S. Douglas Bunch is a partner at Cohen Milstein, a member of the Securities Litigation & Investor Protection practice, and co-chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.
Doug has also had the unique honor of being appointed by President Joseph R. Biden as Public Delegate of the United States to the United Nations.
As a securities litigator, Doug represents individual and institutional investors in securities and shareholder class actions. His work and legal arguments in precedent-setting cases, such as In re Harman International Industries, Inc. Securities Litigation, have earned him numerous accolades, including being named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under Hot List” and a Law360 “Rising Star – Securities,” honoring lawyers under the age of 40 whose professional accomplishments transcend their age.
Doug is co-founder and chairman of Global Playground, Inc., a nonprofit that builds schools and other educational infrastructure in the developing world and serves or has served on the boards of the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. He has twice been appointed, in 2016 and again in 2020, by governors of Virginia to the Board of Visitors of the College of William & Mary.
In 2011, Doug was awarded William & Mary’s inaugural W. Taylor Reveley III award, recognizing alumni who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to public service.
- Board of Visitors, College of William & Mary
- Co-Founder and Chairman, Global Playground Inc.
- District of Columbia
- New York
- William & Mary Law School, J.D., Benjamin Rush Medal, 2006
- Harvard University, Ed.M., 2003
- College of William & Mary, B.A., summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2002
Current Cases
Cape Fear River PFAS Litigation: Nix, et al. v. The Chemours Company FC, LLC et al.
Cape Fear River Contaminated Water Litigation (E.D.N.C.): Cohen Milstein is Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel in a series of five putative environmental toxic tort class actions filed against E.I. DuPont de Nemours Company and The Chemours Company for knowingly discharging PFAS, such as GenX, and other “forever chemicals” into the Cape Fear River, one of North Carolina’s principal drinking water sources.
In re Silvergate Capital Corporation Securities Litigation
In re Silvergate Capital Corporation Securities Litigation (S.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein and Bernstein Litowitz, jointly, as Lead Counsel in this securities class action against Silvergate Capital Corporation, filed an amended consolidated class action complaint before the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. The complaint alleges that Silvergate, a holding company for Silvergate Bank, which is a federally regulated depository and lender for major cryptocurrency platforms, including Coinbase, Genesis, and FTX, made materially false and misleading statements about the Company’s compliance framework, as well as its anti-money laundering and customer identification programs.
In re EQT Corporation Securities Litigation
In re EQT Corporation Securities Litigation (W.D. Pa.): Cohen Milstein is Co-Lead Counsel in this securities class action, in which Plaintiffs allege that EQT misrepresented the “substantial synergies” that were expected to arise from a planned merger with rival natural gas producer Rice Energy due to “the contiguous and complementary nature of Rice’s asset base with EQT’s.”
Texas and Indiana Pension Funds v. InnovAge Holding Corp. et al.
Texas and Indiana Pension Funds v. InnovAge Holding Corp. et al. (D. CO.): Cohen Milstein is Lead Counsel in this securities class action that alleges InnovAge "substantially failed" to “provide to its participants medically necessary items and services" as required by government regulation. As a result, CMS and the State of Colorado suspended enrollment at InnovAge’s Colorado facilities. InnovAge's stock price declined 78% just nine months after its IPO, giving InnovAge the distinction of being one of 2021's five worst performing stocks.
Past Cases
In re China Mediaexpress Holding, Inc. Shareholder Litigation
In re China Mediaexpress Holding, Inc. Shareholder Litigation (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein was Co-Lead Counsel in this certified securities fraud class action and represented investors against U.S. listed China Mediaexpress (CME), purportedly on of the largest television advertising networks in China in an alleged “pump and dump” scheme, whereby it inflated its revenue and earnings to pay management earn-outs and inflate the stock price so insiders can sell. Investors further alleged that Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (DTT), its independent auditor, misled investors about its client’s financial health and did not follow PCAOB auditing standards or GAPP. In January 2014, the Court ordered a default judgment and $535 million settlement against CME and in May 2015 a $12 million settlement against DTT. The Court issued a final judgment, concluding all litigation in September 2015.
