Benjamin W. White

Ben WhitePartner

ben.white@whiteandwoods.com
Tel: 415-231-5710  | San Francisco, California
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Ben is an experienced litigator who has represented a variety of clients in commercial litigation in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration. He has handled scores of cases, including numerous class action and “mass” action cases involving multiple parties and complex issues. Ben has argued before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and he authored the winning briefs in a case before the California Court of Appeal regarding arbitration of employment claims.

Ben earned his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where he was in the top one-third of the class. He won the CALI Award for excellence in legal writing and research, and was a member of the Constitutional Law Quarterly law journal and the Criminal Procedure Moot Court Team.  In his final semester, Ben worked full-time as an extern for the Hon. Vaughn R. Walker, former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Ben graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona, where he received his B.A. degree in political science. He spent his final semester working full-time in the Arizona Office of the Governor, where he was responsible for monitoring and reviewing legislation as it progressed through the state legislature.

Representative Matters

  • Obtained dismissal (through pre-hearing motion to dismiss) of all claims brought against a national broker-dealer in FINRA arbitration proceeding where former registered representative of the firm asserted claims for tortious interference with business relations, defamation and libel.
  • Obtained complete defense award for broker dealer, and expungement of the matter from the registered representative’s CRD record, in FINRA arbitration where client alleged unsuitability, negligence, breach of fiduciary duty and failure to supervise.
  • Defended several businesses in class action cases where former employees alleged violation of state and federal wage and hour laws, including claims for misclassification, failure to provide required meal and rest periods, failure to comply with California law regarding vacation pay, and other related claims.
  • Represented business in investigation brought by county authorities regarding alleged violations of state unfair competition and false advertising laws.
  • Obtained monetary award and award of attorney’s fees for national broker-dealer against institutional client that placed but failed to settle $6 million worth of trades.  Successfully obtained defense award for broker-dealer and registered representatives on counter-claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, negligence, conversion, breach of fiduciary duty, violation of SRO rules and other claims.  In addition, obtained expungement of the matter from the registered representative’s CRD record.
  • Defended numerous broker-dealers and registered representatives in FINRA investigations and/or enforcement proceedings.
  • Obtained complete defense award for broker-dealer in FINRA arbitration where institutional investor alleged the firm wrongfully failed to pay bond interest associated with notes of bankrupt company.
  • Successfully defended broker-dealer and its registered representative in “mass action” arbitration brought by 25 individual clients before FINRA, in which claimants alleged fraud, unsuitability and failure to supervise.
  • Obtained complete defense award for national broker-dealer and its registered representative in FINRA arbitration where client alleged failure to recommend diversification of a concentrated stock position.
  • Obtained complete defense award for broker-dealer and its registered representative in FINRA arbitration where client alleged wrongful sale of Class B shares of mutual fund and failure to disclose contingent deferred sales charge.  Also obtained expungement of the matter from the registered representative’s CRD record.
  • Obtained complete defense award for national broker-dealer in FINRA arbitration where institutional client alleged mismanagement of investments by money manager.

Admissions

Ben is admitted to practice in California state courts, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Education

  • University of California, Hastings College of the Law, Juris Doctor
  • University of Arizona, Bachelor of Arts

Honors

Ben has been recognized by Law & Politics Magazine as a “Northern California Rising Star” in 2009 though 2014.  To view his profile on the “Super Lawyers” web page, click here.