(Main Office)

Cohen & Gresser LLP is a unique law firm that offers its clients a compelling alternative in today's economy: sophisticated legal services at hourly rates that are 20 percent to 30 percent below the rates charged by large New York City law firms. The Firm represents clients in complex litigation and corporate transactions throughout the United States and internationally. Founded in 2002 by two Michigan Law School classmates, the Firm has grown to over thirty lawyers in four practice groups: Litigation and Arbitration; Corporate Law; Intellectual Property; and White Collar Defense, Regulatory Enforcement and Internal Investigations. We are committed to providing the efficiency and personal service of a small firm and the quality and attention to detail that are hallmarks of the top firms where we received our training.

Our attorneys are graduates of the nation's best law schools, including Chicago, Columbia, Michigan, NYU and Yale, and received their initial training at some of the finest law firms in the country, including Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Debevoise & Plimpton, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, Latham & Watkins, Ropes & Gray, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Our clients include Fortune 500 companies and major financial institutions across a broad spectrum of industries throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia, and have litigated and negotiated against some of the nation's largest law firms. We have an outstanding record of success in high-stakes and high profile litigation and corporate transactions, and we rank among the nation's top firms for client service. Three of our attorneys have been selected as 2008 New York City Super Lawyers, and our Firm received the honor of being named to the BTI Consulting Group's 2009 Client Service A-Team, based on an independent survey of corporate counsel at Fortune 1000 and other large companies

Our core values are excellence, integrity, responsiveness and collegiality. Our services are cost-effective, tailored to the needs of each client, and of the highest quality. We staff our matters leanly, and work efficiently and strategically. Our goal is to provide solutions, not just legal services.

Statement of Practice

Litigation and Arbitration, Intellectual Property, White Collar Defense, Regulatory Enforcement and Internal Investigations and Corporate Law.

Address

100 Park Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10017, (New York Co.)

Phone

Phone: 212-957-7600
Fax: 212-957-4514

Website

http://www.cohengresser.com

PARTNERS

Mark S. Cohen (Partner) born New York, N.Y.; admitted to bar, 1988, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 1992, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Education: Cornell University (B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, 1984); University of Michigan (J.D., magna cum laude, 1987). Mr. Cohen is a partner of the Firm, which he co-founded in 2002. He is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, where he was a Note Editor of the Law Review. He formerly practiced with the firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, and served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Cohen's litigation practice includes complex commercial litigation, securities litigation, banking litigation, antitrust litigation, accountants' liability and employment law. He also focuses on white collar defense, regulatory enforcement and internal investigations, where he represents companies, financial institutions and individual clients in white collar criminal cases, federal and state regulatory proceedings, proceedings before self-regulatory organizations, and corporate internal investigations. Mr. Cohen was named as one of New York City's SUPER LAWYERS in 2008. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Bar Association (Member, Section of Litigation; Co-Chair, Subcommittee on Corporate and Securities Litigation); Securities Industry Association; Federal Bar Council; New York Council of Defense Lawyers (Member, Board of Directors and Member, Amicus Committee); UJA-Federation of New York (Member, Lawyers Division, Criminal Law Group). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Securities Litigation; Regulatory Law; White Collar Criminal Defense.Email: Mark S. Cohen

Lawrence T. Gresser (Partner) admitted to bar, 1989, New York; 1990, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Education: Columbia University (B.A., 1982) University of Michigan (J.D., magna cum laude, 1986). Mr. Gresser is the Managing Partner of the Firm, which he co-founded in 2002. He 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, Mr. Gresser 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. Mr. Gresser's practice focuses on advising clients on complex commercial matters, including international litigation and arbitration, securities law, partnership and LLC law, and private equity transactions. He maintains an active litigation practice, with an emphasis on complex commercial litigation, international arbitration, and securities litigation, and also serves as outside general counsel to a number of private companies and private equity funds. Mr. Gresser was named as one of New York City's Super Lawyers in 2007 and 2008. He serves as a director of the New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, and is a Trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Bar Association; Federal Bar Council; New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (Member, Board of Directors); Citizens Budget Commission (Member, Trustee). Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law; Arbitration; Intellectual Property.Email: Lawrence T. Gresser

