Turner, Christopher S.

Christopher S. (Topher) Turner

Partner

christopher.turner@lw.com
    Turner, Christopher S.

    Christopher S. (Topher) Turner

    Partner

    christopher.turner@lw.com

    Profile

    Christopher S. (Topher) Turner is a litigator who represents issuers, executives, and accounting firms in high-stakes disputes.

    Topher leverages a sophisticated understanding of US securities laws and first-chair trial experience to guide US companies and foreign private issuers on:

    • Securities class actions
    • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigations
    • Complex commercial litigation

    He regularly defends auditors and accounting firms, including the Big Four, in regulatory investigations, as well as civil actions and private litigation. 

    Topher has obtained dismissals of securities class actions in myriad federal courts, as well as favorable non -public resolutions, for many of the world’s leading companies. Notably, he recently secured a complete defense verdict following a two-week trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery for Oracle founder Larry Ellison and CEO Safra Catz regarding Oracle’s acquisition of NetSuite. 

    Before joining Latham, Topher worked as a law clerk for Judge Thomas W. Thrash of the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He served for six years on the Board of Directors of Miriam’s Kitchen, a social services organization committed to ending chronic homelessness in Washington, D.C.

    Experience

    Topher's experience includes representing:

    US Issuers and Executives

    • The founder/CTO and CEO of a Fortune 50 technology company in a complete win for each , following a two-week trial of a derivative action in the Delaware Court of Chancery
    • A child wellness product manufacturer and its executives in a shareholder litigation in the US District Court for the Central District of California
    • One of the largest US retail companies and its executives in a securities class action pending in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
    • A financial services company and its directors and officers in favorably resolving securities class actions in US District Courts for the Districts of Delaware and New Jersey
    • A manufacturer of generic pharmaceuticals in securing dismissal of a securities class action in the US District Court for the Northern District of California
    • The nation’s leading financial services company specializing in education in favorably resolving a securities class action and opt-out actions
    • A medical transcription company’s former CFO in successfully defending against securities fraud charges that the SEC Division of Enforcement brought in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey
    • A wireless communications company’s CEO and CFO in obtaining dismissal of a securities class action in the US District Court for the District of Columbia for failure to plead scienter
    • A major mortgage lender and a healthcare provider in resolving ERISA “stock-drop” actions stemming from an alleged breach of fiduciary duties

    Non-US Issuers and Executives

    • A French digital services company and its executives in a securities class action in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida
    • A Singapore telecommunications company and its executives in corporate governance matters arising out of investment in a Cayman Islands company
    • A Russian investor in a global provider of IT solutions in matters arising out of a potential business combination
    • A Japanese automobile manufacturer in a securities class action arising out of compensation disclosures and securing a key order permitting contribution action against responsible executives
    • A German automobile manufacturer and its executives in a securities class action arising out of statements about diesel emissions

    Auditors and Accounting Firms

    • A major accounting and auditing firm in large, multistate putative class actions in New York and Texas arising out of alleged Ponzi schemes
    • A Big Four accounting firm in an arbitration brought by the bankruptcy estate of an innovative construction company 
    • A Big Four accounting firm in defending against a federal action arising from a government-sponsored entity’s audits
    • A Big Four accounting firm in a federal action arising out of a Florida-based mortgage originator’s bankruptcy
    • A Big Four accounting firm in a multidistrict litigation in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York brought by a major financial services firm’s shareholders and noteholders
    • An audit partner of a Big Four accounting firm in achieving the rare dismissal of all charges brought by the SEC Division of Enforcement in a Rule 102(e) proceeding

    Qualifications

    Bar Qualification

    • District of Columbia
    • Georgia

    Education

    • JD, University of Virginia School of Law, 2003
    • AB, Princeton University, 2000

    Practices

    Industries

    Recognition

    News & Insights

    Courtroom
    March 7, 2024 In the News

    Latham Passes Skadden as Busiest Securities Defense Firm

    Despite a downward trend in securities case filings over the past three years, Latham & Watkins LLP has remained one of the most active law firms on the defense side, taking over the top spot from Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, according to reports released by Lex Machina.