Michael Mugmon

Mugmon works in an area that has generated considerable heat in recent years due to the likes of Bernie Madoff's infamous Ponzi scheme and major insider trader scandals.

He represents public companies, officers and directors, investment and accounting firms and broker-dealers in litigation in state and federal courts and in proceedings before the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. attorney's office and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority.

Many of Mugmon's cases involve what he calls "highly sensitive government investigations into the inner workings of public companies and financial services firms and potential misconduct by corporate officers, directors and managers."

His clients are a mixed bag, including social media, semiconductor and software companies, an insurance broker-dealer and firms focusing on alternative investments - all involved in various inquiries by regulatory bodies.

In dealing with those agencies, Mugmon said, "It's crucial to be cooperative, educating the enforcement staff and advocating strongly but picking your battles. That approach leads to the best results for our clients."

But, he added, "That's not to say I'm not willing or able to tussle."

His practice, Mugmon added, also requires a fair amount of hand-holding.

"We're working with people who often are very scared and nervous," he said. "They are facing tremendous repercussions for their careers and companies. To achieve a good outcome is very satisfying."

Mugmon also maintains a litigation practice covering securities class actions, derivative litigation, merger disputes and general business matters.

In 2011, Mugmon broke new ground when he and a Palo Alto colleague were the two main California lawyers to represent Irvine-based Skyworks Solutions Inc. in the very first arbitration to proceed to trial in a then-new and short-lived confidential process in the Delaware Court of Chancery.

Mugmon helped Skyworks to secure a favorable settlement of its merger dispute with Advanced Analogic Technologies Inc.

The confidential process was designed to allow parties to resolve their disputes quickly and outside of the public spotlight. But last year, a federal district court ruled that the proceedings are essentially civil trials and therefore must be open.

The merger remains intact, but Mugmon is continuing to represent Skyworks in related class-action litigation brought by former AATI shareholders in Santa Clara County Superior Court. In re Advanced Analogic Technologies Inc. Shareholder Litigation, 1-11-CV-202403 (Santa Clara Super. Ct.).

- PAT BRODERICK