Capsule: John C. Coffee, Columbia Law School

JOHN C. COFFEE Adolf A. Berle professor of law Columbia Law School New York General outlook: In 2009, look for an increase in individual lawsuits, rather than class actions, filed by institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies in litigation stemming from the subprime debacle, Mr. Coffee said. "Big institutions don't want to be submerged in a class action," he said. "The crisis was in the debt markets, so it's the big institutions that are the purchasers." Those investors will focus their litigation on the underwriters of such debt as collateralized debt obligations or the investment banks that offered special private transactions, Mr. Coffee added. Next big trend: An increase in litigation involving the subprime crisis. Biggest concern: The change in political control in Washington, with Democrats controlling both Congress and the White House, may lead to increased regulatory pressure on the securities industry. Reading, watching, listening to: TV : NFL football.