Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP > New York, United States > Firm Profile

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 2

Marc Kasowitz – Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP. New York-based Marc Kasowitz is one of the nation’s preeminent trial lawyers, active across the gamut of commercial litigation from antitrust and banking to environmental and breach of contract; also having extensive experience of dealing with investigations and lawsuits brought by state attorneys general. Recent highlights include achieving a favorable settlement for client Pilgrim’s Pride, one of the largest chicken producers in the US and embroiled in a high-profile price fixing allegation. Sheron Korpus – Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: plaintiff Tier 2

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP in New York is one of few firms that handles both plaintiff and defense work in the securities litigation arena, giving it a rare perspective on what it takes to settle successfully resolve a case. It frequently handles bet-the-company matters on behalf of institutional investors such as hedge funds, international banks and foreign sovereigns, against major financial institutions. Renowned litigator Marc Kasowitz  ‘has a great reputation in securities litigation’ and continues to be involved in high-profile matters. A prime example is his work for MBIA Insurance Corporation in matters against RMBS securitization trusts concerning breaches of representations and warranties made by the sellers and loan originators with respect to defective mortgage loans pooled in these mortgage-backed securitizations. The other key partners in the practice are Sheron Korpus and Michael Hanin, who both acted for investors in Student National Collegiate Student Loan Trusts – securitizations of student loans worth more than $2bn – and Stephen Tountas who is leading the firm’s work for Public Employees’ Retirement System of the State of Mississippi against Valeant Pharmaceuticals, claiming that the company misled shareholders regarding its core business model and improperly accounted for the sales of certain unreported subsidiaries due to the ‘improper conduct’ of certain former officers.

Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions) Tier 3

The team at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is led by New York-based Mark W. Lerner , who utilizes his experience as a former federal prosecutor to assist clients in litigation. The firm is experienced in several sectors such as transportation, healthcare, and private equity, but is particularly active within real estate, with recent work in this sector including assisting Douglas Elliman in a class action pending in the Superior Court of the State of California. Contacts at the firm also include Jessica Taub Rosenberg , a former Assistant District Attorney with significant experience litigating for senior executives and employers, and Joshua Fulop, who is experienced in all types of employment-related disputes before both federal and state courts.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is home to extensively experienced practitioners, many of whom have backgrounds in government agencies, and oversees significant criminal and regulatory investigations, for both corporations and individuals. Daniel Fetterman leads the team and is renowned for his white-collar expertise, and he regularly represents domestic and international companies and senior executives in an assortment of internal and criminal investigations. Brian Choi advises boards of directors, companies and individuals who are being investigated by the DOJ and the Securities Exchange Commission, among other regulatory enforcement agencies. Marc Kasowitz routinely acts as national trail counsel in significant commercial litigation in mandates concerning antitrust, banking, corporate governance, and securities. All mentioned individuals are located in New York.

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 4

New York-based Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP handle a steady stream of work from asset managers, hedge funds and private equity firms, also representing pharma, real estate and energy companies, as well as high net worth individuals. Marc Kasowitz leads a broadly experienced team of litigators: Sheron Korpus boasts over deep experience in the field, Jennifer Recine is noted by clients as highly effective, while Paul Burgo  and Kenneth R. David  both have extensive knowledge in corporate governance, commercial law, and securities law. UK qualified Rob Rathmell joined the firm’s Washington DC office in July 2022 from Serle Court, along with internationally experienced Jason Short in New York, who arrived in August 2022 from Kobre & Kim.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense Tier 4

The securities litigation practice at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP in New York is ‘incredibly knowledgeable about the cases they work on but what sets them apart is the focus on resolution strategy’. Sheron Korpus, Michael Hanin and Stephen Tountas are the lead partners. Korpus and emerging partner talent Andrew Schwartz ‘work well as a team, Andrew having the detail at his fingertips whilst Sheron is able to focus on the strategy’. They negotiated a $420m settlement in a major securities class action and numerous direct actions for Teva Pharmaceuticals, the world’s largest generic drug manufacturer, which was accused of misleading disclosures regarding the pricing of its drugs. Highlights for Tountas include defending Prem Parameswaran, the former CFO of Eros Int’l, in connection with a putative securities class action arising from a series of alleged misrepresentations.

Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 4

David Rosner heads Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP’s bankruptcy litigation and restructuring practice, which is well known for its courtroom litigation expertise. The practice has recently represented an ad hoc group of first lien term loan lenders of multibillion dollar healthcare company Envision Healthcare in connection with its ‘liquidity management’ transaction, a key involvement for senior practitioners Marc Kasowitz and Matthew Stein. Kasowitz is a leading trial lawyer, while Stein represents a wide range of clients, including debtors, creditors, statutory and ad hoc committees, indenture trustees, and private equity funds, in connection with complex restructurings, reorganizations, and liquidation proceedings and specializes in litigation arising from distressed situations and leveraged buyouts. Moreover, having joined from Allen & Overy LLP in June 2022, Ken Coleman brings impressive experience in multijurisdictional reorganizations and restructurings. All lawyers mentioned are based in New York.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 4

The intellectual property litigation team at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP acts for prominent tech and pharma companies, regularly representing both plaintiffs and defendants. The team’s extensive experience extends across Hatch-Waxman-related matters and complex patent infringement matters for domestic and international pharma companies, with a standout case being the firm’s representation of Fintiv in its precedent-setting case against Apple. Based in Silicon Valley, Jonathan Waldrop leads the team, frequently representing blue-chip tech companies including Google, Samsung, Adobe, and LG. In the same office, Darcy Jones and Marcus Barber are invaluable members of the team.

Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense Tier 5

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP are known for their involvement in large multidistrict and class action litigation, particularly in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and entertainment industries. Acting for defendants, as well as corporate plaintiffs, the firm’s client roster features names such as MLW Media and Teva Pharmaceuticals. The practice is jointly headed up by Hector Torres, who has significant experience in federal and state courts prosecuting antitrust and other commercial cases, and first-chair litigator and trial lawyer Sheron Korpus, who handles commercial, securities and antitrust disputes. All the mentioned attorneys are situated in New York.

Real estate Tier 5

David Szeker and Darwin Huang lead the real estate transactional team at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP from New York, handling acquisitions and dispositions of single properties and property portfolios, financings, office and retail leasing and joint venture development. Huang is often instructed by Asian financial institutions, asset management companies and prominent family offices.

Dispute resolution > International litigation