Acott, Francis John

Francis J. Acott

Counsel

francis.acott@lw.com
    Acott, Francis John

    Francis J. Acott

    Counsel

    francis.acott@lw.com

    Profile

    Francis Acott focuses his practice on complex civil litigation and is a member of the Litigation & Trial Department.

    Mr. Acott defends technology, banking, financial services, healthcare, and pharmaceutical companies in securities, antitrust, and consumer class actions.

    Mr. Acott has also had an active pro bono practice representing individuals and non-profit organizations in connection with criminal proceedings, government inquiries, and civil litigation.

    Prior to joining Latham, Mr. Acott was a litigation associate at another leading law firm. He received his JD from Northwestern University School of Law, magna cum laude, where he was an associate editor of the Northwestern University Law Review. While attending law school, Mr. Acott interned with the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois and the District of Montana, and was a judicial extern for Judge John J. Tharpe, Jr. of the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and participated in the Law School’s Supreme Court Clinic.

    Experience

    Mr. Acott’s experience includes:

    • Successfully defending against a consumer class action arising out of a criminal attack on Facebook’s web platform. Latham defeated the UCL and contract claims to narrow the case to a negligence action, then defeated class certification on a US$6 billion damages claim. The parties reached a no-damages settlement. (N.D. Cal.)
    • Currently defending a major technology company of a putative consumer class action under the UCL regarding alleged security vulnerabilities in smartphone and other mobile device processors. (N.D. Cal.)
    • Currently defending a major international search platform and photo-editing app developer in a putative class action regarding alleged privacy violations. (N.D. Cal.)
    • Currently defending a major social media company in a putative consumer class action alleging UCL and fraud claims about advertising reach estimates. (N.D. Cal.)
    • Currently defending a major technology company in litigation related to SPAC transaction (Del. Ch.)
    • Represented secured lender of rental car company in chapter 11 contested matters (Bankr. D. Del.)
    • Defended major global bank in multi-district litigation alleging aiding and abetting and other claims related to one of the largest-ever Ponzi schemes, including defeating class certification (N.D. Tex.)*
    • Defended major U.S. bank in multi-district and international litigation related to the alleged manipulation of LIBOR, EURIBOR, and other interest rate benchmarks (S.D.N.Y.)*
    • Defended major U.S. bank against Section 11 and 12 claims in securities class action related to Wilmington Trust Bank (D. Del.)*
    • Represented major pharmaceutical company in litigation related to foundational biotechnology patents (N.D. Cal.)*

    *Matter handled prior to joining Latham

    Qualifications

    Bar Qualification

    • California
    • New York

    Education

    • JD, Northwestern University School of Law, 2014
      magna cum laude
    • BS in Economics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2010

    Practices

    Industries

    News & Insights