Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP

Friedman Kaplan Seiler Adelman & Robbins LLP was founded in 1986 by seven attorneys who quickly built a formidable reputation for providing exceptional representation, particularly in matters of special complexity and first impression. Since that time, the firm has created a practice that prioritizes intellectual strength and agility over size, allowing its attorneys to resolve matters optimally, creatively, and cost-effectively. Today, the firm is made up of approximately 60 attorneys in two offices who provide sophisticated litigation, white collar defense, and corporate legal advice in high-stakes matters to clients in the financial services, real estate, healthcare, media, insurance, and other industries.

Representative matters
White-collar

• • Representation of the former Chief Financial Officer of Archegos Capital Management in connection with criminal and civil proceedings related to the family office’s 2021 collapse, including through a nine-week criminal trial in the Southern District of New York
  • Secured a complete acquittal for a UK national after a lengthy trial spanning almost three years in an international white collar case involving charges of fraud, bribery, and money laundering
  • Representation of a multinational food corporation in connection with an investigation by the New York Attorney General and during a two-week trial resulting in the dismissal of the case against the client
  • Representation of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in connection with the year-long task force investigation being conducted by Governor Phil Murphy and related civil and criminal matters arising from the task force investigation

Complex commercial litigation

• • Representation of the collateral agent for a syndicated first-lien term loan facility, including through trial, in litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery challenging a liability management transaction executed by Del Monte Foods, Inc. and a group of its lenders
  • Representation of the founder of WeWork challenging its majority institutional shareholder’s termination of a multibillion-dollar tender offer
  • Representation of the Official Stanford Investors Committee in long-running and ultimately enormously successful litigation arising out of R. Allen Stanford’s Ponzi scheme, one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history
  • Representation of GSO Capital Partners in litigation challenging its refinancing of debt issued by New Jersey-based home builder Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc.

Bankruptcy and creditors’ rights

• • Representation of a group of lenders holding over $600 million of first-lien debt in Serta Simmons Bedding in closely watched lawsuits in New York state and federal courts and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas challenging the validity and legality of the company's “uptier” transaction with another group of lenders
  • Representation of the largest creditor of PG&E in successfully prosecuting multibillion-dollar insurance subrogation claims, for injuries arising out of the 2017 and 2018 California wildfires, in one of the most complex bankruptcy cases in U.S. history
  • Representation of two hedge funds pursuing claims on defaulted bonds issued by the Republic of Argentina, which resulted in a recovery of $1.3 billion
  • Representation of US Bank National Association in its capacity as indenture trustee of certain notes issued by Windstream Services, LLC in litigation concerning an alleged default under the indenture
  • Representation of Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB as successor indenture trustee for $250 million of unsecured notes of Nine West Holdings, Inc. in connection with Nine West’s bankruptcy and potential claims arising out of the company’s 2014 leveraged buyout and asset sales

Malpractice defense

• • Friedman Kaplan frequently represents Am Law 100 firms in defending against claims of malpractice, and has a track record of resolving claims prior to litigation being filed, and — in the event of litigation — obtaining dismissal of claims at trial and on appeal

Special committees

• • Representation of the Special Litigation Committee of Aetna in connection with its investigation of derivative claims asserted against the company’s directors by two shareholders regarding the Aetna/Humana merger
  • Internal investigation on behalf of the Audit Committee of a NYSE-listed consumer financial services company in connection with the Committee’s review of the company’s previously issued financial statements
  • Representation of a Special Committee of the Board of Directors of a leading financial services firm in investigating errors in the firm’s public reporting

Employment

• • Representation of a global asset management firm in an employment discrimination action, and obtained dismissal on summary judgment of all claims by the District Court and affirmance by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Representation of one of the world’s most prominent inter-dealer brokerage firms in the successful defense of eight consolidated FINRA arbitrations of claims of employee ‘raiding’ and other business torts
  • Representation of a major financial services company in a five-month jury trial successfully defending against claims of racketeering, misappropriation of trade secrets, and unfair competition totaling $1 billion

Corporate

• • Representation of Nettar Group Inc. (dba Satellogic), a leader in high-resolution satellite data collection, in connection with a transaction to go public through a merger with CF Acquisition Corp. V, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald
  • Representation of Trilogy International Partners, an international telecommunications company, in its conversion to a public company through a $875 million business combination with Alignvest Acquisition Corporation. The firm also advised the client in connection with the refinancing of its high yield bonds
  • Representation of prominent hedge and private equity funds in both domestic and foreign investment and exit transactions
  • Representation of a manufacturer of commercial and military aerospace hydraulic and fuel system components in its acquisition by publicly-owned TransDigm Group, Inc. for a purchase price exceeding $250m.