Brian J. Robbins is a co-founder and the managing partner of Robbins LLP. He has committed his entire career to representing shareholders, employees, consumers, and small businesses in complex litigation. Mr. Robbins has prosecuted hundreds of cases across the country, often in leadership roles, and has achieved sizable monetary recoveries and corporate governance improvements on behalf of his clients. For his leadership and achievements, he has been recognized as a Super Lawyer every year since 2007 – many years ranking among the Top 50 Attorney in San Diego – and a Best Lawyer in America for Securities Litigation.
Mr. Robbins’ achievements are proof positive that shareholder derivative actions are an important tool for keeping corporate management and fraud in check. His dedication to shareholder rights has helped propel Robbins LLP into a nationally recognized leader in shareholder rights litigation. As lead or co-lead counsel, Mr. Robbins has negotiated sweeping corporate governance reforms and numerous multimillion dollar settlements – including one of the largest securities fraud class action recoveries in San Diego’s history.
Mr. Robbins received his Master of Laws in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center and his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt Law School, where he served as research assistant to Professor Donald C. Langevoort, former Special Counsel for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the Office of the General Counsel, and Professor Larry D. Soderquist, one of the most respected professors in the field of corporate and securities law. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in just two and one-half years from the University of California, Berkeley.
EDUCATION
- Georgetown University Law Center, Master of Laws in Securities and Financial Regulation (LL.M. 1998)
- Vanderbilt School of Law (J.D. 1997)
- University of California, Berkeley (B.A. 1993)
ADMISSIONS
- California
- Connecticut
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of California
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits
RECOGNITION
- Super Lawyers (2007-2024)
- Top 50 San Diego Super Lawyers (2014-2016, 2019-2024)
- Best Lawyers in America for Securities Litigation (2016-2022)
- Best of the Bar, San Diego Business Journal (2014-2016)
- Top Attorney, The Daily Transcript (2015)
AFFILIATIONS
- San Diego County Bar Association
Mr. Robbins worked with the parties to derivative litigation filed on behalf of Vitacost.com, a leading online vitamin and supplement retailer, to save the $158 million market cap company from bankruptcy and to preserve the equity interests of its shareholders. Mr. Robbins was instrumental in achieving a settlement that enabled the company to bring its financial statements and SEC filings current; allowed Vitacost to hold a long overdue shareholder meeting to address fundamental defects in the corporation’s formation, board composition, and past stock issuances; and helped the company persuade NASDAQ to lift its trading moratorium and provide the company and its shareholders access to the capital markets. Mr. Robbins then assisted the company’s new board of directors in implementing a series of corporate governance best practices, including a robust insider trading policy. Kloss v. Kerker, No. 50-2010-CA-018594-XXXX-MB (Fla. Cir. Ct.-Palm Beach Cnty. May 27, 2011).
Mr. Robbins served as co-lead counsel in this shareholder derivative action, which was vigorously litigated for more than three years. He negotiated a comprehensive settlement on behalf of the nationwide health care services and hospital operating company that secured a fund of $51.5 million to be paid to Tenet and sweeping corporate governance and remedial measures designed to ensure the independence and accountability of the company’s board of directors. In re Tenet Healthcare Corp. Derivative Litigation, No. 01098905 (Cal. Super.Ct.–Santa Barbara Cnty. May 5, 2006), aff’d, No. B192252 (Cal. App. Sept. 20, 2007).
HANOVER COMPRESSOR COMPANY (NOW ARCHROCK, INC.)
Mr. Robbins served as lead negotiator for a consortium of plaintiffs in this shareholder derivative action filed on behalf of Hanover Compressor Company, a leading provider of production and processing tools for oil, gas, and energy companies. Mr. Robbins helped negotiate a settlement that included a $26.5 million payment to the company, the return of 2.5 million insider owned shares to the company, the appointment of two shareholder-nominated directors, and a requirement that the company rotate its outside auditing firm every five years. Harbor Finance Partners v. McGhan, No. H-02-0761 (S.D. Tex. June 15, 2007).
TITAN CORPORATION (NOW L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.)
Mr. Robbins served as co-lead counsel in a class action suit alleging securities fraud and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations against a governmental defense contractor. He negotiated a $61.5 million settlement on behalf of the class, one of the largest securities fraud class action recoveries in San Diego’s history. In re Titan, Inc. Securities Litigation, No. 04-cv-0676-LAB (NLS) (S.D. Cal. Dec. 20, 2005).
OM GROUP, INC.
Mr. Robbins led the firm as sole lead counsel in this derivative action arising out of a massive accounting fraud at OM Group, Inc., a global solutions provider and specialty chemical manufacturer. Following three years of contentious litigation and in-depth discovery, Mr. Robbins secured $29 million for OM Group, the removal of the company’s long term chief executive officer, the addition of two shareholder-nominated directors, and secured other significant corporate governance reforms. In re OM Group, Inc. Derivative Litigation, No. 1:03-cv-0020 (N.D. Ohio Nov. 10, 2005).
PUBLICATIONS
- Brian J. Robbins and Gregory E. Del Gaizo, Can Disney Defuse Earth’s Mightiest Comic Book Conflict?, Law360, May 3, 2012
- Brian J. Robbins and Justin D. Rieger, Corporate Political Spending Post-Citizens United, Law360, September 28, 2011
- Brian J. Robbins and Gregory E. Del Gaizo, State Law Insider Trading Claims See New Light, The Recorder, July 1, 2011
- Brian J. Robbins and Jay N. Razzouk, Litigation Drives Corporate Change, The Recorder, February 22, 2011
- Brian J. Robbins and Gregory E. Del Gaizo, Directors and Officers Can’t Hide in Del., Securities Law360, January 14, 2011
- Brian J. Robbins and Gregory E. Del Gaizo, Companies Seeking Control of Forum in Derivative Actions, Delaware Law Weekly, January 4, 2011
- Brian J. Robbins and Jay N. Razzouk, Why Litigation is Still a Shareholder’s Best Option to Be Heard, Corporate Compliance Insights, December 14, 2010
- Brian J. Robbins and Gregory E. Del Gaizo, Control of Forum in Derivative Actions, The Recorder, December 10, 2010
- Brian J. Robbins and Gregory E. Del Gaizo, Clearing the Path for Double Derivative Suits, The Recorder, November 1, 2010
PRESENTATIONS
- “Pursuing Justice & Preventing Misconduct In Your Publicly-Traded Investments” at Illinois Public Pension Fund Association’s MidAmerica Pension Conference (2017)
- “How Trustees Can Make a Real Impact When Bad Corporate Behavior Strikes” at Illinois Public Pension Fund Association’s Midwest Pension Conference (2016)
- Advisen’s Management Liability Insights Conference (2015)
- “Discovery and eDiscovery Issues: What You Need to Know” at CLE International’s 3rd Annual Class Actions Conference (2007)
- “After the Storm: Securities and Corporate Litigation in the Post-Sarbanes World” at the Washington State Bar Association 26th Annual Northwest Securities Institute (2006)