry.
• Defended multi-district federal securities class actions against the former CEO of a bankrupt software company.
• Defended federal securities class action against the former controller of a bankrupt time-share company.
• Defended federal securities class action against an investment bank.
• Defended federal securities class action against a software development company and certain of its officers and directors.
• Defended federal securities class action against an aviation services company and certain of its officers and directors.

Other Shareholder Derivative Litigation Defense

• Represented directors of a publicly-traded pharmaceutical company in defense of derivative claims asserted in more than one jurisdiction.
• Represented an executive of a private equity fund in defending derivative claims brought in federal court by a lender alleging fraudulent accounts receivable.
• Represented an executive of a private equity fund at multi-week jury trial in defense of derivative claims brought by a fund investor related to M&A transactions.
• Represented a public company in the education industry in defending derivative claims arising from parallel criminal and SEC investigations.

Other Accounting and Financial Fraud Litigation

• Represented a private equity fund in multiple lawsuits in New York federal and state courts alleging fraudulent accounts receivable.
• Represented officers of a company in connection with an alleged misrepresentation and omission action brought by former and current shareholders of the company regarding on-site vehicle fluid analyzers.

Internal Investigations

• Represented a NYSE-traded telecommunications company in the investigation of alleged dishonest conduct by senior financial personnel.
• Represented a private company in the investigation of alleged dishonest conduct by a senior vice president.
• Represented the audit committee of a NASDAQ-traded telecommunications company in the investigation of alleged stock-option backdating.
• Represented a NASDAQ-traded brokerage company in the investigation of alleged stock-option backdating on behalf of the audit committee.

Other Litigation

• Represented buyer of historic cooperative building in various actions asserting claims by unit owners.
• Represented builders and contractors against multimillion dollar claims of defective Chinese drywall in federal multi-district and state court litigation.
• Represented a watch manufacturer in an action seeking damages for purported breach of contract, misappropriation of trade secrets, and fraud.
• Represented a company, its subsidiary, and an individual defendant in an action seeking damages for breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, and unfair competition.
• Represented a healthcare receivables financing company in an action asserting breach of contract and fraudulent inducement claims.
• Represented an alarm services company in a federal lawsuit involving a dispute over an asset purchase agreement.
• Represented the developer of a senior living facility in a specific performance action to obtain a $10 million parcel of land.
• Represented a developer with respect to claims involving an alleged contract to purchase luxury condominium units located on Fisher Island.

Over three decades of practice, Samantha Kavanaugh has established herself as a premier securities litigator.  She is recognized for her defense of corporate entities and individuals in high-stakes disputes.  Samantha has earned a reputation for incisive legal writing, strategic thinking, and a strong commitment to her clients' interests.

Samantha's practice concentrates on the defense of securities class actions alleging securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duties.  She has defended numerous class actions collectively seeking damages in the billions of dollars, often managing parallel derivative claims and internal investigations arising from the same events.  She also litigates complex commercial disputes involving private equity, business torts, health care disputes, and contract claims.  

Her clients rely on her for the clarity of thought and practical advice she brings to every stage of a case.  Samantha is known for her written advocacy, a skill that has proved decisive in securing dismissals and appellate victories in hotly contested cases.  Her approach combines strategic analysis with a focus on the commercial objectives that matter most to her clients.

Samantha has been recognized by Chambers USA as a Band 1 practitioner in Litigation: Securities in Florida, with the Chambers editorial noting that she is "an experienced litigator" who represents corporations in securities class actions and contract disputes.  She is also recognized by The Legal 500 in the United States as a key lawyer in Securities Litigation: Defense.