Alexander Reus
Founder & Chairman
Mr. Reus, Founder & Chairman at DRRT, has over 25 years of experience in international litigation and alternative dispute resolution in the area of investor protection and loss recovery. He advises and represents some of the world’s largest institutional investors in U.S. and international shareholder compensation litigation, involving class actions, group actions, derivate action, appraisal actions in merger or take-over situations. He is one of the global leaders and pioneers in shareholder rights, protection, compensation and corporate governance matters as well as funding global loss recovery efforts in non-traditional non-class action jurisdictions.
Mr. Reus has been and continues to be involved in the largest non-U.S. securities litigation cases against companies such as Royal Bank of Scotland in England, Volkswagen in Germany, Vivendi in France, Toshiba in Japan and has successfully negotiated settlements with Olympus in Japan (JYP 11 billion) and Fortis in the Netherlands (€1.3 billion).
Mr. Reus is a Board Certified International Lawyer (Florida Bar). He is licensed to practice law New York, Florida, and the District of Columbia, as well as in England and Wales as a solicitor. A frequent international lecturer on international legal matters, he also serves on numerous boards of directors and committees. Alexander is a native German speaker, speaks fluent English and has conversational knowledge of Portuguese, French, and Spanish.
Background
After obtaining his J.D. from the University of Miami, Mr. Reus worked as a partner in both small and large international law firms on many complex international corporate and litigation matters. Mr. Reus joined Baur, Woodbridge, Reus & Klein to represent high net-worth individuals in corporate, real estate, immigration, tax, and litigation matters.
In 2000, Mr. Reus became partner at Becker & Poliakoff and chaired the European Practice Group, managing over 15 lawyers and focusing on complex M&A matters, litigation, ADR, and government relations issues.
In 2004, Mr. Reus founded DRRT as an internationally oriented and operating boutique with a focus on global investor protection, securities litigation and investor loss recovery. Alexander is, until today, DRRT’s Founder & Chairman. He is a native German speaker, but fluent in English and conversational in Portuguese, French, and Spanish.
Education
B.A., Gymnasium Karlsbad, Germany
J.D., University of Heidelberg School of Law, Germany
L.L.M., University of Miami School of Law
J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law
Admissions
New York
Florida
District of Columbia
United States Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
United States District Courts for the Southern and Middle Districts of Florida
Law Society of England and Wales (Solicitor)
Board Certified International Lawyer (Florida)
Lectures & Speaking Engagements
Speaker, “Shareholder Protection Through Loss Recovery Litigation” at ICGN Annual Conference, Miami, USA
Panelist, “Protecting Securities Portfolios Against Fraud – Obtaining Representation Outside the U.S.” at BLB&G Roundtable, New York City, USA
Speaker, “The Future of Financial Institution Litigation” at C5 9th International Financial Investor Insurance Form, London, UK
Panelist, “Mis-selling of Financial Products: How are we protected in today’s marketplace?” at IIEF Investor Rights Protection Forum, Hong Kong
Speaker, “International Securities Litigation” at The Knowledge Group Legal Series Webinar
Speaker, “Incorporating the Latest U.S. Class Action Developments into Your Litigation Strategy in Preparation for the Growth of Collective
Actions in Europe,” at C5 Financial Institutions Litigation Conference, London, UK
Co-Moderator, “Litigation Lessons for Securities Lawyers,” at ABA Annual Conference, Dublin, Ireland
Speaker, “Reconsidering the Compensation System for your Firm – From Associate to Senior Partner” International Bar Association Conference, Munich, Germany
