Attorneys

r. Johnson is a partner involved in all areas of the firm's litigation practice, with particular emphasis on prosecuting securities fraud actions, patent litigation, corporate governance reforms, and trial practice.

Among other matters, Mr. Johnson was one of the partners who prosecuted the WorldCom, Inc. Securities Litigation - resulting in a recovery for investors of over $6.15 billion after five weeks of trial. Mr. Johnson was the partner primarily involved in dismantling the underwriters’ due diligence defense, which helped result in the multi-billion dollar recovery for investors.

Mr. Johnson was also the lead partner who oversaw the prosecution of the Williams Securities Litigation. Shortly before trial, BLB&G and the Lead Plaintiffs were able to obtain a total recovery of $311 million on behalf of investors, including $21 million from the company’s auditor. This is among the largest recoveries ever achieved in a securities class action where the SEC did not obtain any recovery for investors.

Mr. Johnson is leading the firm's prosecution of the securities class action concerning allegations of fraud in Washington Mutual's home loan business. The complaint filed on behalf of Lead Plaintiff Ontario Teachers is based on the results of BLG&G’s investigation, which was one of the most wide-ranging and fruitful investigations conducted in this practice area. The complaint presents evidence gathered from eighty-nine (89) confidential witnesses and many previously-undisclosed documents obtained through BLB&G’s investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington is reportedly making use of the facts detailed in BLB&G’s complaint in connection with its ongoing review of the wrongdoing at WaMu.

Mr. Johnson is also leading the firm's prosecution, along with co-counsel, of numerous patent litigations now pending against major electronics manufacturers including Nikon, Sharp, Samsung, LG. Philips, and others. These patent litigations relate to the technology used to manufacture flat panel displays, including LCD televisions. This case will be tried before a local jury and will focus on the misappropriation of a U.S. company’s inventions by companies in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and elsewhere in the Far East. The revenue defendants are generating using the plaintiff’s patented technology is in the billions of dollars per year. This litigation has been featured in an ABC News story, which included interviews with Mr. Johnson and the inventor of the technology. Mr. Johnson is also leading the firm’s prosecution of other massive patent litigation, along with co-counsel, against some of the largest computer and software companies in the world including Microsoft, Intel, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Toshiba, Sony, and others.

Mr. Johnson is also overseeing the firm's prosecution of the federal derivative action against the individuals involved in the options backdating scandal at UnitedHealth Group, Inc. This is the largest options backdating case in the country. In connection with this lawsuit, the company has effectively acknowledged that it engaged in options backdating and the company's Chairman and CEO (and a recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars of backdated stock options), William McGuire, has been forced out of the company because of his involvement in the scandal. A settlement in principle has been reached in this case which will result in the largest recovery ever in a derivative case. The settlement will also involve groundbreaking corporate reforms at UnitedHealth that will benefit shareholders for years to come.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Johnson was a partner with Latham & Watkins, where he practiced for ten years. While with Latham & Watkins, he represented investment banks, accounting firms, law firms, boards of directors, patent holders, and both publicly and privately held companies. He has extensive experience in the areas of securities litigation, complex commercial litigation, patent litigation, and international arbitration. He has also handled a variety of matters before federal and state courts, as well as arbitration tribunals both in the United States and abroad, including the International Chamber of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration, the Netherlands Arbitration Institute, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the American Arbitration Association, and JAMS.