Lawrence T Gresser

Partner, New York, London

Lawrence T Gresser

Partner, New York, London

Lawrence T. Gresser is the co-founder and Managing Partner of the firm, and practices in New York and London. Larry advises clients on complex commercial matters, including international litigation and arbitration, securities law, real estate litigation, partnership and LLC law, executive compensation, and private equity transactions. He serves as outside general counsel to a number of private companies and private equity funds.

Larry is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, where he received the Order of the Coif and was an Executive Note Editor of the Law Review. Following graduation, Larry served as a Law Clerk to Honorable William C. Canby, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and practiced with Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton.

Larry has been recognized by Chambers USA in the general commercial litigation category and by The Legal 500 U.S. in general commercial disputes category. Chambers USA has described him as “substantively strong and commercially savvy” and as “a very sophisticated lawyer who speaks the language. He gets clients comfortable, he’s really able to connect with them and get to a resolution.” Larry has been named one of New York’s Super Lawyers for business litigation each year since 2007, and has been selected by Super Lawyers as one of the top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. He has also been recognized by Benchmark Litigation as a Local Litigation Star for New York and in the Best Lawyers in America guide for commercial litigation. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, a Trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission, and a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Lawrence T. Gresser is the co-founder and Managing Partner of the firm, and practices in New York and London. Larry advises clients on complex…

Education

University of Michigan Law School (J.D., magna cum laude, 1986; Executive Note Editor, Michigan Law Review); Columbia University (B.A. 1982)

Bar Admissions

New York State; U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Activities and Affiliations

Past Chairman of the Board of Directors, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest

Co-Chair, English-American Litigation Forum 2018 and 2019 Steering Committees

Member, Forum on Defense Class Action 2017 Steering Committee

Member, New York City Bar Association

Member, Federal Bar Council (Program Committee and Winter Bench and Bar Committee)

Member, American Bar Association

Member, International Bar Association (Arbitration Committee, Corporate and M&A Law Committee, Litigation Committee, Law Firm Management Committee)

Trustee, Citizens Budget Commission

Litigation

Represent leading U.S. broker-dealer in multiple securities litigation and arbitration matters, including class action litigation arising from offering of mortgage pass-through certificates.

Defended a major Houston-based oil and gas production and marketing company in litigation in the Southern District of New York alleging breach of contract, fraud, and conversion in connection with a series of complex oil and gas financing transaction. Case dismissed in its entirety.

Defended leading Korean technology company in major international arbitration under UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Representation led to selection as principal outside U.S. counsel to client, including defense of client in major patent litigations and class action product defect cases.

Regularly represent financial advisors employed by major financial institution in litigation and arbitrations.

Successfully represented clients in over 100 mediations to resolve contract disputes, partnership disputes, and products liability cases.

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Corporate

Serve as principal outside counsel to international private equity fund specializing in commodities-related transactions.

Serve as principal outside counsel to technology-focused venture capital fund.

Serve as principal outside counsel to several companies in the technology sector.

Represented substantial private medical group in sale of practice to public company.

Served as principal outside counsel to European venture capital fund and handled range of legal and business matters, including fund formation, selection and management of portfolio companies, sale of portfolio companies, and other general fund matters.

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Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that 29 of the firm's lawyers are included on the 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers list and 11 lawyers are included on the 2023 New York Metro Rising Stars list across a range of practice areas.

Super Lawyers named C&G co­founder Mark S. Cohen one of the Top 10 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Partners Jonathan S. Abernethy and Karen H. Bromberg have also been named to the Super Lawyers list of the Top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area. Additionally, Karen has been recognized as one of the Top 50 women lawyers within the same region.

Super Lawyers and Rising Stars are annual lists of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.

The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Super Lawyers list are:

The C&G lawyers recognized on the New York Metro Rising Stars list are:

Best Lawyers in America recognized 14 Cohen & Gresser lawyers in its newly-published 2024 guide. The publication—now in its 30th edition—evaluates and selects lawyers based entirely on peer review. The survey process is “designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.”

