Alto Litigation

Firm Overview:
Alto Litigation is a boutique firm headquartered in San Francisco, California that specializes in advising technology companies, entrepreneurs, officers, directors, employees and shareholders in securities, complex commercial, and trade secret litigation. Below are a few representative client matters between 2015 and 2022:

• Persuaded the SEC not to recommend an enforcement action relating to accounting issues against former CFO of a major public technology company.

• Hired by CEO of a successful technology company to defend direct and derivative securities claims by a shareholder of the company. The shareholder tried to litigate the case in state court despite an arbitration provision, which she argued was forged. Alto succeeded in compelling arbitration, then defeated the case at the trial level. The case settled on appeal.

• Defended former interim-CFO of a multi-billion dollar semiconductor company in a securities class action alleging nearly $100 million in damages. Plaintiffs alleged the client was liable under Section 10(b) for direct violations and that he was liable under a “control person” theory of liability under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. Alto obtained a complete dismissal of the case against its client.

• Retained by two former executives of a company with significant ventured-financing whom the Company sued for trade secret misappropriation. Before Alto was retained, the company had obtained a temporary restraining order against the executives. After Alto Litigation was retained, it neutralized the clients’ defensive posture and put them in an aggressive offensive position by, among other things, filing counterclaims and engaging in negotiations to avert further injunctive action against its clients. Alto's clients reached a successful confidential settlement, that included remedial measures benefiting all shareholders.