ProfessionalsGeoffrey R. Chepiga
Geoffrey R. Chepiga
Partner
Tel: +1-212-373-3421
Fax: +1-212-492-0421
emailgchepiga@paulweiss.com
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York,
NY
10019-6064
Fax: +1-212-492-0421
A partner in the Litigation Department, Geoffrey Chepiga represents clients in a variety of litigation and regulatory matters, including securities fraud cases, mergers and acquisitions litigation and DOJ and SEC investigations.
EXPERIENCE
Geoff's significant representations include:
- SAC Capital (now Point72 Asset Management) and Steven A. Cohen in criminal and regulatory proceedings, as well as civil litigations, arising out of claims of insider trading;
- A major French company in FCPA investigations in several different countries in South America and Europe;
- A publicly-traded financial institution in emergency arbitration proceedings before the ICC, and obtained relief requiring counterparty to adhere to contract and provide services during pendency of a dispute;
- Several acquirers and targets in M&A and securities litigation, including Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Bioverativ, Pattern Energy Group, Inc., Restaurant Brands International, CSRA, Inc. and UCP, Inc., among others;
- 14 underwriters, led by Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Bank of America/Merrill Lynch, in the defense of Securities Act claims arising from the initial and secondary offerings of Venator Materials PLC in Texas state court;
- A former executive of a large mining company in an action brought by the SEC in the Southern District of New York alleging misstatements, omissions and accounting violations relating to the value of a project in Africa;
- JPMorgan in the dismissal of a suit brought in the Southern District of New York by an investor who opted out of the $275 million class action settlement stemming from the run on Bear Stearns in 2008; and
- Funds affiliated with a leading private equity firm in defending a shareholder appraisal action in Delaware Chancery Court arising from the acquisition of a portfolio company.
Geoff was recognized in the 2020 edition of The Legal 500 US as a Leading Lawyer in the M&A Litigation: Defense category and a Recommended Lawyer in the Securities Litigation: Defense category.
Geoff was named to the French-American Foundation’s 2019 U.S. class of Young Leaders. Created in 1981, the Young Leaders program is a prestigious two-year transatlantic leadership program that brings together a group of 40 French and American rising stars under 40, from an array of sectors to forge bonds and help address global challenges.
Geoff also maintains a significant pro bono practice, a highlight of which is his representation of a class of individuals, including mentally disabled adults, residing in so-called adult homes in New York City. The class sued the state of New York, claiming that these homes violated the “integration mandate” of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). After ten years of litigation, the parties reached a landmark settlement to end the state's decades-long discrimination.
Geoff is the co-author of “Ownership or Use? Civilian Property Interests in International Humanitarian Law,” which appeared in the 49th volume of Harvard International Law Journal in 2008.
Related Resources
Paul, Weiss Wins Fourth Circuit Appeal for iStar
- Oct 22, 2020
- Client News
Paul, Weiss Wins Fourth Circuit Appeal for iStar
Paul, Weiss secured a victory for client iStar Inc. on October 22, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed an award in favor of iStar for attorney and expert fees of over $12 million.
Vertiv Holdings Completes $300 Million Secondary Offering of Class A Common Stock
- Aug 18, 2020
- Client News
Vertiv Holdings Completes $300 Million Secondary Offering of Class A Common Stock
Paul, Weiss represented Vertiv Holdings Co, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, in an underwritten secondary public offering of 23,000,000 shares of Vertiv’s Class A common stock by selling…
GDPR Issues In International Arbitration
- Aug 10, 2020
- Publications
GDPR Issues In International Arbitration
Given the broad reach, complexity and comprehensiveness of the EU’s General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), parties to international arbitrations need to be particularly mindful of data protection issues raised throughout…
Oak Hill Capital to Acquire Otelco
- Jul 27, 2020
- Client News
Oak Hill Capital to Acquire Otelco
Paul, Weiss is advising Oak Hill Capital Partners in its acquisition of Otelco Inc., a wireline telecommunications services provider in various states across the United States.
Chevron to Acquire Noble Energy in $13 Billion Deal
- Jul 20, 2020
- Client News
Chevron to Acquire Noble Energy in $13 Billion Deal
Paul, Weiss is advising Chevron Corporation in its all-stock acquisition of Noble Energy Inc., a Houston-based, leading independent energy company, at a total enterprise value of $13 billion.
