Reckler, William O.

William O. Reckler

Partner

william.reckler@lw.com
    Reckler, William O.

    William O. Reckler

    Partner

    william.reckler@lw.com
    Recommended for Financial Services Litigation.

    The Legal 500 US 2018

    Profile

    William Reckler helps clients navigate white-collar defense and investigations, complex commercial and securities litigation, and corporate governance issues.

    William advises global enterprises, their senior officers, and their boards of directors in both civil and criminal matters, including:

    • Complex commercial disputes and multidistrict litigation
    • Internal investigations in anticipation of potential government regulatory action or civil litigation
    • State and federal investigations and enforcement actions
    • Securities litigation
    • Derivative actions
    • Consumer class actions

    He draws on two decades of experience guiding clients through the rigorous demands of white-collar matters, civil litigation, and the intersection of the two. William helps clients define optimal strategic outcomes and devises plans to achieve results as quickly and efficiently as possible.

    William regularly represents global financial institutions and their employees in connection with high-stakes investigations and regulatory proceedings. His past representations have included those related to alleged manipulation of financial benchmarks, the subprime mortgage market, and other alleged violations of federal securities laws.

    William is former Co-Chair of the New York Litigation & Trial Department. He currently serves on the firm’s Opinions Committee and EEO Review Board, and he formerly served on the firm’s Associates Committee. Outside of the firm, he is a Fellow of the New York Bar Association.

    As part of his broad commitment to pro bono work, William has handled a wide range of matters and serves on the board of Legal Services NYC, the country’s largest provider of nonprofit legal services. He has recently focused on matters related to prisoners’ rights, after successfully handling post-conviction proceedings for a client on death row.

    Experience

    William's recent experience includes representing:

    Civil Litigation

    • Corporate and individual defendants in shareholder litigation alleging federal securities law violations, and related derivative actions
    • A major airline in disputes arising out of contracts to purchase and finance airplanes
    • Peloton Interactive in successfully defeating class certification and achieving a partial dismissal of claims in a high-profile consumer class action alleging false advertising
    • A Swedish pharmaceutical company in connection with securities fraud claims brought in the Eastern District of New York
    • Oracle’s executive chairman / chief technology officer and CEO in derivative litigation challenging Oracle’s US$9.3 billion NetSuite acquisition
    • A private equity firm in a dispute about the post-closing purchase price adjustment for a US$1.6 billion acquisition
    • CrossFit, as plaintiff, in a high-profile false advertising and unfair competition lawsuit against a key competitor
    • A global bank in connection with securities litigation and contract disputes related to its issuance of residential mortgage-backed securities
    • A major pharmaceutical company in connection with disputes with joint venture partners regarding their respective obligations in developing new drugs
    • A major petrochemical company in criminal and civil antitrust litigation, as well as civil litigation for fraud and breach of contract

    White-Collar Defense and Investigations

    • A leading international bank in an internal investigation and root-cause analysis of its losses related to Archegos Capital Management’s collapse, and in subsequent related dealings with global regulators
    • A global bank in an internal investigation into trading activity across hundreds of its subsidiaries and affiliates, and subsequent interactions with various regulators
    • Executives from multiple financial institutions in investigations into alleged manipulation of various financial benchmarks, including LIBOR and ISDAfix
    • A global bank in both state and federal investigations and litigation arising out of its securitization of residential mortgage loans
    • An individual from a major financial institution in a US Attorney’s Office investigation into improper practices related to secondary market trading of asset-backed securities
    • Boards of directors and individuals in internal investigations into improper workplace conduct and harassment claims
    • Companies and individuals in US Attorney’s Office, SEC, and FINRA insider trading inquiries
    • A commercial bank in an investigation into allegations of embezzlement and fraudulent practices by the manager of its largest branch
    • An Islamic investment bank’s board of directors in what is believed to have been the first internal investigation undertaken in Bahrain, involving allegations of fraud and misuse of corporate assets by the bank’s CEO
    • A Chinese-based issuer’s former audit committee chairman in government investigations and civil suits related to allegations of senior management misconduct
    • A hedge fund victimized by a Ponzi scheme in criminal forfeiture proceedings
    • A major bank’s independent directors and audit committee in internal and government investigations related to a restatement of earnings
    • The United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) and Joiners of America in connection with the trusteeship imposed by the UBC over the New York City District Council and related matters involving elections, constitution, and bylaw revisions
    • One of the country’s largest radio broadcasting companies in a suit brought by the New York Attorney General alleging pay-for-play in the music and broadcast industries
    • A major healthcare company’s CEO in government investigations and civil suits related to stock-options grant practices
    • A major oil company in state, federal, and international probes of alleged kickbacks

    Qualifications

    Bar Qualification

    • New York

    Education

    • JD, Harvard Law School, 2002
    • AB, Harvard University, 1999

    Practices

    Industries

    Recognition

    Read More

    News & Insights

    General Newsroom Thumbnail 800x400 (2:1)
    September 21, 2016 Our Work

    CrossFit Gets Rival's Injury Data Declared False In Ad Row

    A National Strength and Conditioning Association article criticizing the exercise program of Latham client, CrossFit, contained false data on injuries among CrossFit practitioners, a California federal judge ruled in a false advertising lawsuit against the nonprofit.