Six C&G attorneys are recognized by their peers as “Best Lawyers” in their practice areas:

Eight attorneys are recognized as “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” in their practice areas:

The Legal 500 United States 2023 edition has recognized Cohen & Gresser’s New York and Washington, D.C. offices for legal excellence in Antitrust Litigation, Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Crime, Commercial Litigation, and Securities Litigation. Partner Mark Cohen received recognition as a Leading Lawyer in Securities Litigation and Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Crime: Advice to Individuals. The 2023 guide also recognized partners Lawrence T. Gresser, Jonathan Abernethy, Jason Brown, S. Gale Dick, Jeffrey Lang, Melissa Maxman, Douglas Pepe, John Roberti, Daniel Tabak, and Ronald Wick as recommended lawyers. This 16th edition of The Legal 500 United States guide involved a detailed assessment of various factors, including work conducted by law firms over the past 12 months and historically; experience and depth of teams; and client feedback. The guide highlights C&G’s “widespread global footprint” as being “crucial on multifaceted disputes work.” It praises the firm’s “ability to handle high-end and top-of-the-line cases” and “strength in bet-the-company litigation, contract disputes, fraud, and the financial services sector.” Founded in 2002, Cohen & Gresser’s New York office serves as the firm’s headquarters. Our New York attorneys are particularly strong in securities litigation and arbitration, international arbitration, regulatory investigations, patent litigation, and M&A transactions. The firm’s Washington, D .C. office handles a range of commercial litigation and regulatory enforcement actions, with a focus on domestic and foreign antitrust issues.
International law firm Cohen & Gresser has been recognized in The Legal 500 United States 2022 guide for “bringing excitement and innovation to the practice of law.” The 2022 guide recognizes more C&G lawyers and practice areas than ever before, including a 58% increase in individual attorney recommendations and new rankings at the practice and “Leading Lawyer” levels.

The guide highlights C&G’s “elite group of practitioners” and use of advanced machine learning techniques and notes that the firm “handle[s] cases that are every bit as complex and challenging as big, national law firms.” Commentators noted that the firm “punches way above its weight” in litigation and investigation matters.

C&G Co-Founder Mark S Cohen is one of only two lawyers in the United States to be recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in both Securities Litigation: Defense and Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense. Commentary from The Legal 500 recognizes Mark as a “top-tier advocate” who is “at the top of the profession” and “can litigate with the best of them.”

For the first time, C&G’s Antitrust practice has been recognized in Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense for its handling of class action cases concerning allegations of cartel behavior, monopolization, and other exclusionary conducts. The Legal 500 cites the leadership of Melissa H Maxman and the addition of “heavyweight” lawyer John Roberti as key reasons for the practice’s recognition.

C&G is again recognized in the Advice to Individuals and Advice to Corporates categories of the Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense section. The Legal 500 commentary notes that the practice is led by “partners with deep experience who obtain excellent results for clients” and is “well placed to handle transatlantic cases” with offices in New York, Paris, and London, and has “particular expertise in financial crime, antitrust enforcement, public corruption, and tax issues.”

The guide has also recognized C&G once again in the General Commercial Disputes category, praising the practice for showing the “discipline and focus necessary to win a case.” Testimonials from the guide highlight the team’s ability to “handle large and complex matters” with “experienced people, good judgment,” and “better use of technology.”

For the 10th consecutive year, C&G has been recognized in the Securities Litigation: Defense category for the firm’s “expertise in the financial services sector” and “recognized trial expertise” in cross-border and domestic securities litigation and enforcement proceedings. The Legal 500 emphasizes the team’s “strong practitioners” and “attentiveness to clients” in the 2022 guide.

Recognized Practices:

  • Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense
  • Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals
  • Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates
  • General Commercial Disputes
  • Securities Litigation: Defense
Recognized Individuals:

Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense

  • Melissa H Maxman
  • John Roberti
  • Ronald F Wick
Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense

  • Jonathan S Abernethy
  • Jason Brown
  • Mark S Cohen
  • S Gale Dick
  • Jeffrey I Lang
  • Melissa H Maxman
  • Reggie Schafer
General Commercial Disputes

  • Mark S Cohen
  • S Gale Dick
  • Lawrence T Gresser
  • Melissa H Maxman
  • Daniel H Tabak
Securities Litigation: Defense

  • Jonathan S Abernethy
  • Mark S Cohen
  • S Gale Dick
  • Lawrence T Gresser
About The Legal 500:

The Legal 500 analyzes the capabilities of law firms across the world. Its rankings “highlight the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate counsel.”