Panelist, “Morrison v. NAB,” at IIEF London Governance Forum, London, UK
Panelist, “The new Corporate Governance Landscape,” at ICGN Annual Conference, Paris, France
Panelist, “The Route Map to Reform and Recovery,” at ICGN Annual Conference, Sydney, Australia
Speaker, “Generating Legal Alpha” at Nordic Pension Investment World, Stockholm, Sweden
Speaker, “Collection of Securities Class Action Settlements,” IIEF Institutional Investor Education Forum, Paris, France
Speaker, “Generating ‘Legal’ Alpha – New Trends in Europe and the U.S.” at Pension Fund Investment World, Berlin, Germany
Speaker, “Generating Legal Alpha” at Terrapin Investor World Middle East, Dubai, UAE
Articles & Publications
“Scheme Liability” nach Stoneridge – Haftung für Kapitalmarktbetrug in den USA und Deutschland (62. Jahrgang, Heft 27, Page 1245), WM. (Germany)
“Anlegerschutz – Pflichten von Institutionellen Investoren”, WM. (Germany)
“Globaler Anlegerschutz”, DAJV. (Germany)
“Securities Litigation USA/Germany – Duties of Institutional Investors”, DAJV. (Germany)
“The New European Company – Societas Europaea” Eurowatch. (Germany)
“Internationale Ehevertrage in Deutschland” (Heft 6, Page 329) FPR. (Germany)
“Judicial Discretion: Comparative View of the Doctrine of Forum Non Conveniens in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany,” Loyola of Los Angeles Int’l & Comparative Law (Volume 16, Number 2)
Memberships
- Frankfurt Bar Association (Rechtsanwaltskammer Frankfurt)
- Atlantic Sapphire AS, Director, Compensation Committee Chairman
- ICGN Shareholder Rights Committee
- National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
- Board Leadership and Governance Fellow
Joseph Gulino
Managing Partner
Mr. Gulino, Managing Partner, has successfully represented institutional investors in active cases in multiple jurisdictions around the world for over a decade.
A U.S.-trained, multilingual attorney, Mr. Gulino is dual-licensed to practice in the U.S. (Florida, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.) and England & Wales. He represents DRRT’s clients in investor protection matters and securities and antitrust litigation. He is a Board Certified International Lawyer by the Florida Bar.
Leading a team of skilled international litigators, Joseph directs major non-U.S. securities litigation cases, such as Vivendi SA, Saipem S.p.A., and Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A., working closely with DRRT’s partner firms in several global jurisdictions. He has acted as liaison counsel for DRRT clients in some of the largest U.S. securities cases, including Citigroup, Bank of America, and Merck.
A member of Associazione Internazionale Giuristi di Lingua Italiana (AIGLI) and the Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats (AIJA), Mr. Gulino has lectured on securities litigation and investor protection claims in Italy, Belgium, and Luxembourg, and has authored articles on investor protection in various French legal journals. In 2019 Mr. Gulino has also been appointed to serve on the Florida Bar International Law Certification Committee.
Background
Previously employed by one of the largest U.S. securities litigation firms, Mr. Gulino is a two-time recipient of the U.S. Department of Education’s Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship, focusing on Western European Studies. He has worked as an intern with the U.S. Department of State, a pro bono immigration agency, and as a consultant to the University of Pittsburgh’s international legal education programs in Eastern Europe. He holds a master’s degree in International and Public Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public & International Affairs, specializing in global political economy.
Mr. Gulino is fluent in French and Italian, has conversational knowledge of Spanish, and elementary knowledge of German.