Sandra C. McCallion (Partner) born Chicago, Illinois; admitted to bar, 1994, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; 1998, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit; 2003, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; 2006, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. Education: University of New Mexico (B.A., 1985); Yale Law School (J.D., 1993). Ms. McCallion is a graduate of Yale Law School, where she served as Lead Editor of the Yale Journal on Regulation. She has substantial trial and arbitration experience and has litigated a broad array of complex commercial disputes, with an emphasis on employment litigation in federal and state courts and administrative agencies, patent and trademark litigation, securities litigation, and products liability litigation. Ms. McCallion formerly practiced with the firm of Debevoise & Plimpton. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Bar Association (Co-Chair, Pretrial Practice and Discovery Committee, Recent Court Decisions and procedural Developments Subcommittee); New York Women's Bar Association. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Arbitration; Intellectual Property Litigation.Email: Sandra C. McCallion

Karen H. Bromberg (Partner) born New York, N.Y.; admitted to bar, 1988, New York and U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York; 2007, U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit. Education: George Washington University (B.A., with honors, 1983); University of Miami School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1987). Ms. Bromberg is the head of the Firm's Intellectual Property and Licensing Group. Her intellectual property practice focuses on litigation, counseling and dispute resolution in all aspects of intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights, false advertising, unfair competition, trade secrets and internet related issues. She regularly negotiates and drafts license agreements for clients in a diverse range of industries including consumer products, software and financial services. Ms. Bromberg also counsels management on a variety of employment matters including employment contracts, severance agreements, restrictive covenants, confidentiality agreements, consulting and work for hire agreements, and best practice employment policies with a focus on litigation avoidance and strategic planning. Prior to joining the Firm, she served as General Counsel at a television advertising firm where she negotiated the rights to over $100 million in advertising properties and handled all legal aspects of the company's affairs. Ms. Bromberg is a recipient of the 2009 Cambridge Who's Who in Executive, Professional and Entrepreneurial Registry for demonstrating leadership and excellence in all aspects of the law. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Member, Patents Committee); New York Intellectual Property Association (Member, Copyright Committee); Federal Bar Council; International Trademark Association (Member, Editorial Board Subcommittee); American Intellectual Property Association; Licensing Executive Society; American Bar Association (Member, Copyright Committee). Practice Areas: Intellectual Property; Corporate Law; Litigation; Arbitration.Email: Karen H. Bromberg

Alexandra Wald (Partner) born New York, N.Y.; admitted to bar, 1998, New York; 1999, U.S. Court of Federal Claims; 2001, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit; 2003, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; 2007, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. Education: Yale University (B.A., cum laude, 1991); Harvard University (M.A., 1994); Columbia University (J.D., 1997). Ms. Wald is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and was on the Editorial Boards of the Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems and the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law. Ms. Wald formerly served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Reginald C. Lindsay of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and practiced with the firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Ms. Wald's practice focuses on general commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation. She has counseled numerous employers and employees in connection with separation from employment and restrictions on competition. Ms. Wald was one of 140 attorneys nationwide who received a 2008 and 2009 BTI Client Service Award, which is an award granted on the basis of unsolicited recommendation by a Fortune 500 client for outstanding service. Ms. Wald was selected to become a member of the Litigation Counsel of America Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. Member: New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Intellectual Property.Email: Alexandra Wald

