Justin Ward is a partner in Goodwin’s Securities Litigation and Complex Litigation + Dispute Resolution practices. His practice focuses on securities class actions, SEC investigations, M&A litigation, and corporate governance matters, in particular for life sciences and technologies companies. Justin also regularly represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies in post-closing, corporate governance, indemnification, and contract disputes.
Experience
Justin regularly represents and advises companies and individuals in all phases of litigation, commercial disputes, and regulatory and internal investigations. His representations include:
- Defending a life sciences company, as well as its executives, against securities fraud claims related to the disclosure of a complete response letter from FDA
- Defending a life sciences company against securities fraud claims related to the termination of a collaboration agreement with a pharmaceutical company
- Defending a technology company, as well as its directors and officers, against a securities class action lawsuit alleging misrepresentations and omissions in a proxy statement for a merger
- Representing a technology company in an SEC investigation concerning revenue recognition issues, which concluded with no charges
- Representing a cannabis company in an SEC investigation concerning a financial restatement
- Defending underwriters of a public offering by a life sciences company from securities fraud claims concerning clinical trial results, obtaining dismissal of all claims
- Representing the portfolio company of a private equity firm bringing fraud and fiduciary duty claims against its former CEO and founder in connection with an earnout payment
- Defending a pharmaceutical company against federal securities fraud claims related to alleged off-label marketing*
- Defending the portfolio company of a private equity firm against federal securities claims relating to a take-private transaction*
- Defending the former executive of a cryptocurrency company against an SEC civil enforcement action*
* Denotes experience prior to joining Goodwin
Professional Experience
Prior to joining Goodwin, Justin was an associate at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
Credentials
Education
JD2014
Harvard Law School
MA2009
Duke University
BA2005
Washington University in St. Louis
Clerkships
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Hon. Julius N. Richardson
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Hon. Timothy J. Kelly
Admissions
Bars
- Massachusetts
- New York
Courts
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Publications
Justin’s recent publications and presentations include:
- Speaker, “2023-2024 Key Trends and Updates: Securities Litigation Against Life Sciences Companies,” April 3, 2024
- Co-Author, “Securities Litigation Against Life Sciences Companies 2023 Year in Review,” March 2024
- Co-Author, "What Comes Next for Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) After 'Slack'?" Law.com, November 8, 2023
- Co-Author, “High Court: Section 11 Securities Plaintiffs Must Trace Shares to Challenged Registration Statement,” New York Law Journal, June 26, 2023