D. Lee Heavner

Managing Principal
D. Lee Heavner
Los Angeles

Education

Ph.D. and M.B.A., Graduate School of Business, The University of Chicago; B.S., economics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Summary of Experience

Dr. Heavner has consulted on a wide variety of litigation topics, including ERISA, securities, and antitrust. In all of these areas, he has analyzed issues related to class certification, liability, and damages. Dr. Heavner’s ERISA case work includes supporting experts in dozens of ERISA litigations, including at least six cases in which our clients prevailed at trial. He has also served as an expert in ERISA class action litigations. Dr. Heavner has written and presented on a variety of topics related to investments and retirement plans, including the article “Expert Analysis of Plan Losses in ERISA Class Action Litigation.” His securities litigation experience includes directing the support of expert witnesses in many of the largest mutual fund excessive fee actions ever filed, including four such cases that culminated in trial victories for our clients. His other finance and securities case work includes cases involving allegations of securities fraud, imprudent asset management, and investment suitability. In Florida State Board of Administration v. Alliance Capital Management, Dr. Heavner directed the support of expert witnesses retained on behalf of Alliance Capital. This case culminated in a trial in which a Florida jury found Alliance Capital not liable for the losses incurred by the Florida Retirement System pension fund. The National Law Journal declared the verdict one of the top ten defense wins of the year. Dr. Heavner’s antitrust experience includes matters involving allegations of collusion (including alleged concerted refusals to deal), anticompetitive vertical restraints of trade, predatory pricing, illegal price discrimination, mergers, and standards setting. Known for his ability to concisely present complex economic concepts in an accessible manner, he has earned Accredited Investment Fiduciary® designation and has been a member of the Analysis Group 401(k) Committee since 2009. He formerly taught economics and finance at Tulane University’s A.B. Freeman School of Business.

D. Lee Heavner
Practices