Bruce G. Vanyo

Bruce G. Vanyo has been called by many of his peers the “Dean of Securities Litigation.” During his 34 years in practice, Mr. Vanyo has defended more major securities cases (well over 300) than any other lawyer in America; he has represented some of the most prominent US companies (The Boeing Company, Dell Computer, Hewlett Packard, Genentech and Bank of America, among many others); and he has the best record in winning these cases outright, winning 75% of his cases over the last nine years while settling the rest. His practice consists of defense of securities class actions, defense of derivative litigation, representation before the Securities and Exchange Commission and representation of board committees in conducting internal investigations. Mr. Vanyo’s clients have included companies in numerous fields of endeavor: technology, life sciences, airlines, motion pictures, banking, mining, real estate, insurance and many others. His practice is truly national in its scope; he has represented clients headquartered in more than 20 different states as well as several foreign countries. Mr. Vanyo is National Co-Head of the firm’s Securities Litigation Practice. He is admitted to practice in New York and California with active practices in the firm's New York and Century City offices.

Over his career, 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.

Mr. Vanyo has been widely recognized as one of the preeminent lawyers in his field. In 2010, the National Association of Corporate Directors named him to the Directorship 100 list of "the most influential people in corporate governance and the boardroom" for having “defended more major securities cases than any other lawyer in America.” For 22 years, Mr. Vanyo served as Chairman of the Practising Law Institute’s prestigious Securities Litigation and Enforcement Institute. He was named to the National Law Journal’s most recent list of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, a list compiled only every five years. He has been given the top ranking by the prestigious Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, where he has been described as a “towering figure in securities litigation,” having earned his reputation through a “remarkable skill set and an understated but authoritative demeanor.” His colleagues in the defense bar have publicly said that he “comes up with new and novel arguments that other lawyers don’t see” and that “he doesn’t just think about the move he’s about to make and the likely response–he’s five steps ahead.” He has also been recognized in Southern California Super Lawyers (2004–2005, 2007–2013), New York Super Lawyers (2010–2012), The Best Lawyers in America (1987–2013) and Benchmark: A Definitive Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, in which he was named a “Litigation Star.” Mr. Vanyo has also been named among the Lawdragon 3000 Leading Lawyers in America.

Prior to joining Katten in 2006, Mr. Vanyo was Chairman of the Securities Litigation Group at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. He founded Wilson’s Litigation Department and served as its Chairman from 1984 until 1996. While practicing law full time, he also served as an adjunct professor of Securities Regulation at Hastings College of the Law. Prior to joining Wilson, Mr. Vanyo handled securities fraud, antitrust and other complex litigation at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, where he became a partner in 1979.

Mr. Vanyo earned his JD from Columbia Law School, where he was managing editor of the Columbia Law Review. He was a law clerk for Judge William Timbers, US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (1972–1973).