COUNSEL

Thomas E. Bezanson (Counsel) born Hartford, Connecticut, August 1; admitted to bar, 1975, New York, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; 1991, U.S. Supreme Court; 1992, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; 1980, U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. Education: Grinnell College (B.A., 1967); Rutgers University (M.A., 1971); Rutgers University Law School (J.D., 1974). Mr. Bezanson has more than three decades of experience in commercial arbitration, the defense of products liability and other civil actions, representing both U.S. and European clients. He was awarded the title Empire State Counsel for pro bono representation in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Also in 2008, he was awarded the first New York Lawyers for the Public Interest Pro Bono Leadership Award. He is listed in The Legal 500 US (2007-2008) for litigation, Marquis Who's Who in America (1994-to date), Marquis Who's Who in Finance and Industry (2000-to date), was cited in New York Super Lawyers (2006, 2007 and 2008) and in Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition (2009). He has been listed in Law Business Research Limited's The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers and The International Who's Who of Product Liability Defense Lawyers (1997-to date), Marquis Who's Who in American Law (1994-to date), and was "highly recommended" for dispute resolution in Global Counsel 3000. Mr. Bezanson was also selected "Lawyer of the Week" by The Times of London. He has also served on the Duke University Law School Board of Visitors, the Board of the Legal Aid Society, the Board of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and the Board of Directors of the Westchester Philharmonic, as well as the boards of a number of additional charitable organizations. Mr. Bezanson successfully represented the judges of the State of New York in obtaining summary judgment against the Governor Legislature and State for unconstitutionally failing to adjust judicial compensation, and successfully argued this case on appeal to the Appellate Division, First Department. Mr. Bezanson joins the Firm from Chadbourne & Parke LLP. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; New York State and American Bar Associations; New York State Commission on the Jury; Federal Bar Council (Member: Board of Trustees; Program Committee); New York Lawyer for the Public Interest (Emeritus Board); Appellate Division First Department Disciplinary Committee (Referee). Practice Areas: Litigation and Arbitration.Email: Thomas E. Bezanson

Robert J. Gavigan (Counsel) born New York, N.Y.; admitted to bar, 1998, New York. Education: Georgetown University (A.B., 1980; J.D., 1997); University of Tulsa (B.S., Petroleum Engineering, 1983). Mr. Gavigan is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, where he was an Article Editor of the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Gavigan practiced with the firm of Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler LLP, where he focused on international corporate law and corporate finance. He has significant experience in the areas of domestic and international secured and unsecured loan financings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, venture capital investments, private placements, project finance, and negotiation of complex commercial arrangements and alliances. Mr. Gavigan spent more than a decade working in the oil and gas business in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and South America in various petroleum engineering and management positions. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Member, Energy Committee); American Bar Association (Member, Negotiated Acquisitions Committee; Member, Corporate Governance Committee); Society of Petroleum Engineers. Practice Areas: Corporate Law.Email: Robert J. Gavigan

Lawrence Gresser (Counsel) admitted to bar, 1963, New York. Education: St. John's University (B.A., 1958); St. John's University School of Law (LL.B., 1962). Mr. Gresser is an honors graduate of St. John's Law School and was formerly Associate Counsel to the Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly and was Law Secretary to a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court He is a former Deputy Borough President of Queens. Mr. Gresser is also a real estate developer specializing in affordable housing. Member: American Bar Association; New York State Bar Association; Queens County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Law.Email: Lawrence Gresser

Brett D. Jaffe (Counsel) admitted to bar, 1998, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 2003, U.S. Courts of Appeals, Ninth Circuit; 2005, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 1994); New York University (J.D., 1997). Mr. Jaffe's practice is focused on the litigation of complex corporate and commercial disputes; shareholder, securities, and derivative litigation; and corporate control and M&A litigation. Mr. Jaffe has represented corporate and individual clients in all aspects of these matters at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts, as well as in arbitration and other ADR forums. He also has extensive experience in white-collar criminal and enforcement proceedings (including investigations undertaken by the DOJ, SEC, NASD, and various other regulators), and internal investigations on behalf of corporations, boards of directors, and audit/special committees. Mr. Jaffe is a graduate of New York University School of Law. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Jaffe practiced law for ten years as a litigator at Fried, Frank, Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP. He subsequently served as a Vice President at Ramius LLC, a multi-strategy hedge fund manager, where he was responsible for negotiating and structuring PIPE financing transactions and participated in the management of the fund's investment portfolio. Member: American Bar Association; Federal Bar Council. Practice Areas: Litigation; White Collar Criminal Defense; Regulatory Law; Arbitration.Email: Brett D. Jaffe

