David BERGER
David Berger specializes in corporate governance, M&A and securities litigation as well as rapid response shareholder activism and corporate governance risk oversight. David’s practice is an unusual blend of corporate governance advisory work and litigation, and he is nationally recognized for his expertise in both the boardroom and the courtroom. David also represents directors and companies in internal investigations and public companies on disclosure and SEC proceedings.
David has served as lead counsel in many of the most significant governance, M&A and securities litigations over the last 25 years. During this time David has represented many leading technology and other companies in a variety of cases, including Alphabet (Google), Hewlett-Packard, Trade Desk, Genentech, Dropbox, Box, TD Ameritrade, Copart, Lumentum, Coherent, and Chevron. In addition, David represents many leading investment banks and private equity firms, including Morgan Stanley, SilverLake, TPG, Oak Hill, Francisco Partners, and Qatalyst Partners.
David is a senior fellow at NYU’s Center for Corporate Governance and Finance and is a visiting professor at NYU Law School. He is also a fellow at Stanford’s Rock Center for Corporate Governance. David previously taught M&A Litigation and was a visiting fellow in the Program on Corporate Governance at Harvard Law School and has been a visiting lecturer at a number of other leading law schools, including Duke, Stanford, Hebrew University, and Tel Aviv University, among others.
David is an advisor to the American Law Institute’s Restatement on Corporate Governance project. He is the president of the American College of Governance Counsel, and previously served as counsel to the NYSE’s Commission on Corporate Governance as well as the NYSE’s Proxy Working Group. David writes frequently on corporate law and governance matters, and his articles have appeared in a number of scholarly journals and business publications. He also regularly speaks at corporate governance and investor forums, frequently addressing governance issues faced by Silicon Valley companies.
David has been at Wilson Sonsini since 1989. Among other leadership roles, he has been a member of the firm’s board of directors and served as chair of the Policy Committee and chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.
David is a director of the Long-Term Stock Exchange, where he chairs the Nominating & Governance Committee. He also serves on many civic boards, including the Aspen Institute's Business and Society Program board of advisors and the San Francisco Symphony, where he is a member of the audit and finance committees. David also has an active pro bono practice, including serving as lead trial counsel for a variety of public interest groups.
David previously served on the board of directors of the California Culinary Academy (NASDAQ:COOK), including serving on the company's transactions committee as well as on the advisory board of Faurecia, a global leader in manufacturing auto parts based in Paris, and served as general counsel to the Super Bowl 50 Host Committee.
