Joel Athey Joins DLA Piper’s Litigation Practice in Los Angeles
DLA Piper announced that Joel Athey has joined the firm’s litigation practice as a partner in Los Angeles.
Athey, who previously served as the managing partner of Holland & Knight LLP’s Los Angeles office, focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, US Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement, private securities litigation, internal corporate investigations, banking and regulatory investigations and litigations, consumer protection matters and complex civil litigation.
“As we continue to strategically grow our Los Angeles offices, including our local Litigation team, Joel’s practice will strengthen our capabilities in the areas of white collar criminal defense, securities and financial services litigation, among others,” said Stuart Liner, co-managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles offices. “DLA Piper’s national and global platform is an ideal home for his litigation practice, and we believe Joel’s strong reputation and network of relationships in the legal community will be highly beneficial to our clients.”
In a release, the firm says Athey represents individuals and corporations in criminal investigations and prosecutions in federal and state courts, and works with clients in criminal grand jury investigations, post-indictment prosecutions, at trial, and sentencing. He represents companies conducting internal investigations of alleged wrongdoing and advises companies on compliance matters. He also represents companies and individuals in SEC and FTC investigations and enforcement actions.
In addition, he represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including defending legal professionals against fraud-based allegations and venture capitalists accused of misleading investors. He works with companies and banks in defending securities litigations. Athey has also represented officers and directors of failed financial institutions in criminal and regulatory investigations, and in post-takeover FDIC proceedings.
“Joel is a highly skilled and well-regarded litigator whose depth of experience in areas important to our clients makes him a valuable addition to the firm,” said Loren Brown, co-chair of DLA Piper’s global and US Litigation practices. “Particularly in Los Angeles, the demand for lawyers with experience in SEC enforcement and private securities litigation has grown substantially, and we are pleased that our clients will have the opportunity to be represented by an attorney of his skill and reputation.”
Athey received his J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law and his B.S. from Rutgers University.
Since merging with Los Angeles-based Liner LLP in October, DLA Piper has continued to expand its presence in the region, beginning with the addition of leading entertainment and IP litigator Douglas Emhoff, a partner in the firm’s Media, Sport and Entertainment sector who joined from Venable, where he was the chief architect of its substantial West Coast expansion.
