Practice Profile: Adam Wierzbowski's practice focuses on the protection of investor rights in securities class actions that often include a social justice component.

Mr. Wierzbowski has been a senior member of trial teams that have recovered billions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors, created critical precedent to preserve key investor protections, and challenged executive compensation abuses and other management wrongdoing.

His significant prosecutions include In re Merck Vioxx Securities Litigation, a $1.06 billion recovery on behalf of investors—one of the largest in history—that arose from alleged misrepresentations about the cardiovascular safety of Merck's painkiller Vioxx. The case also involved a unanimous and groundbreaking victory for investors at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Wierzbowski was also a senior member of the team that achieved a total recovery of $688 million on behalf of investors in the securities litigations related to Schering-Plough and Merck's alleged misrepresentations about the anti-cholesterol drugs Vytorin and Zetia. Most recently, he was a senior member of the teams that obtained $480 million for investors in the securities class action against Wells Fargo & Co. related to its fake accounts scandal, and obtained $300 million for investors in the securities class action against General Motors related to its delayed recall of vehicles with defective ignition switches.

Leadership, Pro Bono and Civic Work: Mr. Wierzbowski volunteers his time with, or actively supports, the JCP Downtown, Her Justice, City Year, Women for Women International and the Transport Group Theatre Company.

Prior Experience: Before joining Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann, Mr. Wierzbowski interned in the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Frauds Section and worked at another national securities litigation firm.

Education:

J.D., The George Washington University Law School, 2003, notes editor for The George Washington International Law Review, member of Moot Court Board

B.A., Dartmouth College, 2000

What advice would you give to young lawyers? Find an area of the law that you find interesting and fulfilling, plan ahead, show initiative, and demonstrate ownership over everything you do. But, also, don't be afraid to ask for help and bounce ideas off as many colleagues as you can.