James E. Connelly

James E. Connelly is a partner in the litigation section of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP.

Mr. Connelly’s practice is devoted to the defense of domestic and foreign corporations and individuals in securities class actions and other shareholder-related litigation, as well as in other complex business disputes. Mr. Connelly has experience in defending accounting firms in securities matters as well as in accounting malpractice actions and has participated in and directed multiple internal corporate investigations. His practice includes the representation of individuals in enforcement proceedings conducted by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as well as in federal law enforcement and grand jury investigations and criminal prosecutions, with an emphasis on financial crimes.

Some of Mr. Connelly’s most recent matters include:

• Defense of a publicly-traded satellite and wireless communications company in four class action securities cases brought in state and federal courts in Georgia and Delaware, alleging improper revenue recognition — all four actions were dismissed by Plaintiffs.
• Defense of a public corporation in a class action claim brought in federal court in New Jersey challenging the fairness or a merger — court dismissed the corporate defendant on the motion to dismiss.
• Defense of five officer and directors of a publicly traded company in multiple securities class actions in Alabama as well as before the SEC and in criminal investigation brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. All actions alleged improper revenue recognition — class actions settled as against all defendants and no criminal charges were brought against clients.
• Prosecution of a dissenter’s rights case in Colorado against a public corporation attempting to effectuate a squeeze out merger of the shareholders. Verdict for shareholders after multi-day bench trial.

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Connelly was an associate at the law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle in New York City. Mr. Connelly received his B.A. degree, magna cum laude, in English language and literature from the University of Virginia in 1994, and his J.D. degree from the University of Virginia in 1997. He is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts of both New York and Georgia, as well as before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Mr. Connelly has also been a featured speaker on MSNBC’s Squawk Box on March 28, 2007, discussing the argument before the United States Supreme Court in the Tellabs v. Makor case.