Virginia Milstead

Virginia F. Milstead has a broad commercial litigation practice, representing clients in both federal and state courts, with a particular emphasis on securities and merger litigation, director misconduct and related claims. Ms. Milstead has represented clients in matters involving federal securities laws, duties of corporate directors, civil RICO, unfair business practices, and various other contract and tort claims. Among others, she has represented: – Yirendai Ltd. in securing a dismissal with prejudice of federal securities class action claims; – ChinaCache International Holdings, Ltd. in securing a dismissal with prejudice of federal securities class action claims; – the underwriters for an offering of preferred units in an oil and gas master limited partnership in securing a dismissal and favorable settlement of federal securities class action claims; – the founder and CEO of a semiconductor manufacturer in federal securities class action claims; – Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in a federal securities class action and derivative litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleging misrepresentations in press releases, conference calls and SEC filings related to, among other things, the effectiveness of the company’s flagship product and prospects for growth; – Nationwide Health Properties, Inc. and certain of its officers and directors in litigation arising from Nationwide’s merger with Ventas, Inc., resulting in a dismissal with prejudice and a favorable decision on an issue of first impression under Maryland law; – UNC Lear Services, Inc. and Lear Siegler Services, Inc. in a successful defense at trial and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit against breach of contract and civil RICO claims brought by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; – certain former outside directors of Countrywide Financial Corporation in securities, derivative and ERISA litigations; and – the founder of a casino in Las Vegas in a successful defense at trial against claims for fraud and invasion of privacy brought by the founder’s former spouse. Ms. Milstead has been a speaker at various conferences and bar events. Since 2012, Ms. Milstead has been a panelist for the annual Federal Court Boot Camp and Superior Court Boot Camp presented by Pincus Professional Education, at which she has instructed on all facets of civil procedure in federal and state courts. In addition to speaking at events hosted by the Los Angeles County Bar Association, she served as a panelist at the Third Annual William French Lecture at Pepperdine University School of Law, featuring retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor; and on three occasions she has been a panelist at the Byrne Judicial Clerkship Institute. Ms. Milstead also has organized and conducted new lawyer training related to class actions, legal writing and depositions.