Katten’s Bruce Vanyo Named Among 100 Most Influential People in Corporate Governance

CHICAGO – Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is pleased to announce that Bruce G. Vanyo, co-chair of the Securities Litigation Practice, has been named to the 2010 NACD Directorship 100, which recognizes the most influential people in corporate governance and the boardroom. The annual list compiled by the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is based on a survey of 15,000 public company directors and executives, and includes the nation’s leading corporate directors, corporate governance practitioners and public policy leaders. The complete list appears in the September 2010 issue of NACD Directorship.

Mr. Vanyo is one of only 19 private practice attorneys honored in this year’s Directorship 100, a list that also features President Barack Obama and key members of his administration, including David Axelrod, Rahm Emanuel and Valerie B. Jarrett. Also listed are Congressmen Christopher Dodd and Barney Frank, authors of the financial regulatory reform that became law this year, SEC Chairman Mary L. Schapiro, Apple CEO Steve Jobs, Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, and JPMorgan Chase CEO James L. Dimon.

“The esteemed boardroom leaders on the Directorship 100 share a common characteristic as proactive agents of change in the boardroom community, shaping the future of corporate governance at a time when American business looks to restore investor confidence and restore economic growth,” said NACD CEO and President Ken Daly.

Bruce G. Vanyo
During his 34 years in practice, Mr. Vanyo has defended more major securities cases than any other lawyer in America, representing some of the most prominent U.S. companies, including The Boeing Company, Dell, Hewlett Packard and Bank of America. His practice consists of defense of securities class actions, defense of derivative litigation, representation before the SEC and representation of board committees in conducting internal investigations. Mr. Vanyo has pioneered much of the securities law that has been favorable to defendants. In recognition of his success, when the technology industry was besieged by class actions, the industry asked him to lead its efforts to accomplish securities litigation reform. As a result, he created (and drafted for Congress) the pleading and safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Thereafter, he litigated and won the Silicon Graphics case, which was the most significant decision applying the Reform Act and created the highest pleading standard in the country for securities class actions.

Katten attorneys have been advising boards of directors, their audit and other committees, and individual directors for decades. Because of the board service of its own attorneys, Katten has insight into the director role that enables it to more effectively counsel other directors. The firm’s Corporate Governance Practice is extremely active in representing audit committees and special committees in derivative litigation, acquisition and sale proposals, and going private transactions. It also represents board committees charged with overseeing internal corporate investigations and dealing with governmental investigations, including those by the SEC, Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission.