Mary Weeks

Mary defends clients facing allegations involving securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate governance, and other shareholder derivative and securities class actions brought under Sections 10(b), 14(a), and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and state law. Her straightforward approach to evaluating and resolving claims has earned her loyal clients and dozens of early dismissals in critical venues such as the Delaware Court of Chancery, the Southern District of New York, and other federal courts within the Second, Third, and Ninth Circuits.

As head of the securities litigation practice group, Mary leads a core team of securities litigators who have refined an efficient, time-tested process for handling all aspects of her clients’ matters. She and her team have handled the full range of complex securities litigation, shareholder derivative litigation, dissenters’ rights actions and appraisal proceedings, as well as stockholder disputes before the Delaware Court of Chancery. Her clients benefit from her leadership and hands-on management of every matter, drawing from deep experience defending market leaders in sectors such as automotive, manufacturing, health care, life sciences, and early-stage biopharmaceuticals.

Mary leads and manages board of directors special committee and internal investigations, as well as regulatory investigations, including with the SEC, DOJ, and other government agencies.

Mary’s background includes trial-to-verdict experience in areas beyond securities litigation. She also serves as Troutman Pepper Locke’s firmwide hiring partner, leading the firm’s Regional Recruiting Committees.

Federal Securities Class Action and Merger & Acquisition Litigation

• Argued and prevailed on a motion to dismiss with prejudice for Section 14(a) and 20(a) federal securities claims against a former corporate officer arising from a SPAC merger with a Canadian manufacturer of zero-emission commercial vehicles. Bouchard-A v. N. Genesis Acquisition Corp., 2025 WL 1808469 (S.D.N.Y. July 1, 2025).
• Represented a pharmaceutical company in a securities class action litigation in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania involving alleged disclosures made in connection with the company’s efforts to gain FDA approval of a COVID-19 vaccine, and related derivative litigation. Obtained a complete dismissal with prejudice, which was affirmed by the Third Circuit. In re Ocugen, Inc. Sec. Litig., 659 F. Supp. 3d 572 (E.D. Pa. Mar. 3, 2023), aff’d 2024 WL 1209513 (3d Cir. Mar. 21, 2024).
• Obtained full dismissal of a shareholder securities class action filed against Ohr Pharmaceutical, Inc., and its officers and directors, alleging misstatements and/or omissions in SEC filings in violation of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Khanna v. Ohr Pharmaceutical, Inc., No. 1:18-cv-01284-LAP, 2019 WL 4572765 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 20, 2019). The Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal in both of two subsequent appeals. Lehmann v. Ohr Pharmaceutical, Inc., No. 20-4185 (2d Cir. Jan. 5, 2022); No. 18-3486 (2d Cir. Oct. 9, 2020). Also represented Ohr Pharmaceutical in related derivative actions in New York federal and state courts.
• Defended a franchising company in defeating a preliminary injunction motion seeking to enjoin a going-private merger valued at over $2 billion.
• Before a federal district court in the Sixth Circuit, obtained complete dismissal of a securities class action complaint filed against a former executive officer of a multinational food-service company alleging misstatements and/or omissions in a proxy statement in violation of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in connection with the company’s acquisition by a venture capital firm.
• Defeated preliminary injunction motions filed against multiple financial institutions and their directors and officers seeking to enjoin shareholder votes on M&A transactions and ensuring those companies’ ability to hold a successful shareholder vote and consummate the transaction. Parshall v. HCSB Fin. Corp., No. 4:17-cv-01589, 2017 WL 3130479 (D.S.C. July 24, 2017); Sciabucuchi v. Southcoast Fin. Corp., No. 2:15-cv-04352-DCN, Dkt. No. 47, 1/26/16 Hearing Transcript (D.S.C. June 28, 2017).
• Secured favorable outcomes in the early stages of litigation for numerous corporations and their directors and officers in multiple derivative actions that alleged various breaches of fiduciary duty and violations of Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that challenged the price, process, and disclosures of the company in relation to M&A transactions.
• Obtained pre-discovery dismissal of a federal court action alleging ERISA and other federal and state law claims against a former corporate director and officer arising from a putative class action in federal district court. The Sixth Circuit affirmed, and the U.S. Supreme Court denied certiorari. Loffredo v. Daimler AG, 666 F. App’x 370 (6th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 138 S. Ct. 80 (Oct. 2, 2017).

Delaware Court of Chancery and Other Derivative Litigation

• Obtained summary judgment in a putative class action before the Delaware Court of Chancery on behalf of an electric vehicle manufacturer that went public through a merger with a SPAC. In re Faraday Future Intelligent Elec. Inc. S’holder Litig., No. 2022-0845-LWW, 2025 WL 445038 (Del. Ch. Feb. 10, 2025). Favorably settled a related securities class action and derivative litigation in the Central District of California.
• Obtained dismissal of a putative stockholder class action litigation brought against the three-person special committee of Voltari Corporation directors who negotiated a challenged multimillion-dollar going-private transaction with the controlling stockholder of Voltari Corporation. Franchi v. Firestone, No. 2020-0503-KSJM, 2021 WL 1893232 (Del. Ch. May 10, 2021).
• Secured full dismissal of a shareholder derivative action against a former executive officer of one of the world’s leading footwear and athletic apparel companies based on allegations that the company lacked adequate internal controls for reporting employee misconduct.
• Obtained full dismissal of a derivative action filed against SunTrust Banks, Inc. and numerous current and former officers and directors, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty and mismanagement related to certain mortgage servicing practices. LR Trust v. Rogers, 270 F. Supp. 3d 1364 (N.D. Ga. 2017). A favorable settlement was reached while on appeal to the Eleventh Circuit.
• Represented a leading ethereum blockchain organization to recover amounts under the Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE Agreement).
• Represented a Delaware corporation in a Section 220 Books and Records action in Delaware Chancery Court.

Internal and Government Investigations

• Represented a special committee of the board of directors of a service provider in an independent investigation in response to a business dispute.
• Represented a special committee of the board of directors of a national real estate service provider in an independent investigation in response to a shareholder demand letter.
• Representation of several clients in a Department of Justice investigation relating to the health care sector.
• Represented a foreign investor in an insider trading investigation.

Appraisal and Dissenters’ Rights Proceedings

• Secured a favorable outcome in an appraisal action initiated by the dissenting shareholders of a manufacturing company in Georgia state court.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of the stockholders in a Washington dissenters’ rights proceeding (removed to federal court) seeking a fair valuation of their shares following a corporate reorganization and an order of judgment against the defendants, including recovery of attorneys’ fees.
• Secured a favorable settlement on behalf of a leading manufacturer in a Delaware appraisal action following the company’s completion of an over $2 billion acquisition.

• Chambers USA: Litigation: Securities, Georgia (2022-2025)
• Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch: Commercial Litigation (2021-2025), Litigation – Securities (2024-2025)
• Super Lawyers®: “Rising Star” – Securities Litigation, Georgia (2019-2025)
• Benchmark Litigation: “40 & Under List” in Georgia (2024-2025)