Ariel Winawer
Senior Associate
San Francisco
Ariel helps companies and their officers and directors prevent or navigate high-stakes litigation and related disputes. Ariel’s practice focuses on securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, complex business litigation matters, breach of contract claims, internal and government investigations, and regulatory inquiries and enforcement proceedings.
In addition to representing clients in state and federal courts nationwide and in arbitration, Ariel also counsels public and private companies and their directors and officers on a wide range of issues relating to corporate governance and litigation risk and strategy. On the regulatory side, Ariel represents institutions and individuals in connection with investigations by the DOJ, SEC, FINRA, and other state and federal agencies. She also has defended clients in several high-profile SEC and DOJ enforcement actions.
Ariel additionally maintains an active pro bono practice focused on immigration and civil rights matters.
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Representative engagements include:
- Representation of a former executive of a Hospitality, Entertainment and Gaming Company in various civil litigation matters, including RICO.
- Representation of numerous public companies and their officers and directors in connection with shareholder class actions alleging violations of securities fraud and related derivative litigation in state and federal courts.
- Representation of a former executive of a private company in multi-district litigation pending in the Northern District of California.
- Represented a Fortune 50 financial services company in an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission into compliance with Securities laws.
- Represented chief regulatory officer of medical device manufacturer in connection with DOJ and FDA investigations of alleged violations of adverse incident reporting and 510K regulations.
- Represented former general counsel of a national bank in OCC enforcement action arising out of sales practices misconduct.