Supreme Court: New York Convention Doesn’t Bar Non-Signatories to an International Arbitration Agreement from Seeking to Compel Arbitration
- Jun 08, 2020
- Publications
Supreme Court: New York Convention Doesn’t Bar Non-Signatories to an International Arbitration Agreement from Seeking to Compel Arbitration
In GE Energy Power Conversion France SAS v. Outokumpu Stainless USA, LLC, the Supreme Court held that the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards does not preclude a nonsignatory to an international…
Pattern Energy Completes $6.1 Billion Acquisition by CPPIB
- Mar 16, 2020
- Client News
Pattern Energy Completes $6.1 Billion Acquisition by CPPIB
Paul, Weiss advised the special committee of the board of directors of Pattern Energy Group Inc. in its approximately $6.1 billion all-cash acquisition by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).
Stanley Martin Homes to Acquire the Operations of Essex Homes
- Feb 20, 2020
- Client News
Stanley Martin Homes to Acquire the Operations of Essex Homes
Paul, Weiss is representing homebuilder Stanley Martin Communities in its acquisition of the homebuilding assets of Essex Homes in North Carolina and South Carolina.
Taylor Morrison Acquires William Lyon Homes in $2.5 Billion Deal
- Feb 06, 2020
- Client News
Taylor Morrison Acquires William Lyon Homes in $2.5 Billion Deal
Paul, Weiss advised national homebuilder and developer Taylor Morrison Home Corporation in its cash-and-stock acquisition of William Lyon Homes for approximately $2.5 billion, including assumption of debt.
Texas Appeals Court Dismisses Securities Claims Against Venator’s IPO Underwriters
- Jan 21, 2020
- Client News
Texas Appeals Court Dismisses Securities Claims Against Venator’s IPO Underwriters
Paul, Weiss won the dismissal, on appeal, of securities fraud claims in state court in Texas against our clients, underwriters of an IPO by UK-based pigment maker Venator Materials PLC.
Taylor Morrison to Acquire William Lyon Homes in $2.4 Billion Deal
- Nov 06, 2019
- Client News
Taylor Morrison to Acquire William Lyon Homes in $2.4 Billion Deal
Paul, Weiss is representing leading national homebuilder and developer Taylor Morrison Home Corporation in its cash-and-stock acquisition of William Lyon Homes for $2.4 billion, including assumption of debt.
Pattern Energy to Be Acquired by CPPIB in $6.1 Billion Deal
- Nov 04, 2019
- Client News
Pattern Energy to Be Acquired by CPPIB in $6.1 Billion Deal
Paul, Weiss is advising the special committee of the board of directors of Pattern Energy Group Inc. in its approximately $6.1 billion all-cash acquisition by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB).
Paul, Weiss and ACLU Seek Damages on Behalf of Separated Immigrant Families
- Oct 07, 2019
- Client News
Paul, Weiss and ACLU Seek Damages on Behalf of Separated Immigrant Families
Paul, Weiss and co-counsel the ACLU filed a class action seeking damages on behalf of thousands of traumatized children and parents harmed by the Trump administration’s separation of families at the southern border. » more
Brookfield to Invest in BrandSafway
- Sep 30, 2019
- Client News
Brookfield to Invest in BrandSafway
Paul, Weiss is representing Brookfield in its acquisition of half of Clayton, Dubilier & Rice’s ownership interest in BrandSafway, the leading provider of specialized services to the global industrial, commercial and…
Empire Resorts to Be Acquired by Kien Huat Realty
- Aug 16, 2019
- Client News
Empire Resorts to Be Acquired by Kien Huat Realty
Paul, Weiss is representing the special committee of the board of directors of Empire Resorts, Inc. in its acquisition by Kien Huat Realty III Limited and Genting Malaysia Berhad for $9.74 in cash per share of common stock, and with…
WaveDivision and Searchlight to Acquire Frontier Communications Operations for $1.35 Billion
- May 29, 2019
- Client News
WaveDivision and Searchlight to Acquire Frontier Communications Operations for $1.35 Billion
Paul, Weiss is representing the private equity joint venture of WaveDivision Capital LLC and Searchlight Capital Partners LLC in their $1.35 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications’ Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana…
Supreme Court Passes–For Now–on Rejecting an Implied Private Right of Action for Tender Offer Claims
- Apr 25, 2019
- Publications
Supreme Court Passes–For Now–on Rejecting an Implied Private Right of Action for Tender Offer Claims
On April 23, 2019, the Supreme Court issued a one-line per curiam order in Emulex v. Varjabedian: “The writ of certiorari is dismissed as improvidently granted.”