International law firm Cohen & Gresser received high praise in the Chambers USA 2022 guide for its “best-in-class service” and “first class work.” Chambers highlights the firm’s responsiveness, reliability, and trial capabilities as key drivers of its success. Clients note that the firm is “highly responsive,” “incredibly easy to work with,” and “always delivers outstanding results.”

C&G’s Commercial Litigation practice is once again ranked in Litigation: General Commercial: Highly Regarded. The practice is recognized for being “regularly sought after by individuals and corporates for representation in securities class actions and derivative matters, as well as various shareholder and product litigation.” Clients note that the team is comprised of “litigators that you don’t want to mess with” and is one that “you can rely on.”

C&G’s White Collar Defense & Regulation practice is ranked in Chambers USA for the ninth consecutive year. The practice maintains its position as one of the “Elite” firms in Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations. Chambers highlights the practice’s “talented pool of litigators with a wealth of government experience” and its “international presence” as key reasons for its continued ranking. Commentary from the guide notes that the practice is “a substantial player in the New York white-collar world” that has “burst onto the scene with strong former prosecutors” and “good results for their clients.”

Ranked Departments:

  • Litigation: General Commercial: Highly Regarded
  • Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations: The Elite
Ranked Lawyers:

District of Columbia

Antitrust: Litigation Specialists

New York

Litigation: General Commercial

Litigation: Securities Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations  
Mergers & Acquisitions magazine announced that its 2022 Deal of the Year is global investment firm Francisco Partners’ acquisition of Trading Screen and Imagine Software within a 14-day period in the spring of 2021. Cohen & Gresser represented Imagine Software, a global portfolio risk management technology company, in the deal.

Francisco Partners, which specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses, soon after merged the two acquired entities to create TS Imagine, a dynamic end-to-end trading and portfolio management software platform that is now used by 500 financial institutions worldwide. In awarding the “Deal of the Year” distinction, the magazine praised the deal’s formation of a “singular company poised for growth across both the buy and sell-side.”

The C&G team representing Imagine Software included Lawrence T GresserKwaku AndohKaren H BrombergBonnie J RoeNicholas J KaiserRonald F WickAlexandra K Theobald, and Drew S Dean. Learn more about the deal in Francisco Partners’ press release and C&G’s news alert.

Mergers & Acquisitions, founded in 1965, is the oldest trade brand for the dealmaker community and is where private equity professionals, strategic acquirers and advisors turn for news, analysis, data and community around deals and dealmakers.

Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that 37 of the firm's New York and Washington D.C.­based attorneys have been named to the 2021 Super Lawyers List across a wide range of practice areas. C&G co­founder Mark S Cohen and partners Jonathan S Abernethy and Daniel H Tabak have also been named to the Super Lawyers list of the top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area, and partner Karen H Bromberg has been recognized as one of the top 50 women lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.

Super Lawyers ranks outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of the lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers, and only 2.5 percent are selected as Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers

Jonathan S Abernethy: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Kwaku Andoh: Mergers & Acquisitions

Elizabeth Bernhardt: Business Litigation

Thomas E Bezanson: Personal Injury – Products: Defense

Colin C Bridge: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Karen H Bromberg: Intellectual Property

Jason Brown: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Joanna K Chan: Securities Litigation

Mark S Cohen: Business Litigation

S Gale Dick: Business Litigation

Christian R Everdell: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Lawrence T Gresser: Business Litigation

Oliver S Haker: Business Litigation

Johannes Jonas: Mergers & Acquisitions

Nicholas J Kaiser: Real Estate

Jeffrey I. Lang: Business Litigation

Melissa H Maxman: Antitrust Litigation

Ellen Paltiel: General Litigation

Nathaniel P T Read: Business Litigation

Bonnie J Roe: Securities & Corporate Finance

Stephen M Sinaiko: Business Litigation

C Evan Stewart: Securities Litigation

Daniel H Tabak: Business Litigation

Scott D Thomson: Business Litigation

Alexandra Wald: Business Litigation

Ronald F Wick: Antitrust Litigation

Rising Stars

Luke Appling: Civil Litigation

Sharon L Barbour: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Drew S Dean: General Litigation

William Kalema: Business Litigation

Sri Kuehnlenz: Civil Litigation

Winnifred A Lewis: Securities Litigation

Marvin J Lowenthal: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Barbara K Luse: Criminal Defense: White Collar

Matthew V Povolny: Business Litigation

Benjamin Zhu: Criminal Defense: White Collar

International law firm Cohen & Gresser has been once again recognized in The Legal 500 United States. The 2021 guide highlights C&G for its financial services strength – emphasizing the firm’s “understanding of complex financial products and the operations of the financial services sector” – and its “extensive experience in jury and bench trials at the federal and state level.”

