Attorneys

Mary Manesis

Summary

Mary Manesis is an experienced litigator specializing in securities, investor and financial services cases. She has regularly represented investment banks and advisers, broker-dealers, issuers, officers and directors and accounting firms, in actions and proceedings involving shareholder and investor disputes. Ms. Manesis also has represented major banks and credit card issuers in consumer and commercial litigation. She has significant expertise managing complex class actions from pleading challenges through resolution.

Prior to joining Palmer, Lombardi & Donohue LLP, Ms. Manesis was Special Counsel with Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, LLP, where she represented investment banks and financial institutions, among other clients, in class actions and other litigation and proceedings.

Ms. Manesis is admitted to practice law in California and Illinois.

Education

Ms. Manesis received her Juris Doctorate degree from the UCLA School of Law and Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, San Diego.

Professional Activities

Ms. Manesis has written numerous legal articles on federal securities and class action developments.

Representative Matters

  • Defended an investment bank in a high-stakes securities action arising out of nine securities offerings and the collapse of a mortgage conglomerate. Successfully moved to dismiss half the claims, and obtained summary adjudication as to most of the remaining claims. Obtained summary judgment as to all federal securities claims against an investment bank and research analyst, based on their reasonable due diligence for an IPO and post-IPO coverage.
  • Successfully defended a pharmaceutical company and its management in two federal securities actions arising out of the suspension of clinical drug trials. In the first action, obtained summary judgment as to all claims. In a subsequent action based on a stock swap merger, obtained summary judgment as to many claims; settled remaining claims on the eve of trial.
  • Represented credit card issuers and banks in multiple consumer class actions asserting improper disclosure of customer information and privacy and Section 17200 claims.