Jeremy Sher

Partner

International Co-Head, Global Class Actions

Jeremy Sher is one of the great strategic thinkers I have encountered in litigation: he never approaches litigation without a carefully thought-out plan for how to win and what to do to get there.
Legal 500 2021
About

Jeremy Sher's assists clients with high-stakes international disputes, crises and strategic decisions. His experience spans litigation, arbitration and regulatory and compliance issues.

Jeremy is International Co-Head of our Global Class Actions Group and a Global Lead Partner for ESG Disputes, Investigations and Stakeholder Engagement. Jeremy works with our Funds, Financial Services, Industrials, Life Sciences, Entertainment, Technology and Consumer Goods, Food and Retail sectors.

By drawing on his experience as a disputes lawyer, Jeremy supports clients to manage the opportunities, risks and challenges from the transition to a more sustainable future. Jeremy provides strategic guidance to private equity and funds clients, financial institutions, governments, global corporations, boards and senior-level executives on reputationally sensitive and high profile ESG-linked disputes.

Jeremy conducts litigation and arbitration related to corporate governance, structuring, ESG credentials and certification, due diligence, marketing, warranties, disclosures and reporting (including greenwashing allegations), market transitions and exits, raw materials, product liability, supply chain issues, climate change, biodiversity and sustainable finance. As part of his disputes practice, Jeremy conducts pro-active risk assessments and develops pre-litigation plans; handles contentious aspects of corporate transactions; offers reputation management counsel; responds to investor queries about major disputes; develops responses to public campaigns; and helps to manage crises.

Jeremy also leads DLA Piper's class actions practice outside the Americas. He has experience coordinating global defence strategies across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Across fifteen years of experience, Jeremy has defended class actions relating to consumer protection, business and human rights, securities, corporate governance, product liability, environmental protection, data protection, employment status and competition. He publishes on collective litigation topics and participates in major events regarding the development of this practice area in the United Kingdom and Europe.

Jeremy's other experience includes corporate and financial disputes, asset management litigation, international commercial arbitration and civil fraud. Jeremy worked in politics and public policy before practising law. He provides pro bono support to environmental and legal charities.

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the High Court of AustraliaSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and WalesSolicitor of the Supreme Court of New South WalesSolicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising a technology company concerning class action risks relating to alleged online harm.
  • Advising an infrastructure company to defend class actions relating to competition matters.
  • Advising a global manufacturer to defending a class action concerning marketing statements concerning a product's environmental credentials.
  • Advising a technology company concerning mass claims relating to employment status.
  • Advising a global pharmaceutical company to defend class actions relating to competition matters.
  • Working closely with US colleagues, assisting a medical devices manufacturer to defend potential class actions in North America, Europe and Australia.
  • Advising a medical products manufacturer concerning a dispute with a supplier. This matter involved conducting a mediation, re-establishing a stable supply chain and advising on potential class action risk.
  • Advising investor groups regarding contentious issues in the USD14 billion liquidation of Abraaj Private Equity. This landmark matter included corporate criminal and regulatory advice, conducting multiple parallel litigation and arbitration proceedings and providing contentious advice to assist corporate transactions.
  • Advising investors in a major African energy company in a USD750 million joint venture dispute. These proceedings included an LCIA arbitration and obtaining an injunction in the BVI in support of the arbitral proceedings.
  • Advising a Government in Asia in relation to the termination of a USD5 billion oil field joint venture, including consideration of force majeure events based on terrorist activity.
  • Representing private equity firms in litigation and arbitration, including contentious M&A, intra-fund disputes, breach of investment parameters, breach of fiduciary duties, shareholder disputes and fraud.
  • Advising a steel fabrication company in a EUR150 million dispute under ICC arbitration rules with a manufacturer relating to product quality defects. This work involved the use of the ICC’s Pre-Arbitral Referee Procedure and the successful completion of a two week trial.
  • Advising a leading bank in relation to a USD100 million shareholders’ dispute. This matter involves an LCIA arbitration and complex regulatory issues in England, Europe and the Middle East.
  • Advising a global entertainment company concerning a EUR55 million fraud claim. This matter involved understanding complex financial reporting issues, High Court litigation and regulatory issues in Europe and Asia.
Education
  • London School of Economics, MSc
  • The University of Western Australia, BA (Hons), LLB (Dist)
  • College of Law (New South Wales), Grad Dip Leg Prac

Awards

  • Future Leader, Commercial Litigation, Who's Who Legal, 2023
  • “…Jeremy will always go the extra mile.” Commercial Litigation: Premium, Legal 500, 2021
  • “Jeremy Sher is one of the great strategic thinkers I have encountered in litigation: he never approaches litigation without a carefully thought out plan for how to win and what to do to get there. One of the best letter writers in the business as well; his drafting for centre-piece disputes correspondence like letters before action and responses to letters before action is both a joy to read and highly effective at getting results.” Financial Services: Contentious, Legal 500, 2021
  • “Jeremy Sher is exceptionally intelligent, experienced and well-versed in combative litigation. He is a clever tactician and seems to get on well with all members of his team and manage clients with aplomb”.
    Financial Services: Contentious, Legal 500, 2020
  • “Jeremy Sher counts class actions and M&A-related disputes among his areas of expertise”.
    Commercial Litigation: Premium, Legal 500, 2020
  • “The team at DLA Piper comprising Jamie Curle, Jeremy Sher and James Carter is exceptional. What makes them exceptional is the lengths to which they will go to bring their clients with them at every stage of the litigation process....”.
    Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail, Legal 500, 2020
  • “[…] Jeremy Sher, […] is strong for class actions…”.
    Banking Litigation: Investment and Retail, Legal 500, 2020
  • “[…] Jeremy Sher stands out for his consistent involvement in high value, cross-border fraud disputes”.
    Civil Fraud, Legal 500, 2020
  • “Highly regarded”.
    Commercial Litigation, Legal 500, 2019

Additional Qualifications

Jeremy is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Western Australia.

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