Client commentary highlights C&G as “a cut above” and “very effective at knowing their audience, staying on message, and telling a persuasive and winning story.”

The Legal 500 has recognized C&G in both the Advice to Individuals category and Advice to Corporates category of the Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense section. The guide notes the practice’s deep bench that “includes former federal and state prosecutors, and former in-house attorneys, many of whom are active litigators, and have unique experience of federal enforcement bodies.”

C&G has also been recognized in the General Commercial Disputes category. The practice stands out for its capacity to handle “a diverse range of commercial disputes across numerous industries, including finance, software, technology and healthcare” and its ability to “handle complex, sophisticated matters in a cost-effective manner.”

For the ninth consecutive year, C&G has been recognized by The Legal 500 in the Securities Litigation: Defense category for its “work on the defense of broker-dealers, investment advisors, hedge funds, and private equity funds in securities litigation and FINRA arbitrations.”

In addition, Mark S Cohen is once again ranked as a “Leading Lawyer” for Securities Litigation: Defense. One client describes Mark as “one of the best trial lawyers I have seen” and goes on to recognize him for his professionalism, responsiveness, excellent judgment, and high-quality work.

Recognized Practices:

  • Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals
  • Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates
  • General Commercial Disputes
  • Securities Litigation: Defense
Recognized Individuals:

Corporate Investigations and White-Collar Criminal Defense General Commercial Disputes Securities Litigation: Defense

International law firm Cohen & Gresser has received high praise in Chambers USA 2021 for its “outstanding service” and dramatic international growth that “further strengthens its handling of cross-border proceedings.” Chambers commentary highlights C&G as one of the “biggest [law firm] innovators of the last forty years” and recognizes the firm’s “red-carpet treatment” for clients and “high-quality lawyers” who are “responsive, knowledgeable and service-oriented.”

Ranked Departments:

  • Litigation: General Commercial: Highly Regarded
  • White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations: The Elite

Ranked Lawyers:

Intellectual Property: Patent Litigation: General Commercial Litigation: Securities White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations

Cohen & Gresser represented Imagine Software, a leading global portfolio risk management technology company, in its sale to Francisco Partners, a global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. Francisco Partners has announced that it will combine Imagine Software with the recently acquired TradingScreen to form TS Imagine – a new dynamic end-to-end trading and portfolio management software platform that will be one of the most robust SaaS cloud-based software platforms in capital markets and investment management. The combined company will offer integrated and complete front office solutions, complementary product capabilities, best-in-class technology, global geographic coverage, and deep expertise to investment firms and financial institutions around the world. The C&G team representing Imagine Software in its sale to Francisco Partners included Lawrence T Gresser, Kwaku Andoh, Karen H Bromberg, Bonnie J Roe, Nicholas J Kaiser, Ronald F Wick, Alexandra K Theobald, and Drew S Dean. Learn more about the deal in Francisco Partners’ press release.
Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that 35 of the firm's New York and Washington D.C.­based attorneys have been named to the 2020 Super Lawyers List across a wide range of practice areas. C&G co-­founder Mark S Cohen and partners Jonathan S Abernethy and Daniel H Tabak have also been named to the Super Lawyers list of the top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area, and partner Karen H Bromberg has been recognized as one of the top 50 women lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.
The Legal 500 has once again recognized Cohen & Gresser in its United States guide. The firm is recognized for its excellence in the following categories:
  • Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Individuals
  • Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense: Advice to Corporates
  • General Commercial Disputes
  • Securities Litigation: Defense
Mark S Cohen is ranked as a “Leading Lawyer” for Securities Litigation: Defense and is described as “an outstanding trial lawyer and strategist who has excellent judgment.” The Legal 500 also notes that “[t]he Cohen & Gresser team does extremely high quality work” and that C&G is “a go-to firm for managing complex disputes.”

