Gregory L. Demers
Associate
Greg Demers is a litigation associate in the firm’s Boston office. Greg rejoined Ropes & Gray in 2013 following clerkships with Chief Judge Dennis Jacobs in the Second Circuit and District Judge Michael Ponsor in the District of Massachusetts. He focuses his practice on complex commercial disputes and government investigations. Greg has experience in all stages of litigation, including motion practice, discovery, trial, and appeal. His clients have included hedge funds, private equity firms, financial services companies, and educational institutions.
Greg also maintains an active pro bono practice. He has successfully represented asylum-seekers fleeing from political persecution and individual parents seeking custody of their children. Recently, he pursued a disability discrimination suit on behalf of a mother and her disabled son, which resulted in a favorable settlement for his clients.Experience
Business Litigation
- Defending private equity firm in adversary proceeding alleging mismanagement and breach of fiduciary duty.
- Representing special committee of a public company board of directors in responding to shareholder derivative demand concerning director compensation.
- Representing private equity firm in response to SEC subpoena concerning alleged accounting irregularities at client’s portfolio company.
- Represented broker-deal in responding to inquiry by Massachusetts Securities Division.
- Represented airfreight carrier against Sherman Act price-fixing claims in putative class action lawsuit.
- Represented investment manager in responding to third-party subpoenas in securities class action litigation.
- Defending non-profit organization against breach of contract and Chapter 93A claims in Massachusetts Superior Court.
- Represented investment manager in disclosure-based class-action litigation brought by shareholders in Massachusetts Superior Court seeking to enjoin merger.
Employment Litigation
- Defending educational institution against wage-and-hours claims brought in the District of Massachusetts under the Fair Labor Standards Act by client’s current and former employees.
- Obtained dismissal of ERISA claims for pension benefits by former employee in the District of Connecticut.
- Obtained dismissal of putative ERISA class action brought by plan participants in the Southern District of New York.
Corporate Governance
- Defended board member against claims in Massachusetts Superior Court challenging client’s qualifications as a director.
- Conducted investigation on behalf of a special committee of a closely held company’s board of directors into possible breaches of fiduciary duty by executive officers.
- Represented public company directors in dispute with shareholders and company officers over board membership and control of the company.
- Represented hedge fund in dispute with joint venture partner over interpretation of LLC agreement.
Investigations
- Conducted internal investigation into potential insider-trading allegations against members of a publicly-traded company.
- Represented two leading asset management companies in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations.
- Represented client conducting internal investigation and responding to government inquiries regarding potential data breach.
- Served as lead associate advising secondary school’s crisis management response team.
Publications
- Co-author, “Protecting Colleges & Universities Against Real Losses in a Virtual World,” John Marshall Journal of Information Technology & Privacy Law (2017)
- Co-author, “The Antisocial Effects of Social Media and How Colleges and Universities Can Manage Related Litigation Risks,” Pittsburgh Journal of Technology Law & Policy (December 2017)
- Co-author, “Martoma tips the balance on insider trading liability,” Westlaw Journal’s Securities Litigation & Regulation (October 12, 2017)
- Co-author, “Chancery court addresses standing to bring fiduciary duty claims following freeze-out merger,” International Law Office Corporate Finance/M&A Newsletter (June 14, 2017)
- Co-author, “Three decisions consider effect of stockholder approval on challenged transactions,” International Law Office Corporate Finance/M&A Newsletter (May 24, 2017)
- Co-author, “SEC Enforcement Trends: Minor Accounting and Disclosure Infractions Attracting Major Scrutiny,” Bloomberg BNA Tax and Accounting Center (April 13, 2017)
- Co-author, “Three Days in August: Delaware’s Evolving View of the Impact of Stockholder Approval on Post-Closing M&A Litigation,” Insights: The Corporate & Securities Law Advisor (November 2016)
- Co-author, “DOL Fiduciary Rule Implications for Private Investment Fund Managers,” Bloomberg BNA “Securities Regulation & Law Report” (June 13, 2016)
- Co-author, “Ch. 1: Fraud and Negligent Misrepresentation,” MCLE Business Torts in Massachusetts, 2nd Edition, MCLE (2016)
- Co-author, “Omnicare's Square Peg Problem: Importing a Section 11 Standard Into a Section 10 Framework,” Bloomberg BNA Securities Regulation & Law Report (March 11, 2016)
- Co-author, “Plaintiffs strike out in two recent Delaware appraisal actions,” International Law Office (September 2, 2015)
- Co-author, “Revisiting Corporate Scienter: In Search of a Middle Ground,” Bloomberg BNA “Securities Regulation & Law Report,” (April 2015)
- Co-author, “Delaware Clamps Down on Disclosure-Based M&A Litigation” Insights:The Corporate & Securities Law Advisor (January 2014)