Susan Summe (Counsel) born Ft. Walton Beach, Florida; admitted to bar, 1998, New York. Education: Michigan State University (B.A., with highest honors, 1993); Yale University (J.D., 1997). Ms. Summe represents corporations and private equity funds in fund formation, equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, employment issues, and other general corporate matters. She is a graduate of Yale Law School, where she served as Executive Editor of the Yale Journal on Regulation and received an Olin Fellowship in Law and Economics. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Summe practiced with the firm of Ropes & Gray LLP (formerly Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt & Maynard). Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Law.Email: Susan Summe

Daniel H. Tabak (Counsel) admitted to bar, 1996, New York, U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Education: Harvard University (A.B., cum laude, 1992); Columbia University School of Law (J.D., 1995). Mr. Tabak is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was a James Kent Scholar and a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He is also a graduate of Harvard College where was a John Harvard Scholar and a Harvard College Scholar. Prior to joining the Firm, he was a litigation associate at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Allyne R. Ross of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Mr. Tabak has experience in complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy litigation, securities litigation, intellectual property litigation and regulatory enforcement and internal investigations. Member: American Bar Association; The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Practice Areas: Litigation; Arbitration.Email: Daniel H. Tabak

OF COUNSEL

James M. Davis (Of Counsel) born Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; admitted to bar, 1973, New York, U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; 1994, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: University of Notre Dame (A.B., magna cum laude, 1968); University of Chicago (J.D., 1972). Mr. Davis joined the Firm in 2005. Highlights of his 35-year career include major damage litigation in several practice areas: commercial, corporate, securities fraud, energy project finance, and professional responsibility. Mr. Davis has also served as court-appointed special securities counsel, leading the internal investigation of a broker-dealer in Chapter 11; defended civil securities and bank fraud cases with parallel criminal proceedings, and represented both plaintiffs and defendants in attachment and preliminary injunction hearings. He has achieved the highest rating for legal ability in Martindale-Hubbell. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Bar Association (Member, Section on Litigation); Federal Bar Council; Congress of Fellows (Member, Center for International Legal Studies). Practice Areas: Litigation; Alternative Dispute Resolution; Commercial; Corporate; Internal Investigations; Certified Mediator.Email: James M. Davis

Catriona M. Collins (Of Counsel) admitted to bar, 1988, New York; U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal and Second Circuits and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Trinity College, Dublin (B.A.); University of Cambridge (LL.B.). Ms. Collins has experience in a wide variety of intellectual property matters, including disputes relating to patents, trademarks, trade dress, copyright, unfair competition and trade secrets. Ms. Collins' patent practice has focused primarily on patent infringement and validity litigation and inventorship disputes involving mechanical, software, and pharmaceutical technology. She has handled patent litigation in various federal courts, including Markman proceedings and appeals to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Ms. Collins has also represented clients in trademark, copyright, unfair competition and trade secret litigation in federal courts throughout the United States. She has handled trademark matters in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Ms. Collins has written amicus briefs on intellectual property issues to the U.S. Supreme Court and to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She has also authored articles, contributed to books and presented at educational programs on intellectual property law. Member: Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Member: Patents committee); American Intellectual Property Law Association. Practice Areas: Intellectual Property.Email: Catriona M. Collins

ASSOCIATES

Kathryn Barcroft (Associate) born Clifton Park, New York; admitted to bar, 1999, New York; 2001, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 2003, U.S. District Court, Western District of New York. Education: Colgate University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1994; Phi Beta Kappa); University of Virginia Law School (J.D., 1998). Ms. Barcroft's practice focuses on employment law and commercial litigation. She represents clients in a wide range of employment litigation, including claims of discrimination and retaliation, wrongful termination, harassment, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, and breach of contract under federal and state law. Ms Barcroft handles cases at the state and federal level, as well as before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights and the New York City Commission on Human Rights. She also has substantial experience in complex commercial litigation matters. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Member, Sex and Law Committee). Practice Areas: Litigation; Arbitration; White Collar Criminal Defense; Regulatory Law.Email: Kathryn Barcroft

