KENDRA STEAD focuses on the creative and calculated representation of companies and professional services firms in commercial disputes, securities litigation and professional liability actions. Kendra has considerable knowledge in the areas of auditor defense and contract disputes, where she has earned impressive and consistent results for a number of Fortune 500 companies, U.S. and international accounting firms and individuals.
Kendra’s representative matters include:
- Represents a major accounting firm in federal securities class action in the Southern District of New York and related direct action and derivative lawsuits involving, among others, claims under Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933
- Obtained favorable appellate ruling in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit leading to entry of a judgment in excess of $750 million in favor of agent of a commercial lending group, and represents agent in enforcement proceedings before the district court
- Briefed and argued a matter before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit resulting in affirmance of an $11 million attorney fee award
- Represents individual auditor in investigation before the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
- Secured dismissal of shareholder derivative action against several directors of a Fortune 500 Company in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and won affirmance in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- Secured complete dismissal of complaint alleging fraud- and negligence-based claims against professional services firm and asserting more than $60 million in losses
- Represented Chicago Loop Parking LLC (an asset owned by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners) in an arbitration resulting in a $62 million judgment in favor of our client, which was contested in the Circuit Court of Cook County and affirmed by the Illinois Appellate Court
- Secured dismissal of a putative securities class action against a Fortune 500 Company and several of its directors alleging claims under Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado and won affirmance of dismissal on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Kendra’s litigation experience includes drafting dispositive motions, mediation statements and appellate briefs; taking and defending depositions; preparing audit partners, expert witnesses and others to testify before regulators, at deposition and at trial. She also has experience in working with expert witnesses, including liability and damages experts; opposing class certification; responding to regulatory subpoenas and inspection demands; advising clients on potential causes of action; drafting complaints and counterclaims; and managing large-scale discovery.