LAWYER PROFILE
Peter Adams

Peter Adams

USA 2026

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Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Cooley LLP

Practice Areas

Pete’s practice focuses on securities litigation, corporate governance and shareholder-related disputes, including the defense of securities class actions, derivative suits and M&A-related cases. He also represents clients in connection with SEC investigations and civil enforcement actions, as well as internal corporate investigations.

His practice includes representing companies such as Qualcomm, GNC Holdings, TEVA Pharmaceuticals, Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Cricket Wireless, Horizon Pharmaceuticals, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, MannKind Corporation, Auspex Pharmaceuticals and Volcano Corporation.

Pete regularly counsels companies, directors, officers, and principal shareholders on a wide range of issues relating to corporate governance, SEC/FINRA enforcement, insider trading, disclosure obligations, and compliance with federal and state securities laws.

Publications

Selected Publications:

* “Ten Recent Delaware Merger and Acquisition Cases Applying Corwin;” Securities Litigation Journal, American Bar Association Section of Litigation; Vol. 27 No. 1 (Winter 2017); Albert Manwaring, Albert Carroll, William Lafferty, and Peter Adams.

* “From Aeroflex to Trulia: A Seismic Shift;” Securities Litigation Journal, American Bar Association Section of Litigation; Vol. 26 No. 3 (Spring 2016); Peter Adams, Jeffrey Kaban, and Jeffery Walker.

* “Meaningful Limits on Director Compensation;” Securities Litigation Journal; American Bar Association Section of Litigation; Vol. 25 No. 2 (Winter 2015); Thomas Welk and Peter Adams.

* “M&A Shareholder Suits: A Call for Enhanced Scrutiny of Claims;” Securities Litigation Journal; American Bar Association Section of Litigation; Vol. 23 No. 2 (Winter 2013); Koji Fukumura and Peter Adams.

* “Proxy Season Shakedown: A New Wave of Suits Challenging Compensation Disclosures;” Securities Litigation Journal; American Bar Association Section of Litigation; Vol. 23 No. 2 (Winter 2013); Koji Fukumura, Jessica Valenzuela Santamaria, and Peter Adams.

* "The 'Holistic' Approach to Scienter Under Tellabs," Securities Litigation Journal; American Bar Association Section of Litigation; Vol. 19 No. 2 (Winter 2009) and Commercial & Business Litigation, Vol. 10 No. 2 (Winter 2009).

* "Recent Developments in the Caselaw Governing Damages in 10b-5 Cases," Advanced Securities Law Workshop 2008, Practising Law Institute, 529-40, 2008.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Guide to the USA

Litigation: Securities - California

Band 5
Band 5

Individual Editorial

Peter Adams has experience in handling various securities class actions in both California and Delaware. He regularly defends corporate clients and executives in the technology and healthcare industries.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • I like Peter's style. He is casual, reasonable and talented at breaking down complexity in a way that is translatable to a lay audience.

    Litigation: SecuritiesChambers Guide to the USA

Ranked Individuals at Cooley LLP (215)

California

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