Milberg LLP, founded in 1965, is one of the most respected and effective plaintiff law firms in the United States. The firm’s unparalleled resources place it in a unique position to vigorously pursue all types of corporate wrongdoing. In addition to an impressive complement of attorneys, including former prosecutors, private defense attorneys, and government lawyers, the firm's professional staff includes a team of investigators, headed by a former agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and four full-time forensic accountants. Milberg has successfully prosecuted thousands of class action lawsuits, has taken a lead role in numerous complex litigations on behalf of defrauded investors, consumers and companies, as well as victims of World War II human rights violations, and has been responsible for more than $55 billion in recoveries. Throughout its existence, Milberg has established legal precedents in many of its areas of practice. As demonstrated below, the firm’s reputation for excellence has been recognized on repeated occasions by judges all over the country for the quality of its representation in class action and other complex lawsuits.
In
In re Tyco International, Ltd. Securities Litigation, No. 02-1335 (D.N.H. Dec. 19, 2007), Judge Barbadoro lauded Milberg’s efforts as co-lead counsel:
This was an extraordinarily complex and hard-fought case. Co-Lead Counsel put massive resources and effort into the case for five long years, accumulating [millions of dollars in expenses] and expending [hundreds of thousands of hours] on a wholly contingent basis. But for Co-Lead Counsel’s enormous expenditure of time, money, and effort, they would not have been able to negotiate an end result so favorable for the class. . . . Lead Counsel’s continued, dogged effort over the past five years is a major reason for the magnitude of the recovery. . . .
In
Simon v. KPMG LLP, No. 05-3189,
2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35943, at *18, 30-31 (D.N.J. June 2, 2006), a case in which Milberg served as class counsel, Judge Cavanaugh, in approving the $153 million settlement, found that “Plaintiffs . . . retained highly competent and qualified attorneys” and that “[t]he Initial Complaint . . . demonstrates that [Milberg] expended considerable time and effort with the underlying factual and legal issues in this case before even filing this lawsuit. . . . Settlement discussions were conducted over a period of some fourteen months with the supervision and guidance of Judges Politan and Weinstein, and are evidence of [Milberg’s] appreciation of the merits and complexity of this litigation.”
In
In re Lucent Technologies, Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 00-621, slip op. at 14-15, 26 (D.N.J. Feb. 24, 2004), Judge Pisano issued an opinion approving the $600 million settlement and complimenting Milberg’s work as co-lead counsel for the class as follows:
[T]he attorneys representing the Plaintiffs are highly experienced in securities class action litigation and have successfully prosecuted numerous class actions throughout the United States. They are more than competent to conduct this action. Co-Lead Counsel diligently and aggressively represented the Plaintiffs before this Court and in the negotiations that resulted in the Settlement. . . . [T]he efforts and ingenuity of Lead Plaintiffs and Lead Counsel resulted in an extremely valuable Settlement for the Benefit of the Class.
In
In re Rite Aid Corp. Securities Litigation, 269 F. Supp. 2d 603, 611 (E.D. Pa. 2003), Judge Dalzell commented on the skill and efficiency of the Milberg attorneys litigating this complex case:
At the risk of belaboring the obvious, we pause to say a specific word about . . . the skill and efficiency of the attorneys involved. [Milberg was] extraordinarily deft and efficient in handling this most complex matter. [T]hey were at least eighteen months ahead of the United States Department of Justice in ferreting out the conduct that ultimately resulted in the write-down of over $1.6 billion in previously reported Rite Aid earnings. . . . In short, it would be hard to equal the skill class counsel demonstrated here.
In
In re IKON Office Solutions, Inc. Securities Litigation, 194 F.R.D. 166, 195 (E.D. Pa. 2000), Judge Katz commented on Milberg’s skill and professionalism as one of plaintiffs’ co-lead counsel:
First, class counsel is of high caliber and has extensive experience in similar class action litigation. . . . Each of the co-lead counsel firms has a national reputation for advocacy in securities class actions, and there is no doubt that this standing enhanced their ability both to prosecute the case effectively and to negotiate credibly. . . .
Of particular note in assessing the quality of representation is the professionalism with which all parties comported themselves. The submissions were of consistently high quality, and class counsel has been notably diligent in preparing filings in a timely manner even when under tight deadlines. This professionalism was also displayed in class counsel’s willingness to cooperate with other counsel when appropriate. . . . This cooperation enabled the parties to focus their disputes on the issues that mattered most and to avoid pointless bickering over more minor matters.
In
In re NASDAQ Market-Makers Antitrust Litigation, 187 F.R.D. 465, 474 (S.D.N.Y. 1998), in an opinion approving settlements totaling over $1.027 billion, Judge Sweet commented:
Counsel for the Plaintiffs are preeminent in the field of class action litigation, and the roster of counsel for Defendants includes some of the largest, most successful and well regarded law firms in the country. It is difficult to conceive of better representation than the parties to this action achieved.
Judicial recognition of Milberg’s excellence is not limited to courts within the United States. In
In re Flag Telecom Holdings, Ltd. Securities Litigation, No. 02-3400 (S.D.N.Y. 2009), Milberg litigated a discovery dispute before the English Royal High Court of Justice, Queens Bench Division, which recognized the Milberg attorney handling the matter as a “Grade A” lawyer and a “vital cog in the machine.” Likewise, in
Sharma v. Timminco Ltd., 09-378701 (Can. Ont. Sup. Ct. 2009), Canada’s Ontario Superior Court of Justice recognized Milberg’s “fine reputation and excellent credentials” in connection with Milberg’s representation in a securities case pending in Canada.
Milberg has also been recognized for its commitment to public service. In lauding Milberg’s work representing victims of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center in connection with the September 11 Victims Compensation Fund, Special Master Kenneth R. Feinberg stated the following:
Once again, as I have learned over the years here in New York, the [Milberg] firm steps up to the plate in the public interest time and time again. The social conscience of the [Milberg] firm, acting through its excellent associates and partners, help deal with crises that confront the American people and others, and I am personally in the debt of Milberg . . . for the work that it is doing . . . . [T]hey are second among none in terms of the public interest, and I’m very, very grateful, not only to you guys for doing this, but . . . for the firm’s willingness to help out. I wanted to let everybody know that.
In re September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, Preliminary Hearing, Claim No. 212-003658 (Dec. 9 2003).
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