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

Insurance: advice to policyholders Tier 1

Insurance: advice to policyholders Tier 1

Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions): defense Tier 1

Securities litigation - plaintiff Tier 2

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP in New York has a team of 'highly efficient, loyal and client-minded' practitioners who have 'a lot of experience with complex transactions'. The firm handles bet-the-company securities cases and has one of the leading direct securities fraud and opt-out practices in the market, representing hedge funds, mutual funds, and pension funds. Marc Kasowitz handled a trial last year for Fairfax Financial Holdings and secured a $31m settlement in the case, which concerned allegations of insider trading, market manipulation and short-selling by a group of hedge funds. With rising star Uri Itkin, he also represented London-based alternative asset manager Astra Asset Management in a CDO-related matter. Leading light Sheron Korpus is 'very bright and quick-thinking, showing attention to detail with a clear view on the big picture; he understands clients' needs and provides legally sound guidance'. Korpus and Michael Hanin, who is recommended as 'a creative, smart, dedicated and very hardworking litigator who can navigate very complicated situations seamlessly', filed a direct securities fraud action against Valeant Pharmaceuticals. Securities fraud specialist Stephen Tountas is also recommended.

Civil litigation/class actions: plaintiff Tier 3

The 'outstanding' team at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is known to clients for its 'excellent work product, exceptional service, timely and wise legal advice and recognition of business implications'. Cindy Caranella Kelly and Sarah Gibbs Leivick are singled out in particular for their 'skills and professional commitment'. Hector Torres continues to advise Ford on its damage claims arising from the DOJ's investigation into the global auto parts cartel, and Marc Kasowitz is part of the team representing Anderson News in its claim against leading magazine publishers and distributors alleging the latter conspired to boycott the client to force it out of the market. Sheron Korpus jointly heads the team with Torres and is also a key name to note. All named attorneys are based in New York. The team was recently strengthened by the arrival of Kevin Arquit, who joined from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and now co-chairs the antitrust practice.

General commercial disputes Tier 3

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP 'is able to staff cases with top-tier specialists in various disciplines'; the firm maintains a focus on high-stakes litigation, covering everything from breach of contract to defamation to trade secrets disputes. It is particularly strong in the financial services, private equity and real estate sectors, though its clients operate in myriad industries beyond these. In the Eastern District of California, 'gifted strategist' Mark Ressler represented Copart as plaintiff in litigation arising out of a botched software project; after a four-week jury trial, the client was awarded $20m in damages for negligence. Paul M. 'Tad' O’Connor III has 'a strong strategic overview of his cases' and 'very significant trial experience, including in the UK and continental Europe'. In a cross-border case, he worked alongside UK counsel to successfully defend private equity firm TPG at the London High Court in a long-running dispute relating to a previous investment in a Greek company. San Francisco-based Jason Takenouchi is highly recommended. Other key figures in the team include Marc Kasowitz, Michael Bowe and Christine Montenegro. Named partners are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Leading trial lawyers Tier 3

Marc Kasowitz - Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP Marc Kasowitz is 'a superb lawyer'. Kasowitz has advised long-standing client Donald Trump on a number of highly publicized matters, one of which included securing a favorable settlement in the Trump University litigation and handling ongoing defamation claims. Other highlights include representing New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association in a lawsuit against the City of New York relating to the city's inconsistent policy of body-worn camera video disclosure. Kasowitz has also handled a significant dispute for Astra Asset Management.

Real estate Tier 3

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP advises on financing, leasing, joint ventures and the development of residential, office, hotel, retail and mixed-use projects across the US. In early 2019 the firm saw a large New York team including real estate transactions head Wallace Schwartz and fellow partners Julia Sanabria and  Adam Endick depart for Vinson & Elkins LLP. Recent highlights for the team included advising Joy Construction on the $250m leasing of a build-to-suit office building in New York City as well as an $86m construction loan for the building. In another matter, the team acted for Rockpoint Group on its $465m acquisition of an office building at 1700 Broadway in Manhattan. Miami-based Manuel Fernandez advised GreenOak Real Estate on the negotiation and preparation of its joint venture with East End Capital alongside the joint venture’s $38m purchase of 555 Washington Avenue in Miami. Albert Delgado in Miami is also recommended. All named attorneys are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 3

‘Practical, creative and fantastic on their feet’, Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is a ‘go-to adviser in bankruptcy and litigation matters’. The firm focuses on representing holders of securities in distressed companies, including working with hedge funds, private equity funds and other creditors. The ‘very dependable’ team is led by New York-based David Rosner and includes the ‘impressive’ Andrew Glenn, also in New York, and new arrival Kyung Lee, who joined in Houston from Diamond McCarthy LLP. The practice is representing an ad hoc group of parent company creditors in the $500m administrative claim allocation litigation arising from the Chapter 11 of Energy Future Holdings and its affiliates. In another highlight, the firm is acting for White Energy and three of its directors in litigation related to a corporate governance dispute following a reorganization of the company. Other clients include the official committee of unsecured creditors of Nine West Holdings, TPG Capital and Waterfall Asset Management. Daniel Fliman left to join Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 5

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP fields a 'powerful bench', noted for its 'deep knowledge of the subject matter'. The group is led by 'outstanding trial lawyer' Daniel Fetterman, whom clients praise as 'smart, strategic and highly ethical'. Alongside co-founding partner Marc Kasowitz, Fetterman is defending New York concert promoter Joseph Meli and his company, Advance Entertainment, in connection with an indictment in the Southern District of New York and an SEC enforcement action related to an allegedly fraudulent scheme promoting non-existent tickets for the musicals Hamilton and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. He is also acting as lead defense counsel to Abraham Jose Shiera Bastidas, a former owner of multiple US-based energy companies, in an FCPA action launched in relation to contracts with Petroleos de Venezuela. Ann St. Peter-Griffith in Miami, Lyn Agre in San Francisco and New York's Edward McNally are also recommended. The team in New York also includes former senator Joseph Lieberman, whose experience gives the team an edge in political matters.

Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 6

Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP focuses on technology- and pharmaceutical-related cases, acting for both plaintiffs and defendants. Jonathan Waldrop, Darcy Jones and Marcus Barber joined forces to defend Google, Motorola, LG, Samsung and Asus against an infringement suit brought by a Japanese inventor regarding lock features for Android-based smartphones and wearables, obtaining a full dismissal for all clients. On the plaintiff side, the trio acted for MV3 Partners in a suit brought against digital media player Roku over a patent covering media streaming technology. Jay Deshmukh joined the New York office, while Steven Carlson left for Robins Kaplan LLP. Verizon, Sony Electronics and Mallinckrodt are also key clients.