Profile
Jeff Palmer focuses his practice on representing companies and individuals, including broker-dealers and investment advisory clients, in civil litigation, arbitrations, and regulatory matters, including inquiries involving the SEC, FINRA, and Department of Justice. Jeff has over fifteen years of experience representing clients in complex business litigation, securities litigation, and white collar litigation. Jeff has conducted numerous internal investigations into alleged unfair business practices, breaches of fiduciary duty, and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Jeff also advises clients on professional liability insurance coverage and contractual indemnification protections. In addition, Jeff counsels companies on developing guidelines and response plans for responding to subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants seeking company and customer information.
Concentrations
- Financial services litigation
- Internal investigations
- Criminal litigation
- Civil litigation
Capabilities
Experience
- Represented broker dealer and financial advisor in FINRA arbitration and obtained an award recommending expungement and dismissing the Claimant’s claims in their entirety, which included claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unsuitability, negligence, fraud and breach of contract.
- Represented broker dealer and financial advisor in FINRA arbitration and obtained an award dismissing the Claimant’s claims in their entirety, which included claims for unsuitability, churning, unauthorized trading, fraud, failure to supervise and negligent supervision.
- Obtained order dismissing an $8 million FINRA claim against financial services firm on the grounds that it was ineligible for arbitration.
- Represented broker dealer and financial advisor in investigations by FINRA and state security commissions.
- Conducted internal investigation for software company and obtained a declination letter from DOJ after the company voluntarily disclosed potential violations of the FCPA.°
- Conducted internal investigation for multinational technology company into potential FCPA violations and drafted annual compliance reports to DOJ and SEC.°
- Conducted internal investigation for global science company into shareholder allegations that certain directors and officers breached fiduciary duties, committed waste and were unjustly enriched.°
- Obtained dismissal of a felony complaint charging three counts of alleged insurance fraud.
- Defended the former CFO of a public company in connection with a securities fraud and bank fraud action.°
- Defended the founder of a real estate investment company against charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and securities fraud in connection with an alleged $150 million scheme to defraud more than 1,000 investors.°
- Represented semiconductor company in successful two-week trial on claims for breach of contract after obtaining an order granting summary judgment on claims for fraudulent concealment and unfair and fraudulent business practices.°
- Represented former CEO of a failed bank in connection with shareholder claims asserting securities laws violations and investigations by the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Office of Thrift Supervision, and FDIC. In re. Washington Mutual, Inc. Securities, Derivative & ERISA Litig., 08-MD-1919 (W.D. Wash.).°
- Represented leading provider of financial services to institutional investors in private lawsuits and class actions arising out of investments in complex structured financial products for certain actively managed, fixed income investment funds. In re. State Street Bank and Trust Co. Fixed Income Funds Investment Litig., No. 08 MDL 1945 (S.D.N.Y.).°
- Represented third-party supplier of hardware and software support services in connection with claims for misappropriation and distribution of copyrighted, proprietary software code.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Palmer prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Credentials
-
J.D., Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2003
- Member, Journal of International Law and Business
- B.A., cum laude, Colby College, 1995
- California
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit