Jessica Wright

Jessica Park Wright

Associate
New York
About

Jessica Park Wright focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation, white collar investigations, and antitrust and trade regulation law.

Jessica has broad litigation experience representing public and private sector clients, including pharmaceutical companies, domestic and international corporations, and financial services firms.  She has represented companies, boards of directors, and individuals in investigations conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and other federal, state, and international government and regulatory agencies. 

Jessica has experience in matters relating to U.S. and international merger enforcement, including regulatory review of complex cross-border transactions and compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

Jessica is also a member of DLA Piper’s Art Law practice, focusing on cultural property law disputes and patrimony claims.

Areas of FocusLitigation, Arbitration and InvestigationsRegulatory and Government Affairs
Bar admissionsNew York
CourtsUnited States District Court for the Southern District of New YorkUnited States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

EXPERIENCE

Representative Matters

  • A global biopharmaceutical company in an action for alleged breach of an indenture governing a series of more than 700 million publicly traded contingent value rights issued in a strategic merger. The plaintiff alleged that our client breached its covenant to use "diligent efforts" to obtain FDA approval of a new product candidate in time to meet the payment contingency for the CVRs. Our motion to dismiss the action for lack of federal subject matter jurisdiction because the alleged trustee plaintiff was not appointed in accordance with requirements of the governing indenture was granted. An appeal and cross-appeal are pending in the Second Circuit.
  • Same global biopharmaceutical company and its directors and officers in several securities actions alleging that disclosures relating to the CVRs in the joint merger proxy statement, press releases, and earnings calls were false or misleading because the company allegedly never intended to obtain FDA approval in time for the CVR payment contigency to be met. The lead case was dismissed with prejudice and the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of all claims.
  • A multinational athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment company in trademark infringement and counterfeiting litigation in the District of New Jersey
  • A major media company in a defamation matter involving Major League Baseball players, in the District of Columbia
  • A Chinese internet technology company in an internal investigation regarding a scheme to defraud the company and receive kickbacks
  • An art collector in connection with an antiquities trafficking investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office
  • A pool of senior executives of a major automobile manufacturer in a DOJ investigation into alleged manipulation of emission control devices and related civil litigation
  • Several significant merger enforcement and civil antitrust investigations

Pro Bono

Jessica was nominated for DLA Piper’s North American Pro Bono Award for her pro bono work in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. In 2021, much of her pro bono time was devoted to assisting with evacuations from Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power. Jessica continues to work with Afghans on SIV and Humanitarian Parole applications, and also works with the International Refugee Assistance Program on cases involving political asylum and persecution on the basis of religion. On the domestic front, Jessica represents criminal defendants together with partners at the firm who are members of the Criminal Justice Act panel for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Representative Pro Bono Matters
  • A death row inmate in Texas on a habeas corpus application seeking a new trial based on the state’s withholding of key evidence and ineffective assistance of trial and state appellate counsel
  • Afghan and Iraqi refugees and asylum seekers fleeing religious persecution and political upheaval
  • Research for international law and policy groups on transitional justice mechanisms, customary international law, crimes against humanity, and universal jurisdiction
Education
  • J.D., St. John's University
  • M.Sc., The London School of Economics and Political Science
  • B.A. and M.A., St. John's University

Publications

Prior Experience

Prior to joining DLA Piper, Jessica worked at a commercial law firm in Kabul, Afghanistan where she advised Afghan and international commercial clients, non-profits, and government organizations on Afghan and international law.  She also worked with the U.S. Embassy, Kabul and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Resolute Support (NATO RS) on Afghan tax policy and business law initiatives.  While in Kabul, Jessica served as a Legal Advisor in the Office of the President of Afghanistan, and taught Legal Research and Writing as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the American University of Afghanistan.

Memberships And Affiliations

  • American Bar Association

My latest insights

Publication

US Space Force Commercial Space Strategy: Key takeaways for the space industry

27 June 2024 .5 minute read

News

DLA Piper represents Blue Diamond in dismissal of class action lawsuit

14 December 2020 .3 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises MEDNAX in its US$885 million sale of MEDNAX Radiology Solutions to...

14 September 2020 .2 minute read

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Phone

+1 212 335 4717
(Work, New York)