Practice Areas

National Law Journal, May 23, 2011:
"Joseph’s New York firm has a definable ‘sweet spot,’ big-dollar complex financial transactions, involving the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and securities claims, credit default swaps and derivatives — a veritable chocolate box of the financial cases of the past decade."

The disputes the Firm handles range the gamut of complex financial and commercial litigation, including securities and RICO claims; complicated contractual disputes; claims against corporate officers and directors; disputes involving, and arising out of, corporate takeovers, mergers and acquisitions; and intellectual property rights. We also represent law firms, both plaintiff and defendant, in significant litigation to which they are parties

Complex commercial litigation

  • Obtained a $268 million judgment for one major financial institution against another, in a complex credit default swap / derivatives dispute
  • Won a $100 million settlement from a major financial institution for theft of a corporate acquisition from another
  • On Plaintiffs' Executive Committee for Property Damage / Business Loss Plaintiffs that obtained a $1.2 billion settlement for losses arising out of 9/11
  • Obtained $65 million judgment against a foreign bank for a U.S. corporation in lettter of credit transaction
  • Represent U.S. and foreign corporations in U.S. litigation aspects of foreign and domestic takeovers

RICO litigation

  • Dismissal of a $720 million RICO class action by investors against their former counsel
  • Dismissal of $1.2 billion RICO actions by corporation and investors against former management
  • Dismissal of $80 million RICO class action by investors against casino operator
  • Dismissal of multi-billion dollar RICO class action against professional firm arising out of Enron collapse
  • Reversal of sanctions imposed on multiple plaintiffs law firms for pursuit of RICO class action

Securities and D&O litigation

  • Defense of Fortune 500 companies in securities class actions (dismissals and settlements)
  • Defense of corporate officers and directors in securities and derivative actions (dismissals and settlements)
  • Representation of officers and directors in claims by and against corporation
  • Successful prosecution of multimillion dollar claims by a U.S. corporation against auditors and foreign banks
  • Defense of federal court SEC enforcement litigation

Arbitration

  • International arbitration (ICC) between British, Japanese and American corporations
  • International arbitration (ICC) between American and French/German corporations
  • U.S. arbitrations (AAA) between U.S. performing rights organization and U.S. television industry
  • U.S. arbitrations (AAA) between prominent American corporations

Professional litigation

  • Representation of major law firms and individual lawyers
  • Won jury verdict for major law firm and partner sued for tax advice
  • Vacatur of $2 million sanction imposed on individual lawyer
  • Reversal of $128,000 sanction imposed on multiple plaintiffs firms
  • Advising and assisting firms on sanctions and substantive legal claims

Photograph courtesy of Stephen F. Harmon. © 2006 Stephen F. Harmon.