Wolf Popper LLP

Education:

  • George Washington University Law School (J.D.)
  • Skidmore College (B.A.)

Bar Admissions:

  • New York
  • United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
  • U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
Practice Areas

James A. Harrod

Partner

jharrod@wolfpopper.com
(212) 451-9642

James A. Harrod is a partner at Wolf Popper LLP.  Since joining the firm in 1999 Mr. Harrod has focused on representing shareholders in securities fraud and other class action litigation.
Currently, Mr. Harrod represents institutional and other investors in several cases arising out of the financial crisis, including:
  • RBS – Wolf Popper is co-lead counsel for a state pension fund in this securities fraud class action arising out of the events leading to the partial-nationalization of the Royal Bank of Scotland. In re Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc Securities Litigation, 09 Civ 300 (DAB) (S.D.N.Y.).
  • J.P. Morgan Acceptance Corp. – Wolf Popper is co-lead counsel for a state pension fund in this class action on behalf of investors who purchased billions of dollars in mortgage-backed securities. Includes claims against rating agency defendants Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch. Plumbers’ & Pipefitters’ Local #562 Supplemental Plan & Trust, et al., v. J.P. Morgan Acceptance Corp. I., et al., 08 Civ 1713 (ERK) (E.D.N.Y.).
  • Residential Asset Securitization Trust (Indymac MBS)– Wolf Popper is lead counsel in a securities class action on behalf of investors who purchased mortgage pass-through certificates backed by Indymac Bank loans. Tsereteli, et ano., v. Residential Asset Securitization Trust 2006-A8 et al., 08 Civ. 10637 (LAK) (S.D.N.Y.).
In addition to those matters, Mr. Harrod is among those at the Firm who are serving as co-lead counsel on behalf of a class of investors in Fairfield Sentry, Fairfield Sigma and Greenwich Sentry, the largest of the so-called Bernard Madoff “feeder funds.” Anwar, et al., v. Fairfield Greenwich Limited, et. al., 09 Civ. 118 (VM) (S.D.N.Y.).
Mr. Harrod has obtained substantial recoveries for investors, including those in the following cases:
  • In re Motorola Securities Litigation, No. 03 C 287 (RRP) (N.D. Ill.) – recovery of $190 million obtained three days before trial in 2007. Wolf Popper was lead counsel for the State of New Jersey (on behalf of the State’s Division of Investment).  In re Motorola Sec. Litig., 2003 WL 21673928 (N.D. Ill. Jul. 16, 2003); (appointing lead plaintiff and lead counsel); In re Motorola Sec. Litig., 2004 WL 2032769 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 9, 2004) (denying defendants’ motion to dismiss); In re Motorola Sec. Litig., 505 F.Supp. 2d 501 (N.D. Ill. 2007) (substantially denying defendants’ motions for summary judgment).
  •   In re Sonus Networks, Inc. Securities Litigation-II, No. 06-cv-10040 (MLW) – recovery of $9.5 million in 2009, where Wolf Popper was lead counsel on behalf of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi.
  •  In re Service Corporation International, Civ. No. H-99-280 (S.D. Tex.) – recovery of $65 million obtained in 2004.
  •  Danis v. USN Communications, Inc. et al., 98 C 7482 (SBC) (N.D. Ill.) – recovery of $44.6 million on the eve of trial, approximately 36% of provable damages.
In connection with his representation of institutional investors, Mr. Harrod has made presentations to pension fund trustees concerning current issues in securities litigation. In February 2010 he addressed concerns about executive compensation on Wall Street to members of the Illinois Public Pension Fund Association. In October 2009 he spoke at the National Council of Public Employee Retirement Systems and addressed the fallout from the 2009 financial crisis, with a focus on the role of the credit rating agencies.
Mr. Harrod was admitted to the bar of the State of New York in 2000 and was admitted to practice in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York in January 2001. In 2009 Mr. Harrod was admitted to the bar of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Mr. Harrod worked at the National Whistleblower Center and in the Office of the General Counsel at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. 
Mr. Harrod received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School. A graduate of Skidmore College, Mr. Harrod earned a B.A. in philosophy and government. He continues to be active in the Skidmore College alumni association.