Alison R.
Benedon

A partner in the Litigation Department, Alison Benedon represents clients in a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters, with a focus on securities litigation. Alison has substantial experience representing companies and their officers and directors in shareholder class actions and derivative litigations, as well as in high stakes trials and arbitrations, significant bankruptcy and restructuring matters, and regulatory and internal investigations.

Alison’s significant securities representations include:

• Amazon.com, Inc. and various executives and employees in the dismissal, with prejudice, of a putative securities class action alleging that defendants made false and misleading statements or omissions regarding Amazon’s private-label business practices, including the use of third party seller data, and the capacity of Amazon’s fulfillment network;
• Barclays Capital Inc., as underwriter of a secondary public offering by Macquarie Infrastructure Corporation, in a securities fraud case relating to the potential impact of shipping fuel regulations on one of Macquarie’s portfolio companies;
• Goldman Sachs in a securities fraud case relating to large bond offerings in Southeast Asia;
• Kirkland Lake Gold, as well as its former CEO, in defeating class certification and securing summary judgment in a securities fraud class action arising from alleged misrepresentations about its strategy for future acquisitions of gold mining companies;
• Kraft Heinz in class action, derivative and ERISA litigation arising from its $15 billion write down of its Kraft and Oscar Meyer brands;
• Nikola Corporation, a manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles, and several of its officers and directors, in the partial dismissals of a putative securities class action and a related derivative litigation regarding alleged misstatements about the company’s products and performances; and
• Oak Street Health in securities litigation concerning its disclosure of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation in connection with its marketing practices.

Alison’s recent representations also include:

• Diamond Sports Group, the nation’s largest owner of regional sports networks, in its chapter 11 cases filed in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. In connection with its filing, Paul, Weiss conducted an investigation on behalf of Diamond’s board that culminated in a complaint against various parties for over $1 billion arising from pre-petition transactions, which settled on highly favorable terms including approximately $500 million in cash to the estate;
• A major law firm in a complete defense verdict following a jury trial in an employment retaliation suit brought by a former employee; and
• A financial institution in a FINRA arbitration brought by a former employee following his termination.

She also maintains an active pro bono practice focused on civil rights and family law.