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Laura Brookover is a senior litigator who represents clients in high-stakes commercial cases, class actions, and complex commodity and financial markets litigation. She has first-chair trial experience and has successfully led teams in all stages of litigation.
Ms. Brookover rejoined the firm after serving in the Division of Enforcement at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), where she litigated complex derivatives and commodities cases in federal courts across the country. In a case pursued to trial, Ms. Brookover secured a rare verdict for the CFTC on all counts and obtained the agency’s first-ever victory under its false statements authority. She also served on the agency’s Spoofing Task Force. During her time with the government, Ms. Brookover worked with counterparts at DOJ and SEC on parallel investigations and inquiries. At the firm, Ms. Brookover continues to advise on issues relating to commodity and derivatives markets, including foreign corruption, manipulation, and disruptive trading.
- Representing global energy company in market manipulation enforcement action brought by the California Attorney General and in follow-on class actions.
- Recently defeated claims in securities lawsuit to enjoin client’s major investment in biotech company, resulting in dismissal of case with prejudice.
- Successfully defended $100 million trademark infringement lawsuit for client Dropbox, Inc., obtaining summary judgment on the eve of trial. Currently representing client in Ninth Circuit appeal.
- Successfully defended $500 million commercial lawsuit for financial institution client, obtaining complete summary judgment victory.
- Advising various financial services and commodity companies in complex commodity and derivatives investigations.
- Representing financial institution in $100 million commercial lawsuit arising from failed credit card partnership.
- Obtained dismissal of numerous putative class action lawsuits against financial institution clients.
Pro Bono
- Representation of indigent client bringing § 1983 excessive force claims against police officer after client was shot during routine arrest, resulting in substantial settlement.
- Representation of client wrongfully convicted of murder bringing §1983 claims against individual and municipal defendants for failing to turn over exculpatory evidence.
Previous Experience
- U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Senior Trial Attorney (2014-2018)
March 30, 2020, Covington Alert
Since the last financial crisis, the commercial real estate industry has accumulated vast amounts of debt. By one account, there is currently more than $3.6 trillion in mortgage debt secured by commercial and multi-family residential properties. Much of this debt is held by real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), in the form of commercial mortgage-backed ...
Daily Journal Selects Covington Defense of Dropbox Inc. as one of its 2019 Top Verdicts
March 3, 2020
SAN FRANCISCO—The Daily Journal has selected Covington's successful defense of Dropbox Inc., in Ironhawk Technologies v. Dropbox Inc., as one of its 2019 Top Verdicts, recognizing the largest and most significant verdicts in California in 2019. The Covington team led by Clara Shin and Jeff Davidson secured a significant victory on behalf of Dropbox in a ...
October 31, 2019, Bloomberg Law
Laura Brookover is quoted in Bloomberg Law regarding a House bill to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for the first time in more than a decade. The bill would give the agency stronger legal footing to pursue fraudulent overseas trading activities. Ms. Brookover says that language would potentially give the agency broader authority over ...
Dropbox Defeats LA Software Co.'s 'SmartSync' TM Suit
October 29, 2019, Law360
Law360 covered Covington’s representation of Dropbox in a trademark case before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Clara Shin, Jeffrey Davidson, Laura Brookover, Rebecca Jacobs, Matthew Verdin, Isaac Chaput and Diane Ramirez provided counsel to Dropbox.
June 7, 2019, Reuters
Laura Brookover is quoted in Reuters regarding recent developments of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Ms. Brookover says, “When you have a small agency and a small enforcement staff, you need to rely on deterrent effect and incentives.”
CFTC on lookout for foreign bribery whistleblowers
June 4, 2019, Global Investigations Review
Laura Brookover is quoted in Global Investigations Review regarding the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s recently published notice advertising its whistleblower program for “foreign corrupt practices.” Ms. Brookover says the announcement serves as a “marketing tool”. The commission’s whistleblower provisions already extended to this type of conduct ...
FCPA Professor: Laura Brookover
May 31, 2019, FCPA Professor
Laura Brookover appeared on FCPA Professor to discuss the CFTC's recent enforcement advisory concerning violations of the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) involving foreign corrupt practices including the background of the CFTC and the CEA; why the CFTC may have issued the advisory; what type of conduct involving foreign corrupt practices could fall under the CEA; ...
Software Execs Acquittal Could Rein In Spoofing Cases
April 5, 2019, Law360
Laura Brookover spoke with Law360 regarding a recent a spoofing case involving software executive, Jitesh Thakkar, on a charge of creating a program to manipulate the commodities market. Mr. Thakkar was acquitted midtrial, but prosecutors are still moving forward with charges of aiding and abetted a U.K.-based trader’s “flash crash” spoofing scheme. Because ...
CFTC Targets Foreign Corrupt Practices
March 12, 2019, Law.com
Laura Brookover spoke with Law.com regarding Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s announcement that it will be on the lookout for bribery intended to secure business related to trading, advising, or dealing in swaps or derivatives. Ms. Brookover says, “We’ve already seen that this director is keen to work with other agencies and coordinate with other agencies ...
March 11, 2019, Bloomberg Law
Laura Brookover is quoted in Bloomberg Law regarding the CFTC’s promise of no-penalty enforcement action on foreign bribery violations. Ms. Brookover says, “I think that may be the central challenge for the CFTC in rolling out this program: making sure the advisory reaches its intended audience.” Foreign companies who learn about the guidance will then have to ...
CFTC's Foray Into Corruption Hints At Imminent Action
March 8, 2019, Law360
Laura Brookover is quoted in Law360 regarding Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s announcement that it will begin prosecuting corruption. She says, “This is sort of an unpredictable development, but also unsurprising because I think under his leadership we’ve seen a renewed focus on policing the integrity of the markets under CFTC jurisdiction.”