Chambers has recognized Cohen & Gresser in its 2020 USA guide for its achievements in General Commercial Litigation and White Collar Crime & Government Investigations. Chambers commentary highlights the firm's "thoroughness, quality, responsiveness, client care and availability,” noting that "the level of service is stellar, the work product is uniformly superb,” and that C&G is "a great firm with high quality across the board."

Chambers also recognized the following individuals: Jonathan S Abernethy for White Collar Crime & Government Investigations; Karen H Bromberg for Intellectual Property: Patent; Mark S Cohen for Securities Litigation and White Collar Crime & Government Investigations; and Lawrence T Gresser for Commercial Litigation.

We are pleased to announce that 33 of our New York and Washington D.C.-based C&G attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers this year across a wide range of practice areas. Super Lawyers also selected C&G co-founder Mark S Cohen and partners Jonathan S Abernethy and Daniel H Tabak to its list of the top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area, and partner Karen H Bromberg to its list of the top 50 women lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.
The Legal 500 has once again recognized Cohen & Gresser in its United States guide. The firm is recognized for its excellence in the following categories:
  • Corporate Investigations/White Collar
  • Corporate Investigations/White Collar – Advice to Individuals
  • General Commercial Disputes
  • Securities Litigation Defense
The Legal 500 notes that C&G has “impressive cross border capabilities and is often retained by clients in multijurisdictional disputes” and that our disputes team members are “true litigators, focused, and thoughtful - no stone is left unturned.”

For the seventh consecutive year, Cohen & Gresser has been ranked as a recommended New York law firm by Benchmark Litigation. In addition to the firm’s ranking, Mark S Cohen, Lawrence T Gresser, and Daniel H Tabak were all individually recognized in the publication’s 2019 guide.

We are pleased to announce that thirty of our New York and Washington, D.C.-based C&G attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers this year across a wide range of practice areas. Super Lawyers also selected C&G co-founders Mark S Cohen and Lawrence T Gresser to its list of the top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area, and partners Karen H Bromberg and Alexandra Wald as two of its top 50 women lawyers in New York. Super Lawyers ranks outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Fewer than five percent of all lawyers in the U.S. receive this honor.
The Legal 500 has once again recognized Cohen & Gresser in its United States guide. The firm is recognized for its achievements in the following categories:
  • Corporate Investigations/White Collar – Advice to Corporates
  • Corporate Investigations/White Collar – Advice to Individuals
  • General Commercial Disputes
  • Securities Litigation Defense
The Legal 500 notes that C&G has “an excellent group of sophisticated lawyers” and "has the ability to explain complex structures in plain English.” Nine C&G partners were individually recognized in the guide.
Law360 Editorial Advisory Board members: Each year, Law360 selects a small group of practitioners from across the country for each of its practice areas and industries to aid in shaping the publication’s editorial content for the following year.

C&G co-founders Mark S Cohen, JD '87 and Lawrence T Gresser, JD '86 have established the Cohen & Gresser Scholarship Fund at their alma mater, the University of Michigan Law School. The merit scholarship will support students enrolled in law school at the University of Michigan.

For the sixth consecutive year, Cohen & Gresser has been ranked as a recommended New York law firm by Benchmark Litigation. In addition to the firm’s ranking, partners Mark S Cohen, Lawrence T Gresser, and Daniel H Tabak were all individually recognized in the publication’s 2018 guide. 

