Gray Stratton is an associate in DLA Piper's Litigation group. His practice focuses primarily on private corporate and securities litigation, internal investigations, and investigations and enforcement actions initiated by securities regulators. His clients have included public and private companies, officers and directors, hedge funds, broker-dealers and investment advisers.

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Mr. Stratton served as Senior Counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, where he led investigations and enforcement proceedings concerning financial fraud, hedge fund operations, insider trading, foreign bribery and market manipulation. While with the Commission, he was involved in several high-profile civil and criminal actions that arose from the SEC’s investigations of Tyco International Ltd., Refco Inc. and Cendant Corporation. Mr. Stratton was awarded the Enforcement Division Director's Award for outstanding contribution to the enforcement of the federal securities laws.

Mr. Stratton has represented:

• A hedge fund and its investment adviser in an SEC insider trading investigation
• A public company in an internal investigation of possible Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) issues
• A global insurance company in a lawsuit filed by a large commercial bank involving bank-owned life insurance (BOLI)
• A corporate executive in contract litigation and international collection efforts involving a personal guaranty on a multimillion-dollar bank loan
• A public company in a direct shareholder suit involving acquisition of the company by a private equity firm
• A public company executive in an SEC financial fraud investigation
• A broker-dealer in appeal of a securities industry bar to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals
• An investment adviser in an SEC and DOJ ponzi scheme investigation
• Public companies and a public company officer in an SEC investigation of options backdating
• An individual investor in an insider trading investigation

Mr. Stratton is also involved in pro bono work. Recently he served as lead counsel in a five-day bench trial involving competing custody and adoption claims in DC Superior Court.

Mr. Stratton serves on DLA Piper's Associates Committee and is the Regional Chair – East for its Executive Committee.