litigation

The firm consistently achieves positive results for its clients in litigations, arbitrations and other disputes by combining broad experience and rigorous legal thinking with the close personal contact and cost consciousness characteristic of a smaller firm. Whether we are handling formal disputes or providing counsel on other legal issues, our clients gain the benefits of a multifaceted, real world approach to solving problems. In advising our clients, and serving as their advocates, the firm conducts a comprehensive evaluation of each client’s situation and provides common sense advice about the risks and rewards of the client’s options. In serving our clients, we utilize not only the resources of our litigation group, but the skills and knowledge of other practice groups as well.

Representative Matters

Our litigators vigorously and successfully represent the firm’s clients in a wide range of litigation matters including commercial litigation, arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution, with substantial expertise in the more specialized areas of securities and antitrust class action defense litigation, complex litigation in the pharmaceutical industry, employment and labor litigation, franchise litigation, intellectual property and trade secrets.

The firm also brings decades of experience to the defense of clients in white-collar criminal matters in federal and state courts throughout the country as well as federal and state regulatory agencies. We represent clients in connection with governmental investigations, grand jury proceedings and, if necessary, at trial. These cases have included allegations of securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, accounting fraud and antitrust violations. We are sensitive to the consequences that a mere allegation can cause to a client and strive to resolve these matters, where possible, prior to bringing of criminal, or regulatory, charges.

Our recent and current cases include:

• Defense of a pharmaceutical company in Multi-District Litigation in federal court in Massachusetts and several state courts involving pricing and regulatory issues in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Defense of a corporate officer in a multi-district securities fraud litigation involving alleged accounting irregularities and securities law violations.
• Representation of foreign investors in a dispute concerning the sale of one of Manhattan's largest parcels of residential real estate.
• Defense of a pharmaceutical company in a multi-defendant antitrust class action, which was the largest matter pending before the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (including related state court proceedings commenced in over a dozen states). The firm obtained a directed verdict in favor of our client, and thereafter, obtained for our client a sanctions award in excess of $2 million against lead counsel for the class action plaintiffs.
• Representation of a high ranking executive in a securities firm in connection with SEC, Department of Justice and New York State Attorney General investigations into late trading and market timing of mutual funds.
• Successful defense at trial of advertiser against claims by cable system representative for recovery of fees for media advertising purchased by an advertising agency.
• Defense of foreign clients in RICO actions in federal and state courts in Delaware involving disputed control of Russian corporations.
• Defense of restaurant industry clients in putative collective and class actions alleging violations of federal and state wage hour laws.
• Defense of licensee in federal RICO and antitrust action involving licensing rights from professional wrestling organization.
• Defense of a cosmetics company in a California antitrust class action involving a nationwide class of consumers.
• Representation of restaurant industry clients on labor relations matters and claims of employment discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
• Litigations involving claims of trademark and copyright infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets.
• Representation of owners of champion thoroughbred horse in dispute with former owner.
• Representation of company and its employees in connection with unlawful activities of animal rights activists.
• Prosecution of claims against sellers of gray market luxury goods.

The firm commits itself in all respects to the efficient and effective handling of our clients' litigation matters. We understand our clients, their businesses and their objectives. We always strive to exceed our clients’ expectations.