Education
J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law, International and Comparative Law Certificate
Master of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public & International Affairs, Certificate of advanced study: Western European affairs
B.A., Political Science, Villanova University, minors in French and Italian
Admissions
Pennsylvania
District of Columbia
Florida
Solicitor (England & Wales)
Board Certified International Lawyer (Florida)
Lectures & Speaking Engagements
Speaker, “Shareholder Protection Through Loss Recovery Litigation” at ICGN Annual Conference, Miami, USA
Speaker, “Case Examination: Tesco (UK),” at Securities Class Action Services Webinar
Speaker, “Global Trends in Securities Class Actions,” at Securities Class Action Services Roundtable, New York City, USA
Panelist, “Myths and Realities of Financing Collectives Actions,” at ABA Seminar Increasing Access to Justice Through EU Class Actions, Brussels, Belgium
Guest Lecturer, “International Securities Fraud Actions and Investor Protection,” at Università LUISS Guido Carli, Law School, Rome, Italy
Seminar presenter, “After the storm: A comparative approach between U.S. and Europe on the consequences of the crisis on the legal environment applicable to the banks”, at AIJA seminar “Being a Banker in a Post-Crisis World: Risks and Liabilities”, Luxembourg
Seminar panelist, “The Global Fight Against Terrorism and its Impact on Citizens’ Lives,” Madrid, Spain
Seminar on comparative International Legal Education US-Ukraine, Yalta, Ukraine
Articles & Publications
“L’expérience allemande pour protéger les investisseurs, une leçon pour l’Europe?”, Option Droit & Affaires (No. 73) (France)
“Morrison v. National Australia Bank: Effects and Future Perspectives,” ABA Newsletter (Volume 6, Issue 4) (USA)
“A recent decision of the U.S. Supreme Court represents a radical change for the system of investor protection in the United States – La dernière décision de la Cour Suprême Américaine représente un changement radical pour le système de protection des investisseurs aux Etats-Unis,” AIJA (No. 24) (France)
“Morrison contre National Australia Bank, un arrêt à la portée internationale,” Option Droit & Affaires (No. 44) (France)
“Actions de groupe: la Cour suprême siffle la fin de la partie pour les investisseurs étrangers,” LJA (No. 985), (France)
Memberships
Board of Trustees of The American University of Rome
Board of Non-Profit National Italian American Foundation (NIAF)
Florida Bar International Law Certification Committee
French-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida
International Association of Jurists (Associazione Internazionale Giuristi di Lingua Italiana) (AIGLI)
International Association of Young Lawyers (Association Internationale des Jeunes Avocats) (AIJA)
- Member of the Commercial Fraud Commission
- Member of the Banking, Finance & Capital Markets Law Commission
- Arbitration Commission Member
Christian Wefers
Partner,
Head of European Offices
Mr. Wefers, Partner & Head of European Offices, has extensive professional experience in the fields of financial and capital markets, banking and trade law, international litigation, and dispute resolution. He is a member of the Frankfurt Bar (Germany) and works mainly from DRRT’s German office in Frankfurt.
Mr. Wefers is a certified expert in financial and capital markets by Deutsches Anwaltsinstitut e. V. and assists DRRT’s clients in matters of banking and trade law as well as international litigation and dispute resolution.
He represents institutional investors in numerous Dutch Foundation proceedings, international bankruptcy matters, financial antitrust cases, and German private securities actions, among them Hypo Real Estate, one of the largest securities cases ever to be brought by institutional investors in Germany.
Mr. Wefers is also a Member of the FORsettlement Board, Fortis Steerco, and Committee of Representation for Steinhoff International Holdings N.V. (“SHINV”).
Background
Mr. Wefers obtained his law degree from the University of Düsseldorf and Cologne and completed his LL.M. at the University of Miami School of Law. He received certification as an expert in German banking and capital market law.
Mr. Wefers is a native German speaker and is fluent in English and Dutch.
Education
- J.D., University of Düsseldorf and Cologne, Faculty of Law
- LL.M., University of Miami
- Certification in German Legal Specialization Course for Banking and Capital Market Law (Deutsches Anwaltsinstitut e. V.)
Admissions
- Germany (Frankfurt Bar)
Lectures & Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, “Klagen institutioneller Anleger gegen Emittenten – ein Wertschöpfungspotenzial?” at 7. Liechtensteinischer Fondstag, Vaduz, Liechtenstein
- Speaker, “U.S. Recht,” at University Darmstadt, Germany
Articles & Publications
- “Now you see me – now you don’t!”, Newsletter of the Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristen-Vereinigung e.V. (DAJV)
Memberships
- German-American Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristenvereinigung) (DAJV)
Jonathan Cohen, advises DRRT’s clients about various legal actions throughout the world involving investor loss recovery. Mr. Cohen has been most involved with actions in Asia, providing timely aggressive support to local counsel. He has extensive experience with case evaluation, investigation and compliance including portfolio analysis.