U.S. Supreme Court Holds that Primary Liability under the Federal Securities Laws May Be Based on Misstatements that the Defendant Did Not Make
- Mar 28, 2019
- Publications
U.S. Supreme Court Holds that Primary Liability under the Federal Securities Laws May Be Based on Misstatements that the Defendant Did Not Make
The Supreme Court held in Lorenzo v. Securities & Exchange Commission that under certain circumstances a person who does not “make” a misstatement may nonetheless be held primarily liable.
U.S. Supreme Court Confirms State Court Jurisdiction Over Securities Act Class Actions
- Mar 23, 2018
- Publications
U.S. Supreme Court Confirms State Court Jurisdiction Over Securities Act Class Actions
The U.S. Supreme Court recently resolved a split among state and federal courts about whether the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act of 1998 divested state courts of jurisdiction over class actions asserting claims under the…
CSRA to Be Acquired by General Dynamics for $9.6 Billion
- Feb 12, 2018
- Client News
CSRA to Be Acquired by General Dynamics for $9.6 Billion
Paul, Weiss is representing leading government IT provider CSRA in its $9.6 billion acquisition by defense contractor General Dynamics.
Second Circuit Rules That Evidence Rebutting Presumption of Reliance Need Not Be Conclusive
- Jan 17, 2018
- Publications
Second Circuit Rules That Evidence Rebutting Presumption of Reliance Need Not Be Conclusive
In Arkansas Teacher Retirement System v. Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., No. 16-250 (2d Cir. Jan. 12, 2018), the Second Circuit vacated the certification of a securities fraud class action due to two errors by the district court in its…
Bulk of Wells Fargo Shareholder Derivative Suit Survives Motions to Dismiss
- Dec 04, 2017
- Publications
Bulk of Wells Fargo Shareholder Derivative Suit Survives Motions to Dismiss
A judge in the Northern District of California recently allowed the bulk of claims to advance in the Wells Fargo shareholder litigation. Plaintiffs seek to hold the board liable for alleged sales practices that have received…
Second Circuit Holds That Direct Evidence of Price Impact Is Not Always Necessary to Establish Market Efficiency Under the Fraud-on-the-Market Doctrine
- Nov 09, 2017
- Publications
Second Circuit Holds That Direct Evidence of Price Impact Is Not Always Necessary to Establish Market Efficiency Under the Fraud-on-the-Market Doctrine
Geoffrey Chepiga and Emily Goldberg to Speak on Best Practices in Light of New Immigration Climate
- Nov 02, 2017
- Events
Geoffrey Chepiga and Emily Goldberg to Speak on Best Practices in Light of New Immigration Climate
Litigation partner Geoffrey Chepiga and pro bono counsel Emily Goldberg will participate in a panel discussion hosted by the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and the Human Services Council.
How In re Trulia Is Affecting M&A Litigation
- Sep 12, 2017
- Videos
How In re Trulia Is Affecting M&A Litigation
The M&A litigation landscape was dramatically altered by the Delaware Court of Chancery’s decision in In re Trulia in 2016.
Divided Second Circuit Panel Overrules Prior Newman Insider Trading Decision
- Aug 25, 2017
- Publications
Divided Second Circuit Panel Overrules Prior Newman Insider Trading Decision
On Wednesday, in United States v. Martoma, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overruled its own 2014 decision in United States v. Newman and altered the standard for determining whether the personal benefit…
Second Circuit Holds That Ascertainability Requirement Of Class Certification Does Not Include “Administrative Feasibility” And That Extraterritoriality Issues Can Preclude Predominance
- Jul 10, 2017
- Publications
Second Circuit Holds That Ascertainability Requirement Of Class Certification Does Not Include “Administrative Feasibility” And That Extraterritoriality Issues Can Preclude Predominance
In a July 7 decision with significant implications for the global OTC market, the Second Circuit addressed the standards for certifying classes in securities fraud cases. In In re Petrobras Securities Litigation, the Second Circuit…
U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Class Action Tolling Does Not Apply to Statutes of Repose
- Jun 27, 2017
- Publications
U.S. Supreme Court Rules That Class Action Tolling Does Not Apply to Statutes of Repose
In a decision likely to have significant ramifications for federal securities litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 26 that the class action tolling doctrine established in American Pipe & Construction Co. v. Utah does…
SAC Capital Secures Final Approval for Settlement of Class Action
- May 12, 2017
- Client News
SAC Capital Secures Final Approval for Settlement of Class Action
After more than four years of litigation, U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl entered final judgment approving the settlement of the last private civil class action alleging that Paul, Weiss clients Steven A. Cohen, SAC Capital…
Supreme Court to Examine Key Question of Securities Fraud Liability Based Solely on Omissions
- Mar 30, 2017
- Publications
Supreme Court to Examine Key Question of Securities Fraud Liability Based Solely on Omissions
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear an important securities case addressing the scope of federal securities law claims based solely on omissions of material information. Petitioners in the case, Leidos, Inc. v. Indiana …
Client Alert: Supreme Court Nominee Has Taken Skeptical View of Private Securities Fraud Litigation, Agency Deference
- Feb 02, 2017
- Publications
Client Alert: Supreme Court Nominee Has Taken Skeptical View of Private Securities Fraud Litigation, Agency Deference
On January 31, President Donald J. Trump nominated Tenth Circuit Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court seat vacated by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia nearly a year ago. Though his judicial record in private securities…
Client Alert: U.S. Supreme Court To Review Ruling That Class Action Tolling Does Not Apply to Statutes of Repose
- Jan 17, 2017
- Publications
Client Alert: U.S. Supreme Court To Review Ruling That Class Action Tolling Does Not Apply to Statutes of Repose
On January 13, 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit holding that the class action tolling doctrine established in American Pipe & Construction Co. v.…
Pro Bono Client Granted Commutation of Life Sentence
- Dec 29, 2016
- Client News
Pro Bono Client Granted Commutation of Life Sentence
Paul, Weiss represented a pro bono client in a successful clemency petition. Our client, a 54-year old man from Florida, had been sentenced to life imprisonment under a law that imposes a mandatory life sentence after two or more …
Client Alert: Second Circuit Holds That Parties to Standard Lock-Up Agreements in IPOs Do Not Form a “Group” for Section 13(d) and Section 16(b) Purposes
- Nov 08, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: Second Circuit Holds That Parties to Standard Lock-Up Agreements in IPOs Do Not Form a “Group” for Section 13(d) and Section 16(b) Purposes
A Second Circuit decision on November 3 in Lowinger v. Morgan Stanley rejected a theory that would have impeded the normal process by which trading of newly issued IPO shares is stabilized. In its November 3 ruling, the court…
In Vivendi Appeal, Second Circuit Rejects Challenge to “Price Maintenance” Theory of Price Impact
- Sep 30, 2016
- Publications
In Vivendi Appeal, Second Circuit Rejects Challenge to “Price Maintenance” Theory of Price Impact
On September 27, 2016, in related appeals arising from a long-pending securities fraud class action against Vivendi, the Second Circuit ruled on several important issues, including the proof necessary to both sustain and defeat…
Client Alert: Second Circuit Expands the IndyMac Rule
- Jul 22, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: Second Circuit Expands the IndyMac Rule
In two recent federal securities fraud actions stemming from the 2008 financial crisis, the Second Circuit has affirmed that statutes of repose
Client Alert: Second Circuit Rules That Constitutional Challenge to Appointment of SEC Administrative Law Judges Must Be Adjudicated During Review of SEC’s Final Order, and Not in a Separate District Court Lawsuit
- Jun 03, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: Second Circuit Rules That Constitutional Challenge to Appointment of SEC Administrative Law Judges Must Be Adjudicated During Review of SEC’s Final Order, and Not in a Separate District Court Lawsuit
Tilton v. SEC, No. 15-2103 (2d Cir. June 1, 2016), arose from an action in federal district court brought by Lynn Tilton and her investment firms ("Tilton"), who were respondents in an ongoing administrative proceeding before the…
Client Alert: Second Circuit Strikes Down Imposition of $1.27 Billion FIRREA Penalty, Holds That Government Failed to Prove Countrywide Acted with Fraudulent Intent
- May 31, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: Second Circuit Strikes Down Imposition of $1.27 Billion FIRREA Penalty, Holds That Government Failed to Prove Countrywide Acted with Fraudulent Intent
On May 23, 2016, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversed a jury's finding of liability and the district court's imposition of a $1.27 billion civil penalty on Countrywide and related defendants…
Client Alert: Eleventh Circuit Applies Five-Year Statute of Limitations to Claims for Disgorgement and Declaratory Relief, Creating a Circuit Split
- May 31, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: Eleventh Circuit Applies Five-Year Statute of Limitations to Claims for Disgorgement and Declaratory Relief, Creating a Circuit Split
In SEC v. Graham, No. 14-13562 (11th Cir. May 26, 2016), the Eleventh Circuit held that the five-year statute of limitations applicable to SEC enforcement proceedings under 28 U.S.C. § 2462 applies to disgorgement and declaratory…
Client Alert: The Sixth Circuit, in Agreement with the Second Circuit, Holds That American Pipe Tolling Does Not Apply to Statutes of Repose
- May 25, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: The Sixth Circuit, in Agreement with the Second Circuit, Holds That American Pipe Tolling Does Not Apply to Statutes of Repose
On Friday, in Stein v. Regions Morgan Keegan Select High Income Fund, Inc., Nos. 15-5903, 15-905, 2016 WL 2909333 (6th Cir. May 19, 2016), the Sixth Circuit ruled that the tolling doctrine established by American Pipe & …
Client Alert: Supreme Court Rejects Federal Jurisdiction Over State Law Claims That Do Not Necessarily Raise Exchange Act Issues
- May 16, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: Supreme Court Rejects Federal Jurisdiction Over State Law Claims That Do Not Necessarily Raise Exchange Act Issues
In Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. v. Manning, No. 14-1132 (May 16, 2016), the Supreme Court held that the provision of exclusive federal jurisdiction in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") does…
Client Alert: U.S. District Court in New Jersey Rules That the Two-Year Limitations Period for Suits to Recover Short-Swing Profits Under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Is a Statute of Repose That Is Not Subject to Tolling
- May 10, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: U.S. District Court in New Jersey Rules That the Two-Year Limitations Period for Suits to Recover Short-Swing Profits Under Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Is a Statute of Repose That Is Not Subject to Tolling
Last week, a judge in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey ruled on an issue that has remained unresolved since the United States Supreme Court split 4-4 on it four years ago: whether the two-year …
Client Alert: Eighth Circuit Interprets Halliburton II, Holding That Defendants Successfully Rebutted Fraud-on-the-Market Presumption of Reliance by Showing that the Alleged Misstatements Did Not Cause a Stock-Price Increase
- Apr 13, 2016
- Publications
Client Alert: Eighth Circuit Interprets Halliburton II, Holding That Defendants Successfully Rebutted Fraud-on-the-Market Presumption of Reliance by Showing that the Alleged Misstatements Did Not Cause a Stock-Price Increase
On April 12, 2016, in IBEW Local 98 Pension Fund v. Best Buy Co., Inc., the Eighth Circuit interpreted and applied the Supreme Court's decision in Halliburton Co. v. Erica P. John Fund, Inc. ("Halliburton II"), which …
Paul, Weiss Announces Election of Six New Partners
- Dec 04, 2015
- Firm News
Paul, Weiss Announces Election of Six New Partners
Six new partners have been elected to the partnership, effective January 1, 2016: Jacob A. Adlerstein, Geoffrey R. Chepiga, Ellen N. Ching, William A. Clareman, Gregory F. Laufer and Claudine Meredith-Goujon.
Awards & Recognition
Sixteen Paul, Weiss Partners Included in Benchmark Litigation's “Top 10 Women in Litigation,” “Top 250 Women in Litigation” and “40 & Under Hot List"
- Aug 19, 2020
- Awards
Sixteen Paul, Weiss Partners Included in Benchmark Litigation's “Top 10 Women in Litigation,” “Top 250 Women in Litigation” and “40 & Under Hot List"
Sixteen litigation partners have been recognized by Benchmark Litigation in its 2020 “Top 10 Women in Litigation,” “Top 250 Women in Litigation” and “40 & Under Hot List – Northeast.”
Six Paul, Weiss Partners Included in Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under Hot List – Northeast”
- Aug 02, 2019
- Awards
Six Paul, Weiss Partners Included in Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under Hot List – Northeast”
Litigation partners Jennifer Wu, Gregory Laufer, Roberto Gonzalez, Yahonnes Cleary, William Clareman and Geoffrey Chepiga were named to Benchmark Litigation’s 2019 “40 & Under Hot List – Northeast,” which recognizes the top…
Geoffrey Chepiga Named to French-American Foundation’s 2019 U.S. Class of Young Leaders
- Jun 07, 2019
- Awards
Geoffrey Chepiga Named to French-American Foundation’s 2019 U.S. Class of Young Leaders
Litigation partner Geoffrey Chepiga has been named to the French-American Foundation’s 2019 U.S. class of Young Leaders.
Paul, Weiss Honored by Immigration Equality at Safe Haven Awards
- May 24, 2018
- Awards
Paul, Weiss Honored by Immigration Equality at Safe Haven Awards
Paul, Weiss was one of three firms honored at the annual Safe Haven Awards hosted by Immigration Equality at Lincoln Center.