Twenty-eight of our New York and Washington D.C.-based Cohen & Gresser attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers this year across a wide range of practice areas. Super Lawyers also named C&G co-founding partner Mark S Cohen to its list of the top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area, and partners Karen H Bromberg and Alexandra Wald to its top 50 women lawyers in New York list. Super Lawyers ranks outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Fewer than five percent of all lawyers in the U.S. receive this honor.
Chambers USA and The Legal 500's United States guides have recognized Cohen & Gresser and a number of the firm's lawyers for outstanding achievements during the past year in the categories of Commercial Litigation, Securities Litigation, Patents, and Corporate Investigations and White Collar Defense.
For the fifth consecutive year, Cohen & Gresser has been ranked as a recommended New York law firm by Benchmark Litigation.  In addition to the firm’s ranking, partners Mark S Cohen, Lawrence T Gresser, and Karen H Bromberg were all individually recognized in the publication’s 2017 guide.
Twenty-two of our New York and Washington, D.C.-based attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers this year across a wide range of practice areas. Super Lawyers also named C&G co-founding partners Mark S Cohen and Lawrence T Gresser to its list of the top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area, and partner Karen H Bromberg to both its list of top 50 women lawyers and top 100 lawyers in the New York metropolitan area.
The Legal 500 has recognized Cohen & Gresser for its achievements in securities litigation and white collar criminal defense in its recently released 2016 U.S. guide. The guide notes C&G's "outstanding" white collar defense group and its "seasoned securities professionals who are smart, aggressive, and yet user-friendly."

We are pleased to announce that the firm and four of its partners are recognized in the 2016 Chambers USA legal directoryThis year's directory recognizes the firm in White Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Securities Litigation, and Patents. Read more

Law360's coverage of Cohen & Gresser's newest partner, Steve Sinaiko. 

A recent edition of Law360 reported on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling which states that laws hostile to class action waivers cannot circumvent the Federal Arbitration Act. In this article, Larry Gresser weighs in on the significance of the decision.
We are pleased to announce that twenty-two of our New York-based C&G attorneys have been recognized by Super Lawyers this year across a wide range of practice areas. Super Lawyers ranks outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Fewer than five percent of all lawyers in New York receive this honor.

Goldman Escapes MBS Class Action Over Lack Of Evidence.

The Legal 500 United States ranked Cohen & Gresser for its achievements in securities litigation in its recently released 2015 guide.  The guide notes Cohen & Gresser’s “extraordinary team of attorneys, who present cases in the best and most efficient manner practicable.”  Partners Mark S. Cohen, Lawrence T Gresser, S Gale Dick, C Evan Stewart, and Daniel H Tabak were also noted as “impressive” attorneys in this field.  The Legal 500 offers nationwide rankings by reviewing the strengths and strategies of law firms across the country.  Founded in 1987, Legalease, publisher of the Legal 500 directories, is a leader in the provision of legal market information, offering authoritative and in-depth analysis and commentary across a broad portfolio of publications, spanning directories, magazines, journals, textbooks, and online. The Legal 500 U.S. 2015 Guide offers nationwide rankings by reviewing the strengths and strategies of law firms across the country. 

Cohen & Gresser is pleased to announce that the firm and five of its attorneys are recognized in the 2015 edition of Chambers USA, a national ranking guide that recognizes outstanding lawyers and law firms across the United States who are strongly recommended based on in-depth interviews with thousands of lawyers, clients, and industry leaders, with the most weight assigned to client feedback. The final rankings take into account a lawyer's legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, and commitment to the profession, among other qualities most valued by clients.

The New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI), chaired by Lawrence T Gresser, honored Don Liu of Xerox and Carey Dunne of Davis Polk & Wardwell at their 22nd annual Law & Society Awards Luncheon. 

 

Click here to watch a short video about NYLPI’s unique civil rights model and impact in 2014. 

Cohen & Gresser has been ranked as a "Recommended" New York law firm in the 2015 edition of Benchmark Litigation.   In addition to the firm’s ranking, partners Mark S Cohen, Lawrence T Gresser, C Evan Stewart, and Karen H Bromberg were all individually recognized by the publication.  Benchmark Litigation is a leading guide to top litigation firms and attorneys in the United States and bases its rankings on extensive face-to-face interviews around the country over a six-month period with the nation's leading private practice attorneys and in-house counsel. 

On July 1, 2014, Cohen & Gresser’s managing partner Lawrence T Gresser became the Chairman of the Board of Directors of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI), one of the premier public interest law organizations in the country.  NYLPI (www.nylpi.org) was founded in 1976 to serve the legal needs of underserved, underrepresented New Yorkers and their communities, and has grown into an unparalleled resource for low income communities, particularly in the areas of health justice, disability justice and environmental justice.  NYLPI is a recipient of the New York Times Award for Nonprofit Excellence.

C&G Managing Partner and NYLPI Board member, Lawrence T Gresser, attends the awards ceremony honoring Dechert partner, Hector Gonzalez, for his service as NYLPI's board chairman. 