Evan M. Rosenbaum (Associate) (Admission pending). Education: University of California, Berkeley (B.A., cum laude, 2004); University of Michigan Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2009). Mr. Rosenbaum is a cum laude graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an Associate Editor of the Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley. Member: American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Litigation; Intellectual Property.Email: Evan M. Rosenbaum

Colin C. Bridge (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, New York; 2009, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: St. John's College (B.A., 1991); Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., 2002). Mr. Bridge is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law, where he was an Associate Editor of the Northwestern University Law Review. Prior to joining the Firm, he was an associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell. Mr. Bridge has experience in securities litigation, complex commercial litigation, white collar defense and regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, and bankruptcy litigation. Member: New York County Lawyers' Association.Email: Colin C. Bridge

Donald M. Badaczewski (Associate) born 1982; admitted to bar, 2008, New York; 2009, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Education: University of Virginia (B.A., 2004); University of Michigan (J.D., 2007). Mr. Badaczewski is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School. He has experience in complex litigation, restructurings, foreclosures, and major Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. He has represented debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, equity holders, private equity funds, and investment funds in Chapter 11 proceedings, bankruptcy-related litigation, and advisory work. Prior to joining the Firm, he was an associate at Dechert LLP in the Bankruptcy and Restructuring group. Practice Areas: Litigation.Email: Donald M. Badaczewski

Elizabeth F. Bernhardt (Associate) born Brooklyn, New York; admitted to bar, 1989, New York; 1990, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 1995, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; 2004, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Barnard College (B.A., 1966); Columbia University (M.A., 1969; Ph.D., English, 1977); Columbia Law School (J.D., 1988). Ms. Bernhardt is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Executive Editor of the Journal of Law and Social Problems, and a Civil Procedure Teaching Fellow, and where she currently teaches legal writing and appellate practice. Ms. Bernhardt previously practiced with the firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and served as a Supervisor in the Bronx County District Attorney's Office. In addition, she taught at Fordham University School of Law. Ms. Bernhardt has served on many boards and committees, including the Committee for Courts of Appellate Jurisdiction of the New York State Bar Association. She has argued over 100 appeals in New York and federal courts. Ms. Bernhardt's practice focuses on white collar defense, regulatory enforcement and internal investigations. Member: The Association of the Bar of The City of New York; New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Regulatory Law; White Collar Criminal Defense.Email: Elizabeth F. Bernhardt

Damir Cefo (Associate) born Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina; admitted to bar, 2001, New York; 2002 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; 2006, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; 2007, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York. Education: The Ohio State University (B.S. Electrical and Computer Engineering, cum laude, 1997; J.D., 2000). Mr. Cefo is a graduate of Ohio State University Law School and Ohio State University, where he received his B.S. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering cum laude and was a member of an OSU National Robotics Team that won first place at the 4th Annual Autonomous Ground Vehicle Robotics Competition. He formerly practiced with the firm of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, where his focus was patent litigation, patent prosecution, and patent portfolio evaluation in the areas of computer hardware and software, electronic and electromechanical devices, and MPEG video compression arts. Mr. Cefo is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Member: New York Intellectual Property Law Association. Practice Areas: Intellectual Property; Litigation; Arbitration.Email: Damir Cefo

Duane A. Cranston (Associate) born Brooklyn, New York; admitted to bar, 2002, New York. Education: Harvard University (A.B., 1996); Columbia University Law School (J.D., 2001). Mr. Cranston is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was a Staff Editor of the Columbia Journal of Law and the Arts. He received his undergraduate degree cum laude from Harvard University where he was a Marshall Field Scholar. Prior to joining the Firm, he was a Senior Director of Business Affairs at ESPN, negotiating technology and content licensing agreements for the distribution of content and applications across digital and traditional media. He also handled a wide variety of corporate transactional matters including the structuring, negotiation and execution of numerous acquisition transactions. Mr. Cranston previously was an associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore. Member: New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Litigation.Email: Duane A. Cranston

Oliver Haker (Associate) born New York, New York, February 5, 1977; admitted to bar, 2003, New York; 2004, Connecticut and U.S. District Court; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; 2007, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., summa cum laude, 1999); New York University School of Law (J.D., 2002). Mr. Haker is a graduate of New York University School of Law where he served as a Staff Editor of the Environmental Law Journal. He received his Bachelor's Degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Haker practiced with the firm of Latham & Watkins. His practice focuses on securities and general commercial litigation and complex business disputes. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; New York State and American Bar Associations. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Arbitration.Email: Oliver Haker

Jennifer Kumble (Associate) admitted to bar, 1990, Connecticut; 1991, New York and District of Columbia. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 1987); University of Pennsylvania (J.D., 1990). Ms. Kumble is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She has experience in a wide variety of corporate matters, with a particular focus on derivative transactions including fixed income, equity and commodity derivatives, currency and credit default swaps, and other structured products. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Kumble practiced at Shearman & Sterling LLP and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, where she drafted and negotiated documentation for derivative transactions and all aspects of private equity fund creation, maintenance and investment. Ms. Kumble previously served as Vice-President at Bankers Trust Company, where she was responsible for a wide range of investment vehicles and products, including synthetic GIC's, swaps, repurchase agreements and listed futures and options, and supervised a five-person counterparty documentation group. Practice Areas: Corporate Law.Email: Jennifer Kumble

Lawrence J. Lee (Associate) admitted to bar, 2005, New York. Education: Harvard University (A.B., magna cum laude, 1997); New York University (J.D., magna cum laude, 2003). Mr. Lee is a magna cum laude graduate of New York University School of Law, where he was Senior Notes Editor of the NYU Law Review. He formerly served as a Law Clerk to Hon. Margaret McKeown of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and to the Hon. Henry Kennedy of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Lee received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University magna cum laude, where he was a Presidential Scholar. Prior to joining the Firm, he was a litigation associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. Mr. Lee is a recipient of the Cyrus R. Vance Access to Justice Award which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to international pro bono. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York ( Member, International Human Rights Committee). Practice Areas: Litigation and Arbitration; White Collar, Regulatory Enforcement and Internal Investigations .Email: Lawrence J. Lee

Ellen Paltiel (Associate) born Montreal, Canada; admitted to bar, 1996, New York; 2005, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: McGill University (B.A., magna cum laude, 1983; B.Mus., 1989); Indiana University (M.M., 1989); Columbia Law School (J.D., 1995). Ms. Paltiel is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and served as an Intern to Honorable David G. Trager of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Ms. Paltiel formerly practiced with the firm of Debevoise & Plimpton, and also served as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Arbitration.Email: Ellen Paltiel

Matthew V. Povolny (Associate) admitted to bar, 2008, New York; 2009, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Boston College (B.A., cum laude, 2004); University of Minnesota (J.D., magna cum laude, 2007). Mr. Povolny is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota Law School, where he was a member and director of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court competition team. He received his bachelor's degree, cum laude, from Boston College. Mr. Povolny served as a law clerk to the Minnesota tax court and was certified under special order form the Internal Revenue Service to represent taxpayers before the United States Tax Court. Member: American Bar Association; The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Practice Areas: Litigation; Arbitration.Email: Matthew V. Povolny

Nathaniel P.T. Read (Associate) born Milwaukee, Wisconsin; admitted to bar, 2002, New York and U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 2006, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. Education: Swarthmore College (B.A., 1995); New York University (J.D., magna cum laude, 2001). Mr. Read is a magna cum laude graduate of New York University School of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif and a Florence Allen Scholar. He also served as an Executive Article Editor of the N.Y.U. Annual Survey of American Law. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Read practiced with the firm of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, LLP. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, regulatory enforcement and internal investigations, and white collar criminal defense. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Bar Association (Member, Litigation and Criminal Justice Sections); Federal Bar Council. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; White Collar Criminal Defense; Regulatory Law.Email: Nathaniel P.T. Read

Harvey B. Silikovitz (Associate) born Urbana, Illinois; admitted to bar, 1996, New York; 1996, U.S. District Court, Southern and the Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Johns Hopkins University (B.A., 1990); Georgetown University (J.D., cum laude, 1995). Mr. Silikovitz is a cum laude graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, where he was on the Dean's List for three years; was a semifinalist in the Leahy moot court competition and a member of the school's national sports law moot court team; and served on the Editorial Board of the American Criminal Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University, and while studying there, competed in the World Debating Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Mr. Silikovitz is an experienced commercial litigator. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Practice Areas: Commercial Litigation; Arbitration.Email: Harvey B. Silikovitz

Charles D. Soule (Associate) born Milwaukee, Wisconsin; admitted to bar, 2001, New York. Education: University of Pennsylvania (B.A., 1996); Columbia University (J.D., 2000). Mr. Soule is a graduate of Columbia Law School. He formerly practiced with the firm of Ropes & Gray (previously Reboul, MacMurray, Hewitt & Maynard), where he focused on private equity and venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance and other general corporate matters. Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Immigration Lawyers Association. (Also Associate, Law Offices of Gilbert C. Ferrer PLLC). Languages: French and Mandarin. Practice Areas: Corporate Law; Immigration and Naturalization.Email: Charles D. Soule

Alexis G. Stone (Associate) admitted to bar, 2007, New York; U.S. District Courts, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. Education: Wellesley College (B.A. summa cum laude, 2003); New York University School of Law (J.D. cum laude, 2006). Ms. Stone is a cum laude graduate of New York University School of Law, where she was Staff Editor of the Journal of Legislation and Public Policy. She received her undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Wellesley College. Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Stone was a litigation associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell. Member: New York State Bar Association; The Association of the Bar of the City of New York. Practice Areas: Litigation and Arbitration.Email: Alexis G. Stone

Scott Thomson (Associate) born Chicago Heights; admitted to bar, 1998, New York; 1999, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: College of Charleston (B.A., English, 1986); Columbia University (J.D., 1997). Mr. Thomson is a graduate of Columbia Law School where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and was on the Editorial Board of the Columbia Journal of Transnational Law. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Thomson practiced with Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and O'Melveny & Myers LLP. Mr. Thomson has experience in commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense, regulatory enforcement and internal investigations. Before attending law school, he was a member of the U.S. Foreign Service and serviced in the Dominican Republic and the United Kingdom. Member: American Bar Association; Federalist Society. Practice Areas: Litigation; White Collar Criminal Defense; Regulatory Law; Arbitration.Email: Scott Thomson

Francisco A. Villegas (Associate) born San Diego, California; admitted to bar, 2000, California; 2003, Connecticut; 2006, District of Columbia. Education: Stanford University (B.S., 1994; B.A., 1994; M.S., 1996); Cornell University Law School (J.D., 1999). Mr. Villegas has extensive experience in intellectual property litigation and counseling in a wide array of disciplines, including semiconductor design, medical devices, engineered materials, mechanical components, computer software, and business methods. Some of Mr. Villegas' representative matters include patent litigation, intellectual property due diligence associated with mergers and acquisitions, legal opinions concerning patent infringement, validity and freedom-to-operate product clearances, and trademark matters. He has a Masters of Science and a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and a J.D. from Cornell Law School. Before attending law school, Mr. Villegas was a mechanical engineer at Johnson & Johnson and General Electric. Mr. Villegas has handled numerous patent litigations in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Eastern District of Texas, and the District of Delaware. Before joining the Firm, Mr. Villegas practiced at Ropes & Gray and Fish & Neave. Member: Eastern District of Texas Bar Association; New York Intellectual Property Law Association. Languages: Spanish. Practice Areas: Intellectual Property.Email: Francisco A. Villegas