In re Wells Fargo & Company Securities Litigation
In re Wells Fargo & Company Securities Litigation (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein, as Co-Lead Counsel, represented Public Employees' Retirement System of Mississippi and the Employees Retirement System of Rhode Island in this securities fraud class action. Plaintiffs alleged that Wells Fargo and certain former executives misrepresented its compliance with a series of 2018 consent orders with the CFPB, OCC, and the Federal Reserve arising from the Bank's widespread consumer fraud banking scandal. On September 8, 2023, the Court granted final approval of a historic $1 billion settlement, which is the largest securities class action settlement in 2023, the sixth largest in the last decade, the ninth largest ever in the Second Circuit, and the 17th largest ever. It is also the largest settlement ever without a restatement or related actions by the Securities Exchange Commission or U.S. Department of Justice.
Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund v. Davis
Plumbers & Pipefitters National Pension Fund v. Davis (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein was Lead Counsel in this high-profile, putative securities class action involving Performance Sports Group’s failure to disclose that its purported financial success was not based on sustainable, “organic” growth as represented, but was driven by the company’s manipulative and coercive sales practices, which included pulling orders forward to earlier quarters and pressuring customers to increase their orders without regard for market demand. The SEC and Canadian authorities subsequently initiated investigations, and PSG filed for bankruptcy. On November 22, 2022, the Court granted final approval of a $13 million settlement, which is in addition to the $1.15 million settlement plaintiff obtained in Performance Sports Group’s 2016 bankruptcy proceedings through the prior approval of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and the Ontario Superior Court in Canada.
City of Birmingham Firemen’s and Policemen’s Supplemental Pension System v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al.
City of Birmingham Firemen’s and Policemen’s Supplemental Pension System v. Credit Suisse Group AG, et al. (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein, as Co-Lead Counsel, represented plaintiffs in this class action against Credit Suisse Group AG, regarding its misrepresentations of its trading limits and risk controls and resulting in accumulation of billions of dollars in extremely risky, highly illiquid investments, including the surreptitious accumulation of nearly $3 billion in distressed debt and U.S. collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”). On December 16, 2020, the court granted final approval of a $15.5 million settlement.
MF Global Securities Litigation
MF Global Securities Litigation (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein represented the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund and achieved a $90 million settlement in this precedent–setting securities class action in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit sided with the plaintiffs and held that companies cannot make false or misleading statements in their offering documents and then hide behind risk disclosures related to those facts to escape liability. The National Law Journal singled out Cohen Milstein’s work on the case in connection with its selection of the firm as a Hot Plaintiffs’ Firm for that year. Cohen Milstein was Co-Lead Counsel.
Bear Stearns Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Litigation
Bear Stearns MBS Litigation (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein as co-lead counsel represented the New Jersey Carpenters Health Fund in a $505 million landmark settlement (including a $5 million expense fund) of a securities class action suit alleging that Bear Stearns violated securities laws in the sale of mortgage backed securities to investors. This is the largest recovery ever obtained in a securities class action on behalf of investors in mortgage-backed securities.
Harborview MBS Litigation
New Jersey Carpenters Health Fund, et al., v. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group, PLC (S.D.N.Y.): Litigation gave rise to a $275 million settlement with Royal Bank of Scotland. Cohen Milstein was lead counsel in a complex case, in which presiding Judge Loretta A. Preska, of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, commented on the “job well done” by the Cohen Milstein team.
In re GreenSky Securities Litigation
In re GreenSky Securities Litigation (S.D.N.Y.): Cohen Milstein was Co-Lead Counsel in this securities class action involving fintech company GreenSky’s failure to disclose in its Initial Public Offering documents significant facts about the Company’s decision to pivot away from its most profitable line of business. This failure led to its stock plummeting and causing significant investor harm. In October 2021, the Court granted final approval of a $27.5 million settlement.
In re Harman International Industries, Inc. Securities Litigation
In re Harman International Industries, Inc. Securities Litigation (D.D.C.): Cohen Milstein obtained a precedent-setting ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, reversing the dismissal of the case by the lower court, protecting investors by limiting the scope of protection afforded by the so-called “safe-harbor” for forward-looking statements in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
In re Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Third-Party Payor Litigation
In re Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Third-Party Payor Litigation (D.N.J.): On February 22, 2022, the court granted final approval of a $23 million settlement against Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc., as well as a $125,000 settlement against specialty pharmacy Philidor RX Services LLC and certain officers and directors for their roles in an alleged RICO Act scheme to shield the company’s drugs from competition, fraudulently inflate the prices of its products, and artificially boost sales at the expense of third party payors.