The Legal 500 United States ranked Cohen & Gresser for its achievements in securities litigation in its recently released 2014 guide. Legal 500 noted that the firm is "young and nimble," naming Mark S Cohen as the leader of a team of "experienced lawyers who work at a more palatable price than competing firms."  Lawrence T Gresser and Daniel H Tabak are also recommended in light of their successful dismissal of a short swing profits case for Goldman Sachs, and C Evan Stewart was highlighted in the report as an "incredible trial lawyer with big case experience."

C&G's managing partner Lawrence T Gresser and other top Manhattan attorneys, weigh in on why the decision in Halliburton Co. et al. v. Erica P. John Fund is significant.

A recent InsideCounsel editorial about the possible Sears data breach cited Lawrence T Gresser and Karen H Bromberg's article "Litigation: Minimizing the Risk of Data Breach Class Actions from Target's Example".

C&G's Managing Partner, Lawrence T Gresser, talks to Law360 about the new Paris office and its lead partner, Johannes Jonas.

Law360's coverage of the recent Second Circuit ruling which affirmed Wednesday that Goldman Sachs Group Inc. won't have to disgorge nearly $2 million in short-swing trade profits of Leap Wireless International Inc. derivatives, finding Goldman wasn't a statutory Leap insider when it purchased the options in question.

The Felix A. Fishman Award for Extraordinary Advocacy honors two individuals yearly for their outstanding contributions to expanding access to justice. Lawrence T. Gresser, the firm's Managing Partner and NYPLI Chairman-elect was in attendance as this year's recipients, Steven Choi and Jonathan Westin, were honored at the New York City Bar.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that courts can't overturn a class arbitration waiver simply because it would cost plaintiffs more to arbitrate the claim than they could possibly recover. Gresser explains, “The other shoe has dropped…The lesson of Justice Scalia's majority opinion in American Express is that class action waivers will be enforced even when the arbitration clause is not customer friendly and the individual plaintiff's cost of arbitrating a claim is certain to exceed the potential recovery."
The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that courts cannot second-guess an arbitrator's interpretation of a contract, backing an arbitrator's ruling that a doctor's pursuit of class arbitration against insurer Oxford Health Plans LLC was permitted. Gresser explains why the unanimous ruling is significant noting, “The critical question in Oxford v. Sutter — whether, after Stolt-Nielsen, ... the class action procedure is available in arbitration — was answered in the affirmative."

Gresser emphasizes being organized and offers insightful tips throughout the article. His final word of advice, "Where possible, take apps, not paper," said Gresser. "I download as many documents as possible onto an app called GoodReader on my iPad."

Lawrence T Gresser and Marvin J Lowenthal highlight the ways in which artificial intelligence may affect the law firms of the future in their most recent article for the New York Law Journal.  

This article addresses the lower courts’ application of the Supreme Court’s recent class action securities decision in Halliburton Co. v. Erica P. John Fund, Inc., 134S.Ct. 2398, 2412 (2014), which permits defendants to rebut fraud-on-the-market reliance at the class certification stage.  The article will also seek to provide securities litigators with the lay of the land post-Halliburton.

Published by Bloomberg BNA, the treatise covers all aspects of the FINRA arbitration process, including prehearing matters, motion practice, hearings, and awards, and also provides a detailed guide to FINRA investigations and enforcement actions.
The U.S. Supreme Court granted cert on Halliburton’s petition for challenging the Basic v. Levinson precedent on fraud-on-the-market theory.  What are the arguments on both sides of this issue and what will the Court likely hold? This article will explore arguments on both sides of this issue and it's potential impact to certification of securities fraud class actions.
In Halliburton Co. v. Erica P. John Fund, Inc., the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether to overrule or modify the “fraud-on-the-market” presumption of reliance in 10b-5 securities fraud class actions. The fraud-on-the-market presumption has helped plaintiffs surmount the class certification hurdle for over 25 years, and if it is overruled or modified, class certification in securities fraud cases may become a more challenging — and costly — endeavor.

This fifth article in a series exploring trends in class action law examines the ultimate meaning of Comcast as applied to products class actions.  It concludes that the Supreme Court may simply be waiting for more circuit courts to weigh in on the meaning of Comcast before issuing a clarifying decision.

Employment class actions are disruptive, and at their worst, can be costly PR nightmares. Recent SCOTUS decisions may ultimately reduce the threat of employment class actions — but this hasn’t quite happened yet.

The Target data breach made headlines across the country and resulted in over fifty purported class action suits against the retailer. This is a warning shot over the bow for other companies. Privacy class actions are on the rise.

Regardless of which side ultimately benefits, the Supreme Court's message for antitrust litigants is clear: Class action is an exception to the usual rule.

Recent Supreme Court decisions have made the arbitration clause a potent weapon against class actions in many areas of the law. Certainly in the wake of Concepcion, Italian Colors, and Oxford, businesses should consider including in their contracts specific language regarding arbitration clauses.
It’s a changed world for class action litigation, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court – one in which arbitration agreements are powerful, and class certification may be significantly more difficult to achieve. This article contains practice tips for navigating the new, and still evolving, legal landscape.
The recent comScore decision and others allowing privacy cases to proceed in the absence of actual damages may imply that the legal landscape is changing. In fact, comScore suggests that if a lead plaintiff in a purported privacy class action can overcome the standing hurdle by citing statutory damages, then the class certi­fication hurdle may also be manageable.

A discussion about the erroneous predictions made about the outcomes of this case. Why were they made and how can we learn from these examples?

A discussion on how choosing an office space perfectly suited for your firm’s corporate culture can boost morale, productivity, and most importantly the bottom line.

This alert discusses the importance of oral advocacy in any case and what improvements are needed in order save this method of argument from extinction.

A helpful guide for hedge funds to remain compliant and mitigate risk of investigation, specifically under the heavy hand of recent regulatory legislation.

Firm co-founder and global managing partner, Lawrence T Gresser, participated in a webinar produced by the New York State Bar Association as a part of its Managing Partner Conference Series, titled “Managing Partner Response To COVID-19.” Topics discussed included how law firms are dealing with the pandemic,  getting ready for the lock-down to end, and what law firm life might look like post-COVID-19.
Lawrence T Gresser led a discussion, titled “Looking Forward,” at the Cambridge Forum on English-American Litigation addressing the growth of litigation funding, expected trends in the business of law, and developments in privacy litigation in the U.S. and UK. Larry serves as the Co-Chair of the 2019 Steering Committee.

Managing Partner Lawrence T Gresser spoke on an roundtable titled, “Managing Partner Roundtable: Best Practices for Hiring and Retaining Millennials,” which examined how law firms should approach recruiting and retaining the next generation of lawyers. This CLE was a part of the ABA's Law Practice Management Committee Annual Meeting.

C&G co-founder and Managing Partner Lawrence T Gresser led a discussion on “The Business of Law” at the Cambridge Forum on English-American Litigation on June 5, 2018 in Middleburg, Virginia. He also serves as the Co-Chair of the Forum’s 2018 Steering Committee.

Lawrence T Gresser spoke at the 2017 Forum on Defense Class Action regarding Rule 12, The Motion to Dismiss. The session covered how the courts have applied Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544 (2007) and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S. Ct. 1937 (2009) at the pleading stage, and reviewed the current status of other defenses that are often raised by defense counsel in motions to dismiss putative class actions.

Lawrence T Gresser participated on a panel titled “Everything You Know Is Wrong: A Strategic Overview of Current Trends in the Two Jurisdictions” at the English-American Litigation Forum. The discussion covered trends and events including Brexit and the election of President Trump and their implications on the business and practice of law.

This presentation focused on discovery and settlement in cross-border litigation in the United States and Western Europe as well as on international commercial arbitration.

This program explored the rules of professional conduct as applied to contract negotiation and performance.

Mortgage-backed securities have played a prominent role in the wave of financial litigation, and claims have raised a complex web of legal questions. This program explored these claims and analyzed the recent trends in some of the most high profile cases to date. Issues explored included: an explanation of the typical structure of an RMBS transaction; more advanced concepts in put-back and monoline litigations such as statistical sampling as a method for proving defaults; issues related to claims stemming from violations of federal and state securities laws; statute of limitations issues; loss-causation standards and recent settlements in the MBS space.

Topics covered included client expectations and priorities and the future of the legal market.