Background
Mr. Cohen has over twenty years of experience in the securities industry. He is a licensed attorney with a vast knowledge of the financial markets. In addition to his law degree, he has extensive professional experience in the field of capital markets. He has served as both an operations and compliance officer facilitated by the many security licenses he holds.
Education
- J.D., Nova Southeastern University
- M.B.A, Nova Southeastern University
- B.A., Legal Studies, University of Massachusetts/Amherst
Admissions
- Florida
Mr. Lay is a Partner with DRRT, contributing to DRRT’s legal efforts in various investor loss recovery actions throughout the world, including Brazil and Europe. Prior to joining DRRT’s legal team, Mr. Lay practiced commercial litigation and business transactions, with experience representing clients in both state and federal court and advising corporate clients on a variety of matters including contract formation and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, employment law, copyright and trademark protection and enforcement, and real estate transactions.
Mr. Lay is a member of the Florida Bar and received his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, where he graduated cum laude. While in law school, Mr. Lay served on the executive board of the Florida Journal of International Law. Mr. Lay also served as a judicial fellow for the Honorable Morris Silberman of the Second District Court of Appeal in Tampa, Florida and completed internships with the U.S. Navy JAG and the Vice President and General Counsel’s office at the University of Florida. Prior to law school, Mr. Lay obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University.
Education
- J.D., cum laude, University of Florida, Levin College of Law
- B.S., West Virginia University
Admissions
- Florida Bar
Ms. Kern is an associate with DRRT, contributing to DRRT’s legal efforts in a variety of securities litigation and investor loss recovery actions throughout the world, including Germany. Prior to joining DRRT, Ms. Kern practiced litigation as a Bar-Approved Specialist in Insurance Law with a national insurance law firm in Germany focusing on the recourse of major claims and general liability cases.
Ms. Kern graduated from University of Cologne Law School (Germany), where she was a member of the Law Student Council and a mentor to new students. She then completed a legal clerkship at the Higher Regional Court of Duesseldorf in Germany and has profound experience with Criminal Law matters. Ms. Kern also earned an LL.M. at Cardozo School of Law in General Legal Studies, with a concentration in Intellectual Property and Information Law.
Ms. Kern is a native German speaker and fluent in English.
Education
- J.D., University of Cologne Law School, Germany
- LL.M., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York City
Admissions
- New York Bar
- Germany (Cologne Bar)
Memberships
- German-American Lawyers’ Association (Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristenvereinigung) (DAJV)
- New York State Bar Association
- Advocate Club of Germany
- Advocate Club of Cologne
Katja Simone Bullemer-Wülfert
Consultant
Katja Simone Bullemer-Wülfert is a Consultant for DRRT in the area of international proceedings in the field of investor protection and recovery of losses.
Background
Ms. Bullemer-Wülfert has over 20 years of experience in the capital markets and asset management sector. Prior to joining DRRT, Ms. Bullemer-Wülfert practiced capital markets and regulatory law with two leading law firms in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, advising international banks and asset managers and focusing on cross-border regulatory topics. After practicing law, she gained extensive experience in the field of investment fund regulatory law and asset management by working for many years as in-house counsel and leading the legal department at a German investment management company of a French banking group. Here she gained extensive knowledge of cross-border, regulatory and compliance issues from an in-house practitioner perspective.
Education
Ms. Bullemer-Wülfert received her German legal and economics education at the Universities of Bayreuth and Speyer. Internships led her to the states attorney’s office in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, and to law firms in Texas, USA, among others. After graduation, she worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, in the area of comparative and international law, and as a research assistant at the University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida, in the area of international business transactions. At the University of Miami School of Law, she also earned an LL.M. degree with a concentration in international and comparative law. She is a native German speaker, fluent in English and has basic knowledge of French and Italian.
Admissions
- Ms. Bullemer-Wülfert is admitted to the bar in Germany.
Articles & Publications
- Contributed to legal commentaries and published articles on various specialized topics
J. Alexander Bürger
Of Counsel
Mr. Bürger is an international commercial and transactional lawyer working from DRRT’s Frankfurt office.
