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Professional background
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Edward "Ned" G.Babbitt

Senior Managing Associatemoc.eniHnospmohT@ttibbaB.deN
Cincinnati

O 513.352.6753

New York

O 212.908.3916

Edward "Ned" G.Babbitt

Senior Managing Associate

Focus Areas

Examples of Ned’s experience include:

Securities and Shareholder Litigation

  • Secured dismissal of corporate veil piercing claims asserted against an investment firm. Briefed and argued the winning motion before Vice Chancellor Laster. (Delaware Court of Chancery)
  • Represented a public company and its directors and officers in defense of a class action securities fraud suit alleging violations Exchange Act Section 10(b) and SEC Rule 10b-5 in connection with certain COVID-related press releases, achieving a favorable settlement funded almost entirely by insurance proceeds. (N.D. California)
  • Represented a public company and its directors and officers against class action and derivative breach of fiduciary duty claims relating to various executive compensation and financing decisions, securing dismissal of all claims on the pleadings. (Delaware Court of Chancery)
  • Represented a public company and its directors and officers in defense of shareholder derivative claims alleging breach of fiduciary duty, securing dismissal of all claims on the pleadings. (California Superior Court)
  • Directed response to third-party subpoenas issued in connection with SEC and/or FINRA enforcement actions. (SEC and FINRA)
  • Represented a high-profile activist investor in a litigation arising out of the activist’s proxy contest to replace the target’s entire board of directors, resulting in a favorable non-monetary settlement. (Delaware Court of Chancery)
  • Represented Fortune 500 digital print technology company in shareholder litigation challenging a proposed transaction. (New York Commercial Division)
  • Represented silicone and specialty chemicals company in Delaware appraisal action brought by shareholders following the company’s acquisition by a private equity consortium. (Delaware Court of Chancery)

Other Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Achieved favorable settlement in arbitration against Fortune 500 company over a sale-of-business non-competition agreement.
  • Advised a number of new ventures in connection with a variety of potential disputes, ranging from responding to books and records demands from disgruntled stockholders to successfully resolving breach of contract claims.
  • Successfully defended a major investment firm in multiple employment discrimination actions brought by former employees.
  • Represented leading e-commerce company in class action antitrust suit involving allegations of price-fixing.
  • Achieved favorable settlement for a leading power generation company in a billion-dollar trade secrets misappropriation lawsuit brought against a direct competitor.
  • Defended a financial institution in a multi-billion-dollar contractual dispute concerning the valuation of tens of thousands of derivatives trades following the 2008 financial crisis.
  • Resolved a potential contractual dispute between an MLB team and its lead sponsor over the terms of a stadium naming rights agreement.
  • Advised NBA and NHL teams in connection with potential liability and best practices for hosting in-person events during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Advised several companies in connection with potential exposure and threatened litigation arising from breaches of contract following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Internal Investigations

  • Conducted internal investigation into allegations that a board member of a major financial institution violated code of conduct policies in interactions with employees.
  • Conducted internal investigation into an insurer’s government contracting practices in response to a criminal inquiry from the Department of Justice.

Pro Bono

  • Successful representation of an individual in housing court proceedings, resulting in dismissal of landlord’s eviction petition.
  • Successful representation of the League of Women Voters to extend the state of Florida’s voter registration deadline in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.
  • Led team of non-partisan Election Protection volunteers to provide voters with information, document issues encountered when voting, and identify and remove barriers to voting as they arise.
  • Developed and published “how-to” guides for individuals and small businesses navigating federal, state and local pandemic relief programs.

Community Activities

  • Cincinnati Regional Chamber’s C-Change Class 17
  • ProKids Chance at a Childhood Capital Campaign, committee member

Education

  • Columbia Law School, J.D., 2015,

    James Kent Scholar, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 2011,
    with distinction

Bar Admissions

  • Ohio
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio