Mr Stephen W. Tountas > Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP > New York, United States > Lawyer Profile
Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP Offices
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1633 BROADWAY
NEW YORK, NY 10019
NEW YORK
United States
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Mr Stephen W. Tountas
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Work Department
Partner
Position
Commercial Litigation; Plaintiffs’ Litigation; Securities Litigation
Career
Stephen W. Tountas is a versatile trial lawyer who prosecutes and defends complex securities actions and commercial disputes on behalf of leading hedge funds, mutual funds, family offices, and public pension funds.
Steve has been a principal member of several high-profile trial teams and has recovered billions of dollars for stakeholders of public companies. He also regularly handles significant defense-side litigation, including matters arising from allegations of securities fraud and corporate malfeasance.
In addition to his active litigation practice, Steve develops potential cases for his clients and provides strategic advice regarding the relative merits of pursuing litigation on a direct or class-wide basis. Sophisticated creditors also frequently turn to Steve to develop litigation strategies in anticipation of potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings that may enhance their recovery of fraud-related losses compared to other stakeholders.
In 2020, The National Law Journal named Steve a Plaintiff’s Trailblazer and highlighted the success of his market-leading strategies in several recent direct securities actions. He has also been recommended by The Legal 500 for securities opt-out litigation (2018-2020); by Benchmark Litigation as a Local Litigation Star (2020); recognized on Benchmark Litigation’s Under 40 Hot List (2016-2018); honored as a Rising Star by Law360 (2017); and recognized by New York Metro Super Lawyers (2014-2018).
He is a long-term member of the Securities Litigation Committee of the New York City Bar Association, and he is frequently asked to speak or comment on issues pertaining to securities litigation. Steve is also a member of Law360‘s Securities Editorial Advisory Board.
Memberships
New Jersey; New York; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Washington University School of Law (J.D., Dean’s List and Scholar of Law, 2003); Union College (B.A., Political Science, Dean’s List, 2000)
Leisure
New York City Bar Association, Securities Litigation Committee; Appointed Member (2014 – Present), Secretary (2011 – 2013); Federal Bar Council
Lawyer Rankings
United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: plaintiff
New York firm Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP is active for both plaintiffs and defendants in securities litigation, frequently using this dual role to successfully negotiate settlements. The firm has long been involved in matters arising from mortgage-backed securities and continues to handle work in that area, including acting for Wall Street investor Carl Icahn in a claim against Rialto Capital Advisors alleging breach of contract and fraud in connection with the servicing of a CMBS trust that resulted in a loss of almost $73m. Michael Hanin, who leads the practice with Sheron Korpus and Stephen Tountas, took the lead in that case. Hanin also acted for Waterfall Asset Management affiliate Cascade Funding in a case arising from its purchase from Bancorp of a pool of $900m in mortgage loan assets, to be funded through a securitization in a CRE CLO, ultimately recovering $13m for the client. Name partner Marc Kasowitz, a pioneer of high-value securities litigation on behalf of hedge funds, international banks and sovereigns, remains active in the practice.
United States > Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
The ‘aggressive and tactical litigation team‘ at Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP in New York acts for both plaintiffs and defendants in securities litigation. Its defense work is frequently for large and public national and international companies. The firm recently negotiated a $430m cash settlement for Teva Pharmaceuticals in one of the largest securities class actions in recent years. Sheron Korpus, Michael Hanin and Stephen Tountas lead the ‘incredibly responsive and technical‘ practice, in which emerging partner talent Andrew Schwartz plays an increasingly prominent role.
Lawyer Rankings
- Securities litigation: plaintiff United States > Dispute resolution
- Securities litigation: defense United States > Dispute resolution
Top Tier Firm Rankings
Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: plaintiff
- Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes
- Labor and employment > Labor and employment disputes (including collective actions)
- Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage)
- Finance > Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate
- Antitrust > Civil litigation/class actions: defense
- Real estate > Real estate
- Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: defense
- Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense
- Dispute resolution > International litigation