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Chris Gaine

Associate

Christopher's practice focuses on merger defense, securities litigation, antitrust, contractual disputes, and several discovery-related matters.

Christopher has represented several Fortune 500 clients in the financial services, technology, and media industries, in federal and state courts, including the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, and the Delaware Court of Chancery. Christopher also advises clients on a variety of pre-litigation matters.

Experience

Representative matters

  • A Fortune 500 technology company in a successful post-closing defense against stockholder claims contesting the $12.5 billion sale of a subsidiary.
  • A Fortune 50 financial institution in a successful defense of stockholder claims alleging breaches of fiduciary duties under Delaware law.
  • A global media company in an antitrust lawsuit brought by the DOJ.
  • A major U.S. sports entertainment company in a lawsuit stemming from the acquisition of a startup.
  • A major U.S. sports entertainment company in an arbitration related to a contractual dispute.
  • A major U.S. retailer on a pre-enforcement antitrust investigation.
  • A national U.S. retail services company in a breach of contract action against a client.
  • A Fortune 50 company on several discovery-related matters, including multiple depositions.
  • A large foreign financial institution in connection with SEC and CFTC investigations into off-channel communications.
  • A global media company in a successful appeallate defense of dismissal of Securities Act Section 11 claims.
  • A Fortune 50 financial institution on defense against civil claims under Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
  • A Fortune 20 auto manufacturer in defense of stockholder claims under Section 10 of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.

Pro bono

  • Assisted in drafting memorandum detailing international standards for the protection of lawyers.
  • Drafted terms of use for a small, locally owned start-up company's website.
  • Assisting college student from Afghanistan in U.S. asylum application.

Published Work

  • Co-author, "Delaware Court of Chancery Rejects Claims Related to the Acquisition of an Alleged Controller's Portfolio Company for Failure to Plead Demand Futility," The M&A Lawyer, February 2024
  • Co-author, "Delaware Court of Chancery Holds That Corwin Cleansing Does Not Apply to Claims for Injunctive Relief Related to Alleged Defensive Measures," The M&A Lawyer, June 2023

Qualifications

Admissions

Attorney-at-Law, New York

United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Academic

St John University School of Law J.D., cum laude

Stony Brook University B.A., magna cum laude

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.