Opus Bank Securities Litigation
Nancy Schwartz v. Opus Bank, et al. (C.D. Cal.): Cohen Milstein was appointed lead counsel in this securities class action litigation against defendants Opus Bank. Arkansas Public Employees Retirement System was appointed Lead Plaintiff. On November 5, 2018, the Honorable André Birotte Jr. for U.S. District Court Central District of California granted final approval of a $17 million settlement.
- Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers (2024)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers List (2021-2023)
- Benchmark Litigation 40 & Under Hot List (2018-2019)
- DC Super Lawyers Securities Litigation (2018-2020)
- Law360 Rising Star (2017)
February 27, 2024
Doug Bunch to Keynote LAD24 & Discuss Global Perspectives in Leadership
The Joint National Committee for Languages-National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS) has invited S. Douglas Bunch, a partner at Cohen Milstein, co-founder of Global Playground, and a U.S. Public Delegate to the United Nations, to be a keynote speaker for the 2024 Language Advocacy Days conference on February 27 & 28, 2023. Doug […]
Events | Joint National Committee for Languages-National Council for Languages and International Studies
February 15, 2024
Largest Securities-Related Class Action Settlements of 2023
2023 delivered a banner year for investor recoveries, as the $7.9 billion in settlement funds across the globe was the highest total in the last five years. The $5.8 billion specifically secured in securities-related class actions in the U.S. was also up 18% from 2022. In this ISS Insights post, ISS Securities Class Action Services, […]
In the News | ISS Securities Class Action Services
October 13, 2023
A Conversation with Doug Bunch, Partner at Cohen Milstein & Former U.S. Public Delegate to the United Nations
Join American Constitution Society (ACS) and Plaintiffs’ Law Association at the University of Virginia (PLAVA) for a special conversation w/ Doug Bunch, partner at Cohen Milstein and former US public delegate to the United Nations. Mr. Bunch’s practice focuses on securities litigation and investor protection, including a recent $1 billion settlement with Wells Fargo for misleading investors. […]
Events | ACS and PLAVA
November 14, 2023
S. Douglas Bunch Invited to Speak to William & Mary Law Students on Pursuing a Plaintiff’s Practice
S. Douglas Bunch, a partner in our Securities Litigation & Investor Protection practice, has been invited to speak to William & Mary Law students on pursuing a plaintiff’s practice on November 15, 2023 at 12:50 p.m. Mr. Bunch (’06) joins a panel of other plaintiffs lawyers and William & Mary Law School alumni. In addition […]
Events
October 5, 2023
Cohen Milstein and Susman Godfrey Help Cape Fear River Residents Win Class Certification in PFAS Toxic Tort Class Action Against Chemours and DuPont
COHEN MILSTEIN AND SUSMAN GODFREY HELP CAPE FEAR RIVER RESIDENTS WIN CLASS CERTIFICATION IN PFAS TOXIC TORT CLASS ACTION AGAINST CHEMOURS AND DUPONT More than 770,000 North Carolinians were exposed to toxic “forever chemicals” in their drinking water while Chemours and DuPont misled officials about toxic material disposal Cape Fear, N.C. – A federal judge […]
Press Releases
October 5, 2023
NC Residents Get Class Cert. In Chemours, DuPont PFAS Suit
A North Carolina federal judge granted class certification to a suit claiming the Chemours Co. and DuPont discharged wastewater containing PFAS and GenX chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals,” into the Cape Fear River, exposing as many as 100,000 residents to the toxic substances. The consolidated lawsuit claims that E.I. du Pont de Nemours & […]
In the News | Law360
May 15, 2023
Cohen Milstein Secures a Historic $1 Billion Settlement for Shareholders in Wells Fargo Securities Class Action
For Immediate Release Press Contact: Tess Roy tess.roy@berlinrosen.com Investors Successfully Negotiate Settlement in Case Against Wells Fargo Alleging the Bank Misled Investors About Its Compliance with Federal Consent Orders and Likelihood Its Asset Cap Would be Lifted and Look Forward to the Court’s Consideration of the Settlement NEW YORK, NY – Today, Co-Lead Plaintiffs and […]
Press Releases
April 19, 2023
The UN from Inside: Perspectives from a U.S. Public Delegate to the United Nations
Emerging Voices Staff Writer Dan Kent had the chance to sit down with S. Douglas Bunch, a Public Delegate at the United States Mission to the United Nations. Below is a lightly edited transcript of their conversation. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us! First, can you give me an overview of […]
In the News | Young Professionals in Foreign Policy
April 18, 2023
Board of Visitors Member S. Douglas Bunch: From Virginia to the World – The Flat Hat
