Our Financial Services Litigation Team

Zachary Newman, Business Litigation and Fiduciary Litigation Practice Co-Chair
[email protected] | (212) 478-7435
Zachary Newman delivers practical, tactical, and experienced advice to a diverse clientele that includes corporate giants, global lending institutions, hedge funds and private equity firms, and corporate fiduciaries. His skill set spans all phases of litigation, alternate dispute resolution, and pre-suit evaluation. He is experienced in navigating legal matters across industries and jurisdictions. Known for taking cases to verdict and bench rulings in a myriad of courts, he is equally adept at resolving disputes through alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Zachary’s experience in financial services litigation is vast, representing national, regional, and local banking institutions, private equity firms, and hedge funds. He has defended lender liability, malfeasance, unlawful practice, and deceptive trade claims, as well as prosecuted defaults under multimillion-dollar credit facilities, resolved participation, subscription, and intercreditor disputes, and engaged in disputed and complex judgment enforcement matters. He also has extensive aptitude in fiduciary litigation matters, navigating investment-related claims, breach of fiduciary duty claims, and contested accountings with precision largely for major financial institutional fiduciaries.

Stephen Grable, Banking and Financial Services Litigation and Fiduciary Litigation Practice Co-Chair
[email protected] | (212) 478-7213
Steve Grable represents financial institutions, corporate entities, fiduciaries, creditor groups, and individuals in a varied nationwide practice, including deep experience in the following:

Financial services litigation: Advising lenders and borrowers on commercial loan workouts and defaults, with extensive knowledge in factoring and ABL facilities.
Fiduciary litigation: Representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in a variety of disputes concerning issues of administration, investment, and breaches of fiduciary duty.
Commercial litigation: Handling breach of contract claims and related business torts for businesses, officers, and directors.
Bankruptcy litigation: Representing secured lenders, unsecured creditors, and trustees in bankruptcy and related litigation.

Luke Sosnicki, Banking and Financial Services Litigation and Cybersecurity Practice Co-Chair
[email protected] | (212) 478-7310

Luke Sosnicki solves commercial and class action litigation problems for a range of financial institutions and other consumer-facing clients. He is experienced in handling consumer class action lawsuits that allege unfair and deceptive practices and false advertising in customer agreements and disclosures, product labeling, print and media advertising, and online sales. These matters have included lawsuits across the country related to financial institutions’ practices for account and loan fees (including overdraft and insufficient funds fees), loan origination, servicing, debt collection, and credit reporting.

Luke also has significant experience in data privacy litigation, including disputes related to the collection and use of consumers’ personal information. He frequently handles matters involving state wiretapping laws and security incidents or breaches. Luke holds a CIPP/US certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals and provides comprehensive pre-lawsuit advice on litigation risks related to federal and state data privacy laws.

Maria Zschoche, Banking and Financial Services Litigation Practice Co-Chair
[email protected] | (314) 552-6273
An experienced litigator, Maria Zschoche defends clients in banking and fiduciary matters in state and federal courts across the country. In her banking litigation practice, Maria has first- and second-chaired multiple jury and bench trials. She helps banks navigate class action and complex litigation involving lender liability, consumer mortgages, and asset-backed securities. Maria has disposed of claims through motions to dismiss, summary judgment motions, and successful appeals and secured multi-million-dollar awards for her clients.

Maria has been a visible and respected member of the probate and trust bar. She represents banks, nonprofits, and charitable organizations, and individuals in probate and trust disputes. She counsels both trustees and beneficiaries alike in suits involving issues of fiduciary liability, will and trusts contests, discovery of assets proceedings, trust construction suits, trust modification and termination proceedings, and claims in an estate.

John Amato
[email protected] | (212) 478-7380
John Amato draws on his more than 30 years of litigation experience to represent a wide variety of clients in both federal and state trial and appellate courts. A former Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of New York, he has tried and brought to verdict or favorable settlement large jury and bench cases and argued scores of appeals. He has also mediated and counseled clients in high-stakes matters in New York and throughout the country. He has particularly deep experience leading loan, real estate and bankruptcy litigations for major financial institutions, large retail organizations, and commercial landlords and tenants. Clients turn to John for his skilled and strategic representation in disputes involving officer and director breach of fiduciary duties, corporate waste and mismanagement allegations, general corporate and partnership disputes, intellectual property law, and accountant’s malpractice, among other matters.

