Deirdre N. Hykal Partner MAIN OFFICE: New York Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP 787 Seventh Avenue New York, N.Y. 10019-6099, U.S.A. T 212-728-8530 F 212-728-9530

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Deirdre Hykal is a partner in the Litigation Department of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York. Ms. Hykal specializes in complex commercial litigation and investigations, including defense of multinational corporations in proceedings such as employment discrimination actions; multidistrict antitrust and RICO litigation; inquiries and enforcement actions by the DOJ, SEC, DOL and FINRA; securities class actions; and derivative actions. She is experienced in litigating a wide variety of commercial disputes in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts for clients in various sectors, including media, finance, energy, and insurance, and has served as trial counsel to a major client in the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

Ms. Hykal currently serves as a hiring partner on the firm's Professional Personnel Committee and previously served on the firm’s Marketing and Diversity Committees.

Prior to joining Willkie, Ms. Hykal served as a law clerk for the Hon. James H. Michael, Jr., who sat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia and on the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals by designation (2000-2001).

Ms. Hykal has recently worked on the following significant matters:

• Emerson Electric Co. v. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (Missouri Circuit Court 2010) (granting dismissal of petition alleging breach of fiduciary duty and conspiracy) (appeal pending)
  
  
• In Re Computer Associates Class Action Securities Litigation, 339 F. App’x 31 (2d Cir. 2009) (affirming E.D.N.Y. ruling denying plaintiffs’ Rule 60(b) motions to set aside prior settlements)
  
  
• Horizon Asset Management v. H&R Block, 580 F.3d 755 (8^th Cir. 2009) (affirming dismissal of securities fraud class action)
  
  
• Faggionato v. Lerner, 500 F. Supp. 2d 347 (S.D.N.Y. 2007) (granting dismissal of action for breach of contract and specific performance in connection with international artwork)
  
  
• In Re Polaroid Corp. Securities Litigation, 465 F. Supp. 2d 232 (S.D.N.Y. 2006) (granting dismissal of securities fraud class action)
  
  
• Adelphia Communications Corp. v. Poerio, et al. (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2005) (ordering reformation of deed clearing title to debtors’ property following 2-day bench trial)

HONORS & AWARDS

Ms. Hykal was awarded the John K. Geiger Commitment to Justice Award from inMotion in 2008.