Overview
Greg Ballard represents clients in civil litigation including securities, professional liability and commercial matters in federal and state courts, in arbitrations and before regulatory agencies. He has represented issuers, underwriters, auditors, officers and directors in class action securities litigation, including lawsuits relating to Madoff, Enron, WorldCom, Tyco, DVI, Aetna, Sunterra, Sotheby’s, Allou, Bally, Perrigo and Wellcare. He frequently represents US and international accounting firms and individual accountants in litigation, in SEC and PCAOB investigations and before state boards of accountancy.
Greg has published extensively in legal and academic journals, and he speaks regularly on panels at bar association and industry events on topics such as accountants’ liability, class action securities litigation, SEC investigations and civil procedure.
In law school, Greg was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, a recipient of the James A. Elkin Prize in Criminal Law and a Notes and Comments Editor for the Columbia Law Review.
Results
- Represented a Big Four accounting firm in an arbitration brought by claimants alleging malpractice in audits of financial statements of hedge funds that invested with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. Judgment in favor of accounting firm*
- Represented a Big Four accounting firm in a Madoff-related class action securities litigation. Judgment dismissing all claims against accounting firm, affirmed on appeal*
- Served as lead trial counsel for a lender and underwriter of asset-backed notes in litigation arising out of the collapse of specialty finance company DVI*
- Represented an individual in a Rule 102(e) proceeding brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission*
- Represented several underwriters in securities litigation relating to WorldCom*
- Represented a financial institution in multi-district securities litigation relating to Enron*
- Represented a Big Four accounting firm in securities litigation relating to Tyco*
- Represented underwriters in class and derivative actions arising out of a 40 percent decline in the price of Perrigo stock in a single day after the then-largest offering in NASDAQ history. Summary judgment granted for underwriters on all claims; due diligence defense established for claims under Securities Act of 1933*
- Represented an employer in an action under the Fair Labor Standards Act and under the New York Labor Law for alleged violation of overtime pay requirements. Summary judgment granted in favor of employer*
- Served as lead trial counsel in hearing on an application for prejudgment remedy in breach of contract action in state court*
- Represented the seller and individual defendants in state and federal court actions related to the $38.5 billion sale of Nestlé S.A.’s interest in Alcon, Inc. to Novartis AG*
- Represented an underwriter in multi-district litigation arising out of numerous IPOs*
- Represented an asset management firm in litigation arising out of investment accounts. Summary judgment granted for asset management firm*
- Represented the owner of the New York Mets in a breach of contract action. Summary judgment for owner*
- Represented telephone companies in litigation brought by plaintiffs seeking to enjoin $72 billion merger of Comcast with AT&T’s broadband business. Motion to dismiss granted*
*Matter handled prior to joining McDermott.
Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2023 – 2024
- AV Peer Review Rated by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
- Burton Award for Legal Achievement, 2007
- Pro Bono Publico Award, Legal Aid Society, 1997
Community
- Securities Litigation Committee, New York City Bar, Member, 2019 to present
- Task Force on the New York State Constitutional Convention, New York City Bar, Member, 2015 to 2017
- Government Ethics Committee, New York City Bar, Chair, 2008 to 2011
- Judiciary Committee, Member, 2011 to 2014
- New York County Democratic Committee, Independent Judicial Screening Panel for the New York State Supreme Court, Member, 2014
Credentials
Education
Columbia University School of Law, JD, 1992
Columbia College, BA, 1989
Admissions
New York
District of Columbia
Courts / Agencies
US Tax Court
US Court of Federal Claims
US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
US District Court for the District of Columbia
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
US District Court for the Western District of Michigan
US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
US District Court for the Southern District of New York
