Charles J. Ha joined Heller Ehrman in 2003 and has a litigation practice.

Experience

Mr. Ha has experience in a variety of commercial litigation matters including antitrust, shareholder derivative actions, securities class actions, intellectual property, and contract disputes. 

Mr. Ha serves as the chair on the Publications Committee for the Washington State Bar Association’s Business Law Section.  Mr. Ha also sits on the Business Sustainability Committee at the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce and is a Member of the Board of Trustees for the Center for Wooden Boats.

Representative Engagements

• Federal Securities Fraud and Shareholder Derivative Actions — defended Cell Therapeutics, Inc. and its directors in multiple securities and shareholder derivative lawsuits, C05-0396RSM (W.D. Wa.), all of which were dismissed with prejudice on motions to dismiss.
• Professional Liability — defended Deloitte & Touche LLP against professional malpractice claims in Ahtna v. Deloitte & Touche LLP, et al., 3AN-04-5669 (Sup. Ct. Alaska), resulting in complete defense verdict after five-week jury trial.
• SEC Investigations — represented audit team of Big 4 accounting firm in connection with SEC investigation, including Wells Submission, resulting in District Office decision not to recommend SEC enforcement action.
• Antitrust — represented Kohler Company in pursuing antitrust claims in Briggs & Stratton Corp.  v. Kohler Co., 05-C-0025-C (W.D. Wis.), resulting in settlement.

Publications

• “Five Essential Issues to Consider in Determining Whether and How to Conduct an Internal Investigation,” co-authored with Justo Gonzalez.  Washington State Bar Association, Business Law Section Newsletter, Vol. 30, No. 2  06.2008
• “It’s Out Of My Hands? A party’s duty to preserve documents in the possession of others,” co-authored with Matthew Harrington.  LexisNexis Mealey’s Litigation Report, Discovery, Vol. 5, Issue 8  05.2008
• The Tail of Risk May be Getting Longer for Former Directors and Officers: Reports from the Stock Option Litigation Trenches. Co-authored by Kelly Fennerty, Charles Ha and Lori Lynn Phillips.   Business Development Outlook.  08.15.2007
• "Avoiding Liability For Securities Fraud: The Legal Significance Of Integration (And Non-Reliance) Clauses Under State And Federal Law," co-authored with Leonard Feldman.   Washington State Bar News  05.2006

Speaking Engagements

• “The Walt Disney Company Derivative Litigation. What the Walt Disney Verdict Means for Boards of Directors,” PWC General Counsel Forum, September 21, 2005. Co-presented with Brendan Mangan.