Bill Bay
[email protected] | (314) 552-6008

Bill Bay represents major corporations in high-stakes litigation nationally. He has served at the forefront of leadership in the legal profession as a past president of the American Bar Association. He achieves favorable results for clients in state and federal courts across the country and serves as regional or national counsel for clients facing suits and regulatory actions in multiple venues. Bill has been selected as chair of multiple statewide commissions, examining critical issues in the practice of law. Bill’s clients vary from major financial institutions, to manufacturers, to post-secondary institutions. He litigates cases on behalf of companies facing high-risk litigation and helps businesses manage and respond to large portfolios of litigation in multiple jurisdictions. These matters include highly complex and document-intensive cases involving breach of contract, fraud, corporate governance, insurance coverage, lost profits, lender liability, and tortious interference. Bill’s extensive litigation experience includes insurance coverage cases as well as trust and estate litigation, including issues relating to fiduciary obligations.

Christina Berish
[email protected] | (312) 580-2329

Christina Berish is a deeply valued resource to clients as they interpret and enforce agreements. Her practice spans industries including financial services, manufacturing, energy and gas, real estate, and transportation. Christina assists businesses facing critical situations related to the sale or purchase of goods, services, property, or in the post-acquisition aftermath of assets. Her work includes payment terms, contract requirements and performance, post-acquisition disputes, and recovery and remedies including injunctive relief, fraud, contract termination, and warranty claims. She also handles partner disputes, fraud and business torts, and property and construction litigation. While much of Christina’s experience stems from the manufacturing and supply chain sector, she has also handled significant procurement and bid protests. Christina also regularly represents shareholders and LLC members in various shareholder disputes, a “business divorce.” 

Ninette Bordoff
[email protected] | (212) 478-7290

Ninette Bordoff has extensive experience in estate administration, will contests, probate and Surrogate’s Court litigation, as well as guardianship and conservatorship proceedings. She advises individual clients as well as major corporations and financial institutions, principals of closely held and start-up businesses, art collectors, and charitable organizations on all aspects of will and trust preparation, estate and gift tax planning, and pre-marital planning. Ninette has served in leadership positions for the trust and estate committees of several regional and national bar associations and is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).

Shaun Broeker
[email protected] | (314) 552-6574

Shaun Broeker is a distinguished litigator and veteran advocate, known for delivering strategic, actionable solutions to complex legal challenges. With over a decade of experience representing businesses in state and federal courts, he brings sharp legal insight and hands-on dedication to every case. His litigation practice focuses on disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, fraud, and fiduciary duty, with an emphasis on industries including finance, agriculture, real estate, and defense and aerospace.

Jeffrey Brown
[email protected] | (310) 282-9418

Jeff Brown crafts powerful litigation strategies to resolve complex disputes. His sophisticated solutions for clients minimize exposure and maximize recovery. Throughout Jeff’s 30-plus years of practice, he has consistently delivered favorable results in the state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as in arbitration. Both buyers and sellers turn to Jeff when buying and selling commercial real estate. He is sought by joint venturers, partners, LLC members, and investors in real estate funds to litigate and arbitrate everything from operating agreement breaches to common law fiduciary duty matters. Because of his reputation and experience, national real estate companies, funds, and shopping center owners hire Jeff to provide advice and, if necessary, handle significant litigation. His extensive experience extends to counseling lenders and borrowers in unsecured and secured debt disputes, as well as in California’s complex foreclosure and receivership procedures, pre-judgment attachment, and judgment enforcement.

Sarah Chang
[email protected] | (312) 580-5047

Sarah Chang provides practical advice on estate planning, trust and estate administration, probate, and business succession planning to clients of various backgrounds and economic statuses, including ultra-high-net-worth individuals. No matter the size or complexity of a trust, estate, or company, Sarah tries to demystify the estate planning and administration processes so those she represents understand their options and can make informed decisions. A former social worker, Sarah is adept at listening closely to clients’ concerns and working with them in the wake of major life and business events. She often advises in tandem with the firm’s corporate, tax, and real estate departments.

