HIGHLIGHTS:
- Served on University of Chicago Law Review
- Law clerk for the Honorable John M. Duhe, Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Past Chair, Antitrust Law Section, State Bar of Arizona
- Awarded “For Love of Justice” award by Arizona Volunteer Legal Program in recognition of pro bono legal work assisting Arizona homeowners facing foreclosure
BIO:
Garrett W. Wotkyns is a partner at the Firm’s Arizona office and practices complex litigation with an emphasis on prosecuting ERISA, antitrust and plaintiff’s-side business litigation matters.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES:
- Metropolitan Bank Group Inc. v. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey: originated and led opt-out FINRA action representing regional bank against its broker-dealer concerning brokered sale of noncumulative Lehman preferred bonds; settled for confidential amount.
- Diebold v. Northern Trust and Louisiana Firefighters’ Retirement System (LFRS) v. Northern Trust: originated and helped lead two companion class actions, one on behalf of ERISA-governed retirement plans and investors, and the other on behalf of public employee plans and investors and other non-ERISA investors, alleging that defendant Northern Trust Investments and the Northern Trust Company breached their fiduciary duties to plaintiffs by imprudently investing plaintiffs’ retirement savings in connection with Northern Trust’s securities lending program. A combined settlement of $60 million dollars was achieved.
- Glass Dimensions, Inc. v. State Street Bank & Trust Co.: originated and helped lead class action on behalf of ERISA-governed retirement plans and investors alleging that defendant State Street Bank & Trust Company breached its fiduciary duties to plaintiffs by imprudently investing plaintiffs’ retirement savings in connection with State Street’s securities lending program. A settlement of $10 million dollars was achieved.
- In Re JPMorgan Stable Value Fund ERISA Litigation: originated and helped lead ERISA class action on behalf of class of retirement investors in JPMorgan’s Stable Value Fund. The case concerned the performance of several JPMorgan stable value funds that held mortgage-backed securities during the financial crisis. A settlement of $75 million was achieved.
- Bilewicz v. Fidelity Management & Research Co.: originated and helped lead ERISA class action on behalf of class of retirement investors in Fidelity’s employee 401(k) plan. A settlement of $12 million was achieved.
- Baylor College of Medicine v. Citigroup: originated and helped lead opt-out FINRA action representing medical college against its broker-dealer concerning LIBOR-pegged interest; settled for confidential amount.