College alumni S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ’06 emphasizes education, professional achievements After graduating from the College of William and Mary, Board of Visitors member S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ‘06 still centers education within his career. Whether working as a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers and Toll PLLC or as a U.S. representative at […]
In the News
December 5, 2022
Cohen Milstein Gets $4.8M Fee in Performance Sports Case – Law360
A New York federal judge awarded more than $4.8 million in fees to Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, granting a request by the attorneys who secured a class action settlement between investors and former executives of the bankrupt Performance Sports Group Ltd. after nearly seven years of litigation. U.S. District Judge Gregory H. Woods […]
In the News
December 5, 2022
“Attys Behind Performance Sports Deal Seek $3.6M In Fees,” Law360
Lawyers representing Performance Sports Group investors should be awarded $3.6 million for their work in securing a settlement in a proposed class action alleging PSG executives lied to shareholders about the now-bankrupt athletic gear manufacturer’s sales tactics, the attorneys told a New York federal court. Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC said Friday that the […]
In the News
September 6, 2022
“W&M Alumnus, Board Member Appointed as Representative to the UN”
S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ’06, has been appointed a representative of the United States to the 77th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. William & Mary alumnus and Board of Visitors member S. Douglas Bunch ’02, J.D. ’06, has been appointed a representative of the United States to the 77th session […]
In the News | W&M News
September 6, 2022
President Biden Announces Key Nominees
WASHINGTON – Today, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to serve as key leaders in his administration: S. Douglas Bunch, Nominee for Public Delegate of the United States to the 77th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations S. Douglas Bunch is a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll […]
In the News
July 29, 2022
“Virginia School District Leaders Ask Court to Uphold Teacher Firing in Transgender Student Case”
School board members from five Virginia localities and Richmond’s schools superintendent have signed onto an amicus brief to the Supreme Court of Virginia opposing a former teacher’s claim that he was unlawfully fired for violating his district’s anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies. The brief, which was submitted by LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Virginia and more than […]
In the News | Virginia Mercury
July 28, 2022
Equality Virginia and Partners File Amicus Brief in Support of Transgender and Non-Binary Students in Virginia Schools
RICHMOND, VA – Last evening, Equality Virginia, the Commonwealth’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) equality, along with 35 partners and school board leaders across the Commonwealth, filed an amicus brief in support of transgender students in Virginia schools. The brief asks the Supreme Court of Virginia to uphold the […]
Press Releases
April 5, 2022
DAQ Settlement Requires Chemours to Further Limit GenX Emissions and Conduct Additional Testing
As part of a settlement signed today with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ), Chemours has agreed to further limit GenX emissions, conduct additional testing and pay the penalty assessed last year by DAQ. The agreement will require Chemours to reduce GenX emissions from the Carbon Adsorber Unit in […]
In the News | NC DEQ
February 22, 2022
Valeant Judge OKs $23M to End ‘Secret’ Pharmacy RICO Suits
A New Jersey federal judge adopted a special master’s report Tuesday approving two settlements totaling over $23 million to resolve claims that the former Valeant Pharmaceuticals used a “secret network of captive pharmacies” to stifle generic competition, driving up prices for third-party payors. The approval ends what U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp in his memorandum opinion […]
In the News | Law360
May 25, 2021
“GreenSky Investors Reach $27.5 Million Settlement, Seek Court OK,” Bloomberg Law
GreenSky Inc. investors who accuse the fintech firm of misleading them about its 2018 initial public offering asked a federal judge in New York to grant preliminary approval to their $27.5 million settlement. The deal represents almost 14% of the investors’ “estimated recoverable damages, discounted for certain potential defenses,” the class said in a memo […]
In the News
April 5, 2021
EQT Investors Seek Class Cert. in Suit Over $6.7B Merger
A group of investors have asked a Pennsylvania federal court to certify their class in a suit over the $6.7 billion merger between EQT Corp. and Rice Energy, which they say lost them millions as a result of misrepresentations. Investors including lead plaintiffs Government of Guam Retirement Fund and Northeast Carpenters Pension Fund, asked Friday […]
