David Hennes

Practice Areas

David, co-chair of both the firm’s corporate and securities litigation practice and investment banking industry group, is a partner resident in Ropes & Gray’s New York office. David has over 25 years of experience litigating a broad array of corporate disputes, with an emphasis on complex corporate litigation, securities cases, corporate-control disputes, and enforcement litigation. He regularly represents buyers, sellers, and financial advisors in all forms of litigation arising out of transactional matters, including breach of duty litigation, breach of contract and business tort cases, and post-closing disputes. He frequently handles complicated federal securities class actions and state law derivative actions, and advises Boards and Board Committees (including Special Litigation Committees) on their responses to these litigations. David has represented corporate and individual clients in all aspects of these matters at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts throughout the United States, as well as in non-public SEC, FINRA and state securities investigations.

David has been consistently recognized by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as a leading individual in General Commercial Litigation and Securities Litigation. The Legal 500 has repeatedly named David as a ‘Leading Lawyer’ for M&A Litigation: Defense, and also recognized him for General Commercial Disputes and Securities Litigation: Defense. David is described by Chambers as “an outstanding lawyer who has excellent judgment, is responsive 24/7 and gives excellent, thoughtful and practical business-oriented advice.” In the 2022 edition, Chambers sources described David as “an excellent litigator with a thorough awareness of clients' needs.” “He is smart, dedicated and hard-working and will stop at nothing to get the best for his client.” Chambers also noted that “his writing and oral advocacy and general client skills are as good as they come” and highlighted his “ability to handle a wide range of corporate and white-collar criminal litigation,” with a “great ability to argue and convince regulators of his position.” Sources commend David for his “great balance between aggressive advocacy and the ability to close on a compromise” and fellow practitioners offer praise for his “judgment and strategic thinking.” Legal 500 calls him a “first-rate litigator” and “solution-oriented.” David has also been recognized by Benchmark: Litigation as a New York Litigation Star.

David is a frequent writer and commentator on important issues of corporate law and has authored chapters in several leading treatises, including a chapter entitled ‘Fiduciary Duty Litigation’ published in Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts and a chapter entitled ‘Parallel Civil Litigation: US Perspective’ published in Global Investigations Review’s ‘The Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations.’ He also has a leading SPAC litigation and advisory practice, and regularly counsels SPAC underwriters, issuers, and targets on SPAC-related litigation issues, as well as speaking publicly on these issues, including at the annual SIFMA Compliance & Legal seminar.