Caz Hashemi
Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Caz Hashemi is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and chair of the firm’s litigation department. Clients turn to Caz for his proactive approach and strategic direction in leading complex, high-stakes investigations and litigation matters. He is regarded as a leading attorney advising clients involved in SEC, government, and internal investigations, having represented companies, boards, and special committees in more than 100 such matters during his career. Senior executives, directors, and other individuals also frequently engage Caz as personal counsel. He also regularly represents clients in securities class actions, shareholder derivative lawsuits, and stockholder litigation demands.
Caz has substantial expertise advising clients on the most complex and sensitive issues, including whistleblower allegations; financial restatements; accounting and disclosure items; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters; and insider trading. Audit committees and special committees often call upon Caz to conduct internal investigations involving these issues. He represents clients across a broad range of industries including technology, health care, consumer products, energy, financial services, life sciences, and telecommunications.
Prior to joining the firm, Caz served as an enforcement attorney with the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, where he investigated potential violations of the federal securities laws.
Highlights:
Served as lead independent counsel for the Special Review Committee of McKesson, a global health care company, in response to a shareholder demand relating to a $150 million settlement with the Drug Enforcement Administration concerning opioids
Represents the former CFO of Walgreens in a securities class action lawsuit and represented the CFO in a related SEC investigation
Represents Symantec in a securities class action
On numerous occasions in his SEC practice, the SEC declined to pursue charges of securities laws violations against Caz’s clients after they received Wells notices (indicating the SEC’s intent to pursue charges), including for a public company, an Audit Committee Chair, a CEO, and three CFOs
- One of the cases involved Netflix in a publicly reported SEC investigation of first impression related to the application of Regulation FD and the use of social media
Represented Polycom in its resolution with the DOJ and SEC regarding FCPA violations
Argued and won a securities class action before the Ninth Circuit in a lawsuit filed against Align Technology and its executives (City of Dearborn Heights v. Align Technology, Inc., et al.) where the Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal and applied for the first time the U.S. Supreme Court’s Omnicare standard for pleading falsity of opinion statements in the context of securities fraud claims
Caz has also represented many other leading companies, including Brocade, Computer Sciences Corporation, Credit Karma, Juniper Networks, and Logitech.
Caz is a frequent speaker on the topics of global internal investigations, government enforcement proceedings, private shareholder lawsuits and corporate governance issues.
Caz has substantial expertise advising clients on the most complex and sensitive issues, including whistleblower allegations; financial restatements; accounting and disclosure items; Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) matters; and insider trading. Audit committees and special committees often call upon Caz to conduct internal investigations involving these issues. He represents clients across a broad range of industries including technology, health care, consumer products, energy, financial services, life sciences, and telecommunications.
Prior to joining the firm, Caz served as an enforcement attorney with the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, where he investigated potential violations of the federal securities laws.
Highlights:
Served as lead independent counsel for the Special Review Committee of McKesson, a global health care company, in response to a shareholder demand relating to a $150 million settlement with the Drug Enforcement Administration concerning opioids
Represents the former CFO of Walgreens in a securities class action lawsuit and represented the CFO in a related SEC investigation
Represents Symantec in a securities class action
On numerous occasions in his SEC practice, the SEC declined to pursue charges of securities laws violations against Caz’s clients after they received Wells notices (indicating the SEC’s intent to pursue charges), including for a public company, an Audit Committee Chair, a CEO, and three CFOs
- One of the cases involved Netflix in a publicly reported SEC investigation of first impression related to the application of Regulation FD and the use of social media
Represented Polycom in its resolution with the DOJ and SEC regarding FCPA violations
Argued and won a securities class action before the Ninth Circuit in a lawsuit filed against Align Technology and its executives (City of Dearborn Heights v. Align Technology, Inc., et al.) where the Ninth Circuit affirmed dismissal and applied for the first time the U.S. Supreme Court’s Omnicare standard for pleading falsity of opinion statements in the context of securities fraud claims
Caz has also represented many other leading companies, including Brocade, Computer Sciences Corporation, Credit Karma, Juniper Networks, and Logitech.
Caz is a frequent speaker on the topics of global internal investigations, government enforcement proceedings, private shareholder lawsuits and corporate governance issues.