Peter B. Morrison is head of Skadden's Los Angeles office and Litigation Group, as well as co-head of the firm's West Coast litigation practice. He has a broad litigation practice with a particular emphasis on securities, M&A and tax litigation.
Morrison advises corporations on matters involving both federal and state securities laws, duties of corporate directors, SEC and stock exchange inquiries and investigations, contests for corporate control and tax reporting.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2026 | International Litigation |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2026 | Litigation |
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2026 | Securities, M&A, Tax Litigation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2025 | International Litigation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2025 | Securities, M&A, Tax Litigation |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2024 | International Litigation |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2024 | Securities, M&A, Tax Litigation |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Litigators | 2023 | International Litigation |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2022 | Securities, M&A, Tax Litigation |
Morrison has advised clients in a wide variety of industries in securities and derivative litigation. He recently has represented, among others:
- The We Company and certain of its current and former directors in two putative shareholder class action and derivative lawsuits stemming from the company's withdrawn 2019 initial public offering, a disputed tender offer involving the company's largest investor and certain past conduct by the company's former CEO
- Centene Corporation in securing the dismissal with prejudice of a consolidated federal shareholder derivative action that alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and other violations of federal securities laws
- STAAR Surgical Co. and three of its officers in a consolidated putative class action asserting claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
- RYB Education Inc. in securing the dismissal of putative securities class actions alleging that the company made misrepresentations of material fact in violation of federal securities laws concerning safety, security and services at RYB schools
- Youku Tudou in securing the dismissal of a federal securities litigation alleging that it made false and misleading statements regarding its financial performance in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a)
Morrison also represents companies and directors involved in litigation arising from M&A transactions. Select matters include:
- Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. in securing the dismissal of a California state lawsuit arising out of the company’s merger with BioTime (now known as Lineage), and in a related matter currently pending in the Delaware Court of Chancery
- Gateway, Inc. and its board of directors in a lawsuit brought by Gateway’s shareholders in both California and Delaware seeking to enjoin its $710 million merger with Acer, Inc.
Morrison has significant experience in matters involving accounting and tax litigation, including representing:
- KPMG in multiple actions involving claims ranging from fraud, negligence and contract enforcement to constitutional violations
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in securing summary judgment both in an action in Oregon State Court and in an action in Nevada State Court