Profile: Walter C Carlson

Commercial Litigation

Biography: Commercial Litigation

Walter C Carlson, a partner, serves as head of the financial and securities litigation group in Sidley's Chicago office, and is a member of the firm's executive committee. Mr Carlson's practice principally involves litigation relating to securities claims, corporate control disputes, corporate governance matters and alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. In particular, he regularly serves as lead counsel in the defence of federal securities litigation across the country.

Mr Carlson also regularly serves as lead counsel on cases in both state and federal court involving corporate governance and fiduciary duty issues (including contested M&A cases). He frequently represents corporations and individuals in SEC investigations, in derivative lawsuits and in related officers' and directors' liability claims. He also frequently serves as counsel to special committees of boards of directors in investigating and evaluating sensitive matters.

Mr Carlson graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School. Following graduation, he clerked for the Honorable Hubert L Will of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Following his clerkship, Mr Carlson joined the firm in 1980.