Michael C. Tu

Michael Tu leads the firm's securities litigation practice in Southern California, with nearly 25 years of experience obtaining successful results for clients in stockholder litigation, regulatory investigations and proceedings, and mergers and acquisitions disputes under the federal and state securities laws.  He provides practical and business-focused advice to business executives and boards on securities and corporate governance matters.

• Engagements

  Michael's notable representations include the following.

  • The controlling shareholder of a multi-billion dollar entertainment company in corporate governance litigation that resulted in a settlement implementing all of the actions sought by the client, including charter and bylaw changes ensuring that a major movie studio that was one of the company’s most valuable assets remained wholly owned, the resignation of numerous executives and Board members, and the dismissal of four lawsuits challenging those decisions.
  • The former president of the nation's largest mortgage lender in dozens of class action, derivative, investigative and other related litigation matters by shareholders, bondholders, institutional investors, and federal and state regulators, alleging fraud and securities violations.
  • Principal officers and directors of a leading media and marketing company in a shareholder class action alleging securities violations in connection with a reverse merger transaction that resulted in a complete defense verdict following trial, which was affirmed on appeal.
  • The Chairman Emeritus and controlling shareholder of one of America's major broadcast television and radio networks in a shareholder derivative action alleging unfair and excessive executive compensation claims, resulting in the dismissal of all claims with prejudice.
  • A prominent internet search and AI company in a lawsuit by an investment fund and its founder alleging defamation and libel, commercial disparagement, tortious inference with prospective business relations, intentional infliction of emotional distress and civil conspiracy claims in the amount of $10 billion, resulting in dismissal of all claims with prejudice; and a lawsuit by a plaintiff alleging claims of fraud, defamation and violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, of over $1 billion, also resulting in dismissal of all claims.
  • An interactive music and entertainment company and its officers and directors in a shareholder lawsuit alleging fraud, breaches of fiduciary duties, dilution, unfair business practices and other direct and derivative claims, which was dismissed with prejudice, and affirmed on appeal. 
  • Principal executive officers and directors of one of the country's leading multi-state managed health care organizations in shareholder class action and derivative lawsuits filed in federal and state courts alleging accounting violations, resulting in dismissal of claims.
  • Underwriters, investment banks and financial institutions in the defense of shareholder class action and derivative litigation matters alleging violations of securities laws in connection with public securities offerings brought in federal and state courts.
  • Principal executive officers and directors of a water company in multiple federal and state shareholder class action and derivative lawsuits alleging securities violations.
  • An Internet media company and its principal officers and directors in several federal and state cases involving merger, derivative and shareholder class action litigation.
  • Principal officers and directors of financial services company in shareholder class action and related bankruptcy proceedings with respect to allegations of securities fraud in connection with the securitization of loan receivables, resulting in complete dismissal of claims.
  • A national recycling company and its executives in a securities class action alleging tax and accounting claims, obtaining the dismissal of all claims with prejudice.
  • A foreign sovereign entity in international and U.S. securities fraud litigation regarding an early stage internet investment fund.
  • A fiber optics technology company and its principal officers and directors in securities fraud litigation brought by investors, resulting in complete dismissal of claims.
  • A national restaurant company and its principal officers and directors in shareholder class action alleging accounting and disclosure violations, resulting in dismissal of claims.
  • A technology services company and its principal officers and directors in securities fraud class action and related bankruptcy proceedings.
  • An international pharmaceutical company in the defense of a federal securities fraud lawsuit, and member of the trial team that obtained a favorable trial verdict.
  • A software company and its principal officers and directors in securities class action alleging accounting and disclosure violations.
  • A healthcare insurance company and its principal officers and directors in securities class action litigation, resulting in dismissal of all claims.
  • A software modeling company and its principal executive officers in securities class action litigation alleging accounting allegations, resulting in dismissal of all claims.
  • A medical device company and its principal officers and directors in shareholder class action and derivative lawsuit brought in federal and state courts, resulting in dismissal of all claims.
  • Special committees and special litigation committees of the boards of five public companies with respect to internal investigations and litigation in connection with executive stock option and compensation issues.
  • Hong Kong- and China-based affiliates of two international accounting firms with respect to securities counseling and audit issues, and shareholder class action lawsuits alleging securities fraud claims.
  • Four educational online technology companies that were hit by a $62.2 million trial judgment, obtaining a reversal of the judgment in its entirety on appeal, without any remand for a retrial.