In the News | Law360
December 2, 2020
EQT Must Face Investor Suit Over $6.7B Merger, Judge Says
A Pennsylvania federal judge on Wednesday declined to throw out a proposed class action over EQT Corp.’s merger with Rice Energy, ruling that investors adequately alleged that EQT’s executives made statements about the benefits of the merger that “were simply not true at the time they were made.” The natural gas producer’s investors claim that […]
In the News | Law360
July 13, 2020
Research Suggests Link Between PFAS Contamination and the Coronavirus
Studies say people with high levels of PFAS in their systems could be more susceptible to contracting COVID-19. John Wolfe doesn’t know what else he can do to protect himself against the coronavirus. The Wilmington boat captain follows all of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. He wears a mask and requires tourists […]
In the News | North Carolina Health News
July 1, 2020
New Research Confirms Presence of Toxic “Forever Chemicals” in Scores of NC Water Supplies
GenX study shows contamination in 80% of wells tested; mice studies show liver damage from Nafion Byproduct 2 Raw water supplies for at least 150 public utilities in North Carolina contained some level of toxic PFAS, underscoring the call of many scientists this week to regulate the thousands of perfluorinated compounds as a class. Some […]
In the News | NC Policy Watch
June 8, 2020
Cohen Milstein’s S. Douglas Bunch Reappointed to William & Mary Governing Board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C. – Virginia Governor Ralph S. Northam (D-VA) announced today the reappointment of Cohen Milstein partner S. Douglas Bunch to a second four-year term on the Board of Visitors of William & Mary, the second oldest university – and first law school – in the nation. The appointment comes as the […]
In the News
January 24, 2019
Case to Watch: First Solar Inc. v. Mineworks Pension Scheme
A basic premise of the federal securities laws is that investors are entitled to recover for harms caused by the revelation of a company’s false statements. But in First Solar Inc. v. Mineworks Pension Scheme, defendants argue that they cannot be held liable for losses caused by the revelation of the effects of their fraudulently […]
Articles | Shareholder Advocate Winter 2019
January 1, 2019
Securities Cases Plaintiffs Attorneys Must Watch in 2019
By S. Douglas Bunch and Alice Buttrick A basic premise of the federal securities laws is that investors are entitled to trust the veracity of a company’s public statements. In 2018, defendants in three key securities cases made novel attacks on the idea that corporations and corporate speakers are responsible for the accuracy of the […]
Articles | Law360
November 9, 2017
Opus Bank to Pay $17 Million to Settle Allegations of Misleading Investors About Lending Practices
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: West Coast bank settles securities class action pending in the U.S. District Courtfor the Central District of California. Washington, D.C. – Opus Bank (NASDAQ:OPB) will pay $17 million to settle claims that the bank deceived investors about its lending practices. The settlement is subject to notification to investors and court approval. […]
In the News
October 24, 2017
Chemical Companies Accused of Poisoning Drinking Water with Known Toxins
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE North Carolina Resident Alleges DuPont & Chemours Endangered Her Family’s Health, Safety and Property byDumping Toxic Chemicals into State Water Supply Plaintiff Represented by Same Court-Appointed Lead Attorney in Lawsuits OverWater Contamination in Flint, Michigan WILMINGTON, N.C. – Multinational chemical corporation DuPont (NYSE: DD) and its wholly-owned subsidiary, the Chemours Company (NYSE: CC), […]
In the News
April 20, 2017
$28M Settlement Ends Decade-Old Security Fraud Case
After nearly a decade of litigation and a rare ruling from an appeals court, attorneys at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll reached a $28.25 million settlement Wednesday with Harman International Industries Inc. in a securities fraud case. Partner Steven Toll and a team at Cohen Milstein represented a class of investors, led by the Arkansas […]
In the News | The National Law Journal
February 15, 2017
Plaintiffs’ Firm Squares Off with Trump Administration
Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, a 90-lawyer plaintiffs’ firm known for suing big companies and banks, has positioned itself as an early courtroom foe of President Donald Trump. Partner Joseph M. Sellers is now listed as one of the lead attorneys for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in its lawsuit against Mr. […]
In the News | The Wall Street Journal