Robert Y. 'Bob' Sperling

Significant representations include:

• Goldman Sachs
  • in MDL litigation of several nationwide class actions alleging that swaps dealers unlawfully conspired to block exchange trading and other competitive developments in multi-billion dollar derivatives market;
  • in a putative antitrust class action in which the bank and several others are alleged to have conspired with certain trading platforms to stifle competition in the stock loan market;
  • as joint defense liaison counsel in a massive antitrust MDL of nearly 50 nationwide class actions related to the treasuries market;
  • in a qui tam action alleging violations of the Illinois False Claims Act and the Chicago False Claims Act related to public banking contracts and subprime lending activities.
• JPMorgan
  • as lead trial counsel in an action brought by a faction of convertible debenture holders seeking recovery under an anti-dilution clause in a trust agreement. JPMorgan prevailed on summary judgment and the ruling was affirmed on appeal by the Fifth Circuit;
  • in a putative class action in the Northern District of Illinois related to JPMorgan’s investment advisory services.
• Morgan Stanley
  • in a class action brought in connection with the 21st Century Telecom Group and RCN Corporation merger; and
  • in the dismissal, affirmed on appeal by the Seventh Circuit, of a putative class action seeking the recovery of postage and handling fees associated with tens of thousands of securities transactions from 1998 to the present.
• Bank One Corporation in several consolidated shareholders’ class actions arising from the First Chicago NBD Corporation and Banc One Corporation merger alleging violations under Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933.
• Chicago Parking Meters (CPM)
  
  • as trial counsel with regard to the successful defense against a constitutional challenge by a group of Chicago voters seeking to void the $1.15 billion, 75-year parking meter privatization contract between the City of Chicago and CPM, a consortium led by Morgan Stanley;
  • in a class action claiming that its 75-year-long, $1.15B concession agreement to operate Chicago’s on-street parking meters violated the Sherman Act. The case was dismissed before the district court and is currently on appeal
• Chicago Loop Parking (CLP), a consortium led by Morgan Stanley, as trial counsel with regard to a constitutional challenge by a group of Chicago voters seeking to void a $563 million, 99-year parking-garage privatization contract between the City of Chicago and CLP. We successfully argued that the case should be dismissed because the taxpayers had no standing to challenge the deal.
• Cisco Systems and 12 of its current and former board members and executives in connection with a securities fraud class action brought on behalf of Cisco Systems shareholders alleging securities fraud and insider trading.
• Underwriting Syndicates
  • in a federal securities class action in the Northern District of Illinois alleging that the registration statement and prospectus for an October 2018 $575 million SPO by Conagra Brands contained misleading statements and financial disclosures concerning the sales practices of a Conagra acquiree. The case was dismissed at the district court, and dismissal was upheld on appeal before the Seventh Circuit
• Household International
  • in a national class action alleging violations of ERISA in connection with the investment of corporate pension monies; and
  • independent directors in a national consolidated shareholders’ class action alleging violations under Section 10(b)(5) of the Securities Act of1934 and Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.