Litigators Paul R. Bessette and Michael J. Biles have joined King & Spalding as partners in the Austin office, the firm announced today. Both possess significant expertise in securities litigation and related government investigations, and come to the firm from Greenberg Traurig. Bessette will serve as co-chair of King & Spalding’s national securities litigation practice, a role he also played at his previous firm.

“We are pleased to welcome Paul and Mike, whose practices represent an ideal fit for King & Spalding,” noted Austin office managing partner Mike Stenglein. “Paul and Mike are leading securities litigators with a strong national practice. Their arrival further strengthens the firm’s national securities litigation, government investigations and professional liability litigation practices and marks another key step in the continued growth of the firm’s presence in Texas.”

Bessette has a national securities litigation practice with clients ranging from established Fortune 100 companies to the newly public. He has been lead counsel in scores of cases nationwide, defending companies, officers, directors, underwriters and accountants in shareholder class action lawsuits, derivative litigation, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proceedings, M&A litigation and other complex commercial litigation. He also has experience in litigation involving breaches of fiduciary duty and representing board committees in various types of corporate investigations. Bessette received a J.D. degree from Baylor University School of Law and a B.B.A. degree from the University of Texas. He is admitted in Texas, California, and New York.

Biles focuses his practice on securities litigation in federal and state courts, representing public companies, officers, directors and securities underwriters in securities class actions and derivative lawsuits. He represents companies and company insiders in investigations and enforcement actions by the SEC and other securities regulatory agencies. Biles also has experience advising companies and special committees concerning their fiduciary obligations in significant corporate transactions and in representing officers and directors of corporations in bankruptcy adversary proceedings involving alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. He received his J.D. and B.A. degrees from the University of Texas.

“King & Spalding’s strong reputation in board and corporate governance circles is very appealing to us,” said Bessette. “The firm’s commitment to Texas and the Austin market, as well as its growing presence outside the United States also influenced our move. We look forward to helping build and grow the securities litigations and investigations practices.”

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