Lauren K. Handelsman

Representing a financial services company against a corporate customer claiming millions in damages relating to fraudulent charges, we secured dismissal of all six counts following a full merits hearing in JAMS arbitration, defeating claims brought under the Fair Credit Billing Act, Truth in Lending Act, and common law theories.

Defending a global manufacturing and engineering company in a dispute with an investment bank over a financial advisory fee, we secured dismissal of the breach of contract claim in the First Department and won a complete victory on the remaining unjust enrichment claim following a full trial in New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division.

We regularly handle compliance investigations for a financial services provider across a broad range of business activities, investigating and advising on potential government fraud, vendor fraud, customer fraud, and internal audit issues on a continuing basis.

We successfully defended a corporate client in AAA arbitration against claims of breach of a software license agreement, securing a complete victory on the grounds that the operative agreement was unenforceable under New York law. The arbitration panel decided the case on the briefing alone, without an evidentiary hearing.

We represented a Chief Compliance Officer of Insurance and Annuity program in a FINRA investigation, resulting in a decision not to pursue action following our “Wells” submission.

We represented two non-U.S. companies and their U.S.-based parent against civil RICO and related claims arising from trade finance contracts in Singapore and India. Navigating multiple removals, remands, and rounds of discovery across New York state and federal courts, we resolved the case favorably on the eve of a jurisdictional hearing.

We served as Special Litigation Counsel for the Creditors’ Committee in the General Motors chapter 11 proceedings, successfully prosecuting a $1.5 billion avoidance action against JPMorgan and a syndicate of lenders, arguing novel UCC questions before the Second Circuit and the Delaware Supreme Court before resolving the case following a bellwether trial.

We represented the former CFO of MF Global in securities and commodities class actions and a breach of fiduciary duty claim brought by the bankruptcy trustee. After years of litigation against both class action plaintiffs and the bankruptcy trustee, all matters were resolved without any payment by our client.

We represented an audit committee requiring an urgent review of financial mismanagement allegations while a nine-figure financing was in progress. We delivered an oral report within four days of our engagement, and a written report within seven, concluding that the allegations were unsubstantiated and allowing the financing to proceed on schedule.

We represented a Chief Financial Officer in several years-long, multi-agency investigations, culminating in no action against our client, as well as in parallel civil litigation brought by individuals.

We represented a former leader at an alternative investment fund as a witness at trial in the Southern District of New York in a case brought by the SEC against the fund’s counterparty in connection with a series of asset-backed securities transactions.

We represented a licensee of digital publishing channels in a dispute with the licensor over channel operations where we prepared detailed preliminary injunction papers that prompted expedited negotiations, ultimately securing an amendment to the licensing agreement that protected our client’s operations.