Home /  Lawyers /  Akash M. Toprani

    Akash M. Toprani

    Partner

    New York +1-212-558-4000
    toprania@sullcrom.com
    Akash M. Toprani Headshot Photo

    New York

    +1-212-558-4000

    |

    toprania@sullcrom.com

    Email vCard

    Akash M. Toprani is a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell’s Litigation Group. He represents clients in high-stakes commercial litigation, government investigations, domestic and international arbitrations, and appeals, with a practice spanning antitrust, commodities, securities, product liability, consumer protection, digital assets and M&A disputes. He has represented a diverse range of clients at every stage of litigation—from pre-suit negotiations and dispositive motions through trial and appeal—in state and federal courts, as well as arbitral tribunals. Mr. Toprani also advises clients on pre-dispute strategy, particularly in matters involving significant commercial, regulatory or reputational risk. Mr. Toprani has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch for Appellate Practice (2023–2025).

    Mr. Toprani maintains an active pro bono practice, focused on criminal defense, prisoner’s rights litigation and asylum, including serving as court-appointed class counsel in litigation that secured systemic improvements to conditions for detainees at the Broward County Jail.

    Spotlight

    S&C Obtains Delaware Supreme Court Victory for Tesla, Reducing Plaintiffs’ Fee Award by $100 Million

    Read More

    Experience

    • Coinbase, in litigation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and various state securities regulators relating to whether Coinbase operates an unregistered securities exchange and whether its staking service is an unregistered securities offering.  The SEC’s claims were dismissed with prejudice, and S&C has so far secured dismissal of five state actions.
    • Tesla, in an appeal before the Delaware Supreme Court over a $50 billion incentive compensation plan for CEO Elon Musk. The Court reversed the trial court decision, fully reinstating the compensation plan.
    • A global life sciences company, in a confidential AAA arbitration alleging that S&C’s client owed nine figures in underpaid patent royalties.  After a week-long hearing, the Tribunal dismissed all claims against S&C’s client.
    • Major League Baseball, in a dispute over the fees due under telecast rights agreements with four clubs. After a two-day hearing in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, MLB prevailed in full. The S&C team was named “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer.
    • Bayer AG, in an ICC arbitration relating to a multi-billion euro dispute over financial representations in an M&A transaction. Following a two-week hearing in Germany, the Tribunal dismissed all claims against Bayer and awarded Bayer €15 million in attorneys’ fees. The S&C team was named “Litigator of the Week” by The American Lawyer.
    • Court-appointed pro bono class counsel for detainees at the Broward County, Florida jail, in connection with the detainees’ protections from COVID-19 infection. Together with co-counsel, S&C worked for over four years to achieve, monitor and enforce a consent decree to improve protections for detainees. The court held that because of work by S&C and its co-counsel, “serious illnesses were undoubtedly prevented, and lives were almost certainly saved.”
    • JPMorgan Chase & Co., in multiple complex commodities fraud actions related to alleged manipulation of U.S. Treasury and precious metals derivatives.
    • Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, in a multidistrict class action related to the Takata airbag scandal, the largest automotive recall in American history.
    • Revlon, Inc., in a securities fraud class action related to alleged non-disclosure of manufacturing issues. Following S&C’s motion to dismiss, the plaintiffs’ claims were dismissed in full.
    • A senior financial services executive, in a money-laundering investigation conducted by various government entities, including the Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, Office of the Comptroller of  the Currency and Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. After multiple interviews and presentations, the agencies declined to bring any proceedings against S&C’s client.
    • A global consumer products company, in an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to public financial disclosures, resulting in a favorable settlement.
    • Dolby Laboratories Inc., in an amicus brief filed with the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, relating to the interpretation of “FRAND” terms in licensing agreements. The Ninth Circuit quoted from S&C’s brief and adopted its position.
    • Institute of International Bankers, in amicus briefs filed with the Supreme Court of the United States and the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on the extraterritorial application of U.S. law. The Supreme Court quoted from S&C’s brief in reaching its opinion.
    • BP plc, in a securities fraud class action appeal before the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit related to disclosures about an oil spill in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Following oral argument, the plaintiffs abandoned their appeal.
    • Barclays Bank plc, in multidistrict class actions, individual actions and government investigations related to alleged manipulation of the “IBOR” financial benchmarks.
    • Nomura Holding America, Inc. and Affiliates in securities litigation concerning the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities.

    News

    Read More

    Credentials

    Education

    • University of Toronto Faculty of Law, J.D., 2012
    • University of Toronto, M.A., 2012
    • University of Toronto, B.A., 2009

    Bar Admissions

    • New York

    Clerkships

    • Court of Appeal for Ontario, 2012-2013

    Related Practices