Abhinaya Swaminathan

About Abhinaya Swaminathan

Abhinaya is a senior associate in the firm’s securities and shareholder litigation practice based out of New York. Abhinaya’s practice focuses on representing corporate clients, including publicly-traded corporations and their directors, officers, employees, affiliates, and underwriters, in federal and state litigation matters related to the capital markets, including class actions bringing claims under federal securities laws, shareholder derivative lawsuits, mergers and acquisitions cases, and civil investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities, as well as in complex commercial trials and arbitrations.  

Prior to joining Freshfields, Abhinaya was an associate in the New York office of Latham & Watkins LLP. During law school, she served on the Board of the Harvard International Arbitration Law Students Association and was team captain of the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team, where she received prizes for writing and oral advocacy.  She has continued coaching her law school’s Vis Moot team after graduating.  

Abhinaya was the Asylum Pro Bono Coordinator at her previous firm where she coordinated staffing and management of asylum matters referred by external immigration aid organizations. She has maintained an active pro bono practice, including representing individuals seeking asylum.

Recent work

• A Special Committee of the Board of an asset management firm defending against breach of fiduciary duty and Section 14(a) claims, resulting in a favorable resolution to the litigation and successful acquisition of the firm.*
• A large pharmaceutical company and its directors and officers in two securities fraud class actions, one resulting in favorable settlement and one resulting in complete dismissal against all defendants with prejudice.*
• A used car retailer and e-commerce company and its directors and officers in a class action defending against claims under both the Securities and Exchange Act and the Securities Act.*
• A pop culture collectibles manufacturer and its directors and officers in securities class actions and derivative cases resulting in favorable settlements or dispositions in multiple cases.*
• A leading financial institution in connection with its role as an underwriter in a secondary public offering defending against claims under the Securities Act*
• An accounting firm in twofederal class actions bringing fraud and aiding and abetting fraud claims in connection with alleged Ponzi scheme perpetrated by accounting firm’s former client.*

*Representation by Freshfields litigator at prior firm