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    Home /  Lawyers /  Jacob M. Croke

    Jacob M. Croke

    Partner

    Jacob M. Croke Headshot Photo Portrait backdrop

    New York

    +1-212-558-4895

    |

    crokej@sullcrom.com

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    Jacob Croke is a partner in Sullivan & Cromwell’s Litigation Group and a Co-Head of the Firm’s Corporate Governance Litigation Practice. His practice focuses on advising major companies and boards of directors in complex litigations, regulatory proceedings, and internal investigations.

    Jake has represented clients in a wide variety of matters in federal and state courts and in arbitration proceedings, including securities and derivative litigations, M&A-related disputes, bankruptcy proceedings, matters related to structured financial products, and the acquisitions of assets from failed financial institutions. He also has represented corporate and individual clients before the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the United States Senate, the Federal Reserve, state attorneys general, and other governmental bodies. Jake also has advised companies, individuals, boards of directors and Special Committees in matters involving short seller allegations, digital currencies, SPACs, consumer lending, fiduciary duty issues, whistleblower claims, bank regulatory issues, mortgage-backed securities, data privacy issues, alleged benchmark interest rate manipulation, tax issues, and alleged insider trading.

    Jake’s pro bono work includes arguing a criminal appeal before the New York Appellate Division, Second Department as an Assistant District Attorney and representation of an indigent defendant in federal court pursuant to the Criminal Justice Act.

    Selected Publications

    • “Derivative Actions by Stockholders,” Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, Fifth Edition, co-author with Garrard Beeney, Brian Frawley and Bill Monahan (2021)
    • “Privilege Waiver Risk Lessons From Twitter v. Musk,” Law360, co-author with Melissa Sawyer and Sheeva Nesva (October 2022)
    • “Chancery Ruling Reiterates Its Skepticism Of De-SPAC Deals,” Law360, co-author with Laura Oswell and Matthew Strand (January 2023)
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    Spotlight

    A Spotlight on S&C’s Rising Litigators

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    FTX’s $14+ Billion Bankruptcy Plan Approved in ‘Model Case’

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    S&C Sidebar – A Conversation with Jay Clayton and Jake Croke

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    Jacob Croke Named to Benchmark Litigation’s 2024 ‘40 & Under List’

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    Laura Oswell, Jacob Croke and Matthew Strand Author Article on Delaware Chancery Court’s Skepticism of De-SPAC Deals for Law360

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    • Experience
    • Rankings and Recognitions
    • Publications, Videos and Podcasts
    • Credentials
    • Related Practices
    Experience

    Experience

    • FTX Trading Ltd., FTX US, Alameda Research and nearly 100 affiliated entities as Debtors’ counsel in their pending Chapter 11 proceedings, including in responding to criminal and regulatory investigations, litigating numerous avoidance actions, and identifying and recovering assets for creditors.
    • Tiffany & Co. as plaintiff in Delaware Court of Chancery litigation against LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, seeking to compel LVMH to complete its agreed-upon acquisition of Tiffany. LVMH ultimately completed its acquisition of Tiffany for approximately $16 billion in January 2021.
    • Lordstown Motors and a Special Committee of the Board in responding to short seller allegations and regulatory inquiries following its de-SPAC transaction, as well as members of the Board of the SPAC sponsor in connection with related securities, derivative, and Delaware Court of Chancery fiduciary duty litigations.
    • Goldman Sachs in connection with its $5.1 billion global settlement with the DOJ, the New York, Illinois and California Attorneys General, the National Credit Union Administration and the Federal Home Loan Banks of Chicago and Seattle, resolving claims regarding Goldman’s structuring, underwriting and sales of residential mortgage-backed securities.
    • Hyzon Motors in responding to short seller allegations, regulatory inquiries and securities and derivative litigations following its de-SPAC transaction.
    • UBS AG in a nearly decade-long DOJ investigation and litigation alleging that UBS violated FIRREA in connection with $41 billion of residential mortgage-backed securities, ultimately resulting in a $1.435 billion settlement.
    • Allianz in a series of multi-billion dollar litigations concerning the failure of the Structured Alpha funds during the market volatility of March 2020.
    • Goldman Sachs in obtaining summary judgment dismissing class action fraud claims brought by investors alleging losses exceeding $2 billion in two CDO transactions.
    • Banco Popular de Puerto Rico in $300 million arbitrations with the FDIC regarding loans purchased from the FDIC as receiver of a failed bank.
    • UBS AG in connection with an investigation by a consortium of state attorneys general regarding alleged benchmark interest rate manipulation.
    • Goldman Sachs in a trust instruction proceeding in Minnesota state court involving a synthetic CDO.
    • A major digital currency exchange in connection with various non-public regulatory and Congressional inquiries.
    • Multiple hedge funds in connection with a wide range of trading-related issues.
    • A major financial institution in complying with a DOJ-imposed monitorship.
    • A major financial institution in connection with a wide range of non-public regulatory and criminal investigations involving alleged insider trading, whistleblower claims and other issues.
    • A major investment advisor in connection with an internal investigation into high-profile misconduct allegations.
    • A major automotive company in connection with a commercial dispute regarding a risk-sharing agreement.
    • A major financial institution in connection with stress test planning and related bank supervisory matters.
    • A major hedge fund in connection with investments in structured products and other regulatory matters.
    • A major financial institution in connection with an SEC investigation resulting in a declination after receiving a Wells Notice.

    Recent Speaking Engagements

    • Panelist for “When Deals Don’t Go as Planned: Earnout Disputes, Purchase Price Adjustments, Break Fees, Indemnification Claims, and Fraud” at the Tulane Corporate Law Institute (March 2025)
    • Panelist for “Managing Your Investment in the Private Equity Space: Who Wears What Hat, When and Where” at the American Bar Association Business Law Section Fall Meeting (September 2023)
    • Guest Lecturer at classes at Yale Law (2021–2025), NYU Law (2023) and University of Iowa Law (2023)
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    Rankings and Recognitions

    Rankings and Recognitions

    Jake has been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a “Future Star” (2023; 2024; 2025) and was named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under List” (2023; 2024). He was also recognized as a New York Super Lawyers “Rising Star” in Business Litigation and Securities Litigation (2017–2024).

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    Publications, Videos and Podcasts

    Publications, Videos and Podcasts

    • S&C Sidebar – A Conversation with Jay Clayton and Jake Croke

      Podcasts October 23, 2024
    • Jacob Croke Contributes to BRG’s M&A Disputes Report 2024

      Books March 15, 2024
    • Laura Oswell, Jacob Croke and Matthew Strand Author Article on Delaware Chancery Court’s Skepticism of De-SPAC Deals for Law360

      Articles January 18, 2023
    • Melissa Sawyer, Jacob Croke and Sheeva Nesva Author Article on Privilege Waiver Risks for Law360

      Articles October 26, 2022
    • S&C Litigators Author Chapters in Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Court

      Books January 18, 2021
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    Credentials

    Credentials

    Education

    • Columbia Law School, J.D., 2010
    • New York University, B.A., 2007

    Bar Admissions

    • New York
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    Related Practices

    Related Practices

    • Litigation
    • Bank Regulatory
    • Bankruptcy Litigation & Investigations
    • Congressional Investigations
    • Corporate Governance Litigation
    • Criminal Defense & Investigations
    • Digital Assets
    • Financial Services
    • Financial Services Investigations & Litigation
    • International Arbitration and Global Dispute Resolution
    • Securities & Commodities Investigations
    • Securities Litigation
    • Workplace Investigations
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