Biography
By any standard, David Kessler is a worldwide leader in securities litigation. His reputation and track record earn instant credibility with judges and bring opponents to the bargaining table in complex, high-stakes class actions. David has been recognized for excellence by publications including Benchmark Plaintiff and Law Dragon.
As co-head of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check’s securities litigation practice, David has led several of the largest class actions ever brought under the federal securities laws and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Since the financial crisis began in 2008, he has helped recover well over $5 billion for clients and class members who invested in financial companies such as Wachovia, Bank of America, Citigroup and Lehman Brothers. Prior to 2008, David guided some of the largest cases both in size—including allegations of a massive scandal regarding the unfair allocation of IPO shares by more than 300 public companies—and in notoriety—including the Tyco fraud and mismanagement litigation that resolved for over $3 billion.
David brings his background as a certified public accountant to bear in actions involving complex loss causation issues and damages arising from losses in public offerings, open market purchases, and mergers and acquisitions. As head of the firm’s settlement department, David also has extensive experience in mediation, settlements, claims administration and distributions.
A sought-after lecturer on securities litigation issues, David has been invited to speak by plaintiffs’ firms, defense firms, mediators and insurance carriers on a variety of topics related to securities class actions. He also assisted in authoring a chapter on mediations in a publication authored by a federal mediator.