He has extensive professional experience in the fields of financial and capital markets, banking and trade law, international litigation, trademark and unfair competition law, patent, copyright, and employee invention law. He is lead counsel for several cases in Germany and advises DRRT’s clients in matters of banking and trade law and international litigation.
Background
Mr. Bürger obtained his law degree from the University of Frankfurt and completed his LL.M. and J.D. at the University of Miami School of Law. Admitted to practice in Germany and Florida, Mr. Bürger is fluent in German and English.
Education
- J.D., cum laude, University of Frankfurt, Faculty of Law
- LL.M., University of Miami School of Law
- J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law
Admissions
- Florida
- Germany
Memberships
- German Bar Association (Deutscher Anwaltverein) (DAV)
Dr. Stefan Gehrold
Of Counsel - Regulatory Affairs Strategist
Dr. Stefan Gehrold
Of Counsel - Regulatory Affairs Strategist
Dr. Gehrold is an international lawyer who served as a legislator on the European Level and is a former member at the European Parliament.
Dr. Gehrold is serving as Of Counsel – Regulatory Affairs Strategist. His expertise in the European regulatory field supports and enhances DRRT’s role as an international pioneer in institutional investors loss recovery. He plays a major role in DRRT’s activism, particularly related to the class action legal framework in European nations, and building awareness with key decision makers on shareholder activism.
Background
Dr. Gehrold has written over 300 scientific publications addressing legal, political and economic issues, with particular focus on the European integration. He also counts 26 years of professional experience in Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and Senegal. His background in European law, combined with his extensive experience, allow him to provide professional and project management services, political-security risk assessment, as well as government and media relations. Dr. Gehrold is a native German speaker, he is fluent in English with a work proficiency in both French and Croatian. Furthermore, he has a basic knowledge of Portuguese, Dutch and Czech with reading proficiency in both Spanish and Slovak.
Education
Law at Passau University (Germany)
Law at Porto Catholic University (Portugal)
Bachelor of Laws at Freiburg University (Germany)
Doctorate (Ph. D.) at Münster University (Germany)
Master of Laws at Hannover Ministry of Justice/Oldenburg Court (Germany)
Articles & Publications
Das Verhältnis zwischen Kommunen und Caritasverbänden bei der Wahrnehmung von Aufgaben nach dem Jugendhilferecht, Frankfurt 1996
Der Fall Bosman – ein Beispiel für die Bürgernähe der EU; in Oldenburgische Volkszeitung vom 06.01.1996, S. 19
Bridging the Trust Gap Between Serbia & its Neighbors: Avoiding Another Cycle of Distrust, with Max Primorac (Institute of World Affairs, 2001)
Samo dug i trnovit Put obecava Uspjeh; in: Privredni Vjesnik vom 17.06.2002, S.9
Hrvatska: Djelic Domovine; in: Euroforum; März 2003, S. 24
Die Slowakischen Präsidentschaftswahlen im April 2004; in KASAuslandsinformationen 5/04, Berlin 2004, S.51 ff.
Kroatien: Konserative Opposition gewinnt Parlamentswahlen; in: KASAuslandinformationen 1/04, Berlin 2004, S.18 ff.
Wirtschaftswunder Slowakei: Musterknabe oder Bösewicht in der erweiterten EU?; in KAS-Auslandsinformationen 11/05, Berlin 2005, S. 57 ff.
Perspektiven in der Energiepolitik der Tschechischen und Slowakischen Republik; in KAS-Auslandsinformationen 02/06; Berlin 2006, S. 50 ff.
Nach der Wahl 2006: Im Westen angekommen? Zur parteipolitischen
Entwicklung in Tschechien und der Slowakei; in KAS-Auslandsinformationen 12/06; Berlin 2006, S. 79 ff.
„Melde gehorsamst, dass ja!“ – Zum Abgleich politischer Sprache in Tschechien und in Deutschland; in „Politische Sprache und Kultur in Mitteleuropa“; Chemnitz 2007
Soon to be published: The European