Jennifer Burns Luz

Ms. Luz’s recent representations include: 

• Won summary judgment dismissal for former board of directors in class action lawsuits alleging violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 challenging Lionbridge's sale to H.I.G. Capital. The dismissal was recently upheld by the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
• Obtained voluntary dismissal for public life sciences company and its board in class actions alleging claims under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 concerning the company’s $5.8 billion acquisition.
• Obtained voluntary dismissal of class action litigation against public company and its board of directors in connection with the $4.8 billion sale of the company.
• Obtained voluntary dismissal of class action litigation against public life sciences company and its board of directors in connection with the $650 million sale of the company. 
• Won dismissal with prejudice in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts of securities class action under Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 against life sciences company and its officers arising out of clinical-trial results for lead product candidate.
• Successfully defended a life sciences company in responding to multiple shareholder demands for books and records based on allegations of excessive director compensation, thus preventing discovery of the company’s documents and convincing the shareholders that there was no basis file claims.
• Represented the independent trustees of mutual funds in investigating an activist shareholder demand concerning corporate governance changes adopted by the funds, and defense of the independent trustees in a subsequently-filed related litigation. 
• Represented life sciences company in internal investigation into alleged accounting irregularities, concluding the investigation in time to assure that the annual audit and report were completed on time. 
• Represented a global technology company in connection with civil False Claim Act qui tam litigation and criminal investigations by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division, relating to defense contracts and allegations of contract fraud, visa fraud, and ITAR violations.
• Represented the demand review committee of a mutual fund board, investigating shareholder demand alleging that the board and the fund’s investment adviser violated their duties when the fund invested in an affiliated fund. 
• Represented the demand review committee of a closed-end mutual fund board, investigating a shareholder demand that asserted the trustees breached their fiduciary duties by failing to take sufficient action to address market price discounts to NAV, and by approving certain investment advisory agreements. 

Ms. Luz is active in Goodwin’s pro bono practice. Her representations include: 

• Winning an argument before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court concerning her minor client’s right to state court factual findings in support of immigration relief being sought.
• Successfully represented unaccompanied minors in immigration proceedings, thus securing legal permanent residency for a client following six years of litigation.