Thomas Corbett
[email protected] | (314) 552-6022

Tom Corbett provides legal counsel on all aspects of estate planning. His work includes estate, gift and generation-skipping tax issues, planning and implementation of trust and other sophisticated strategies for inter-generational transmission of wealth, estate and trust administration, tax controversy, estate and trust law and litigation, and non-judicial resolution of disputes. A former IRS attorney himself, Tom regularly represents individuals and estates in tax controversies before the Internal Revenue Service and represents beneficiaries and fiduciaries in litigation related to estate and trust administration.

Steve Cupples
[email protected] | (314) 552-6027
For the past 40+ years, Steve Cupples has focused his practice on business succession planning, including the areas of estate planning, taxation, estate and trust administration, estate and trust litigation, tax controversies, and general business. He has designed and implemented estate plans dealing with the income, gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes associated with succession planning for individuals and privately held businesses. He also has extensive experience in will and trust constructions, tax controversies, real estate, family law (including marital agreements), asset protection, corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies.

Georgia Loukas Demeros
[email protected] | (312) 580-2303

Georgia Demeros is an estate planning advisor and personal general counsel for individuals, families, and business leaders, advising on an array of wealth and business issues. Georgia draws on her background as a CPA to analyze assets, tax liabilities, commercial entity structures, and personal goals. She builds strong relationships with clients over many years and creates practical blueprints for their legacy planning. With an emphasis on clear communication, she helps them navigate the estate planning, administration and succession planning process.

Jackie Dimmitt
[email protected] | (314) 552-6588
Jackie Dimmitt works closely with individuals, families, and nonprofit organizations in her private wealth practice. Jackie advises individuals and families on all aspects of estate, trust and tax planning, and estate and trust administration. In addition to helping them achieve their goals and address their concerns connected to wealth transfers, she also helps fiduciaries and beneficiaries navigate trust and estate administrations by providing clear, straightforward guidance. Private foundations and public charities rely on Jackie’s highly informed direction on an array of issues, including formation, tax law compliance, grant-making, endowments, donor-advised funds, policies, planned-giving and gift acceptance.

Laura Duncan
[email protected] | (314) 552-6312

Focusing her practice on an array of trust and estate issues, Laura Duncan helps clients prepare for the future and resolve concerns related to wealth transfers and business succession. Laura drafts estate planning documents, including trusts and wills, advises on transfer tax issues, and prepares estate and gift tax returns and fiduciary income tax returns. In addition, she handles the administration of estates and trusts and counsels executors and trustees on fiduciary responsibilities, administration issues and tax preparation and planning.

Mike Educate
[email protected] | (312) 580-5033

As a trial lawyer, Michael Educate navigates all facets of dispute resolution and strategic counseling, focusing on commercial litigation and tax controversy matters. Known for his tailored, results-driven strategies, Mike helps clients achieve their goals while remaining trial-ready and prepared to see cases through to verdict. With a versatile commercial and tax controversy practice spanning multiple industries, he advises clients ranging from small, privately held companies to multinational enterprises. He regularly represents global retail brands, financial institutions, private equity, high-net-worth individuals, and motor vehicle manufacturers and distributors. Mike’s tax controversy practice is predicated upon handling complex federal tax disputes and providing strategic counsel as early as the pre-audit planning stage. He is also experienced in disputes involving asset and business valuations and other complex damages claims, including those involving globally recognized brands and highly valuable intangible asset portfolios.

Jose Fernandez
[email protected] | (212) 478-7244

Jose Fernandez has successfully managed disputes in trial and appellate courts throughout the country. He has extensive experience representing clients in complex commercial cases, bankruptcy-related litigation, lender liability disputes, enforcement of credit facilities, loan workouts, judgment enforcement, and corporate governance matters. Comfortable with high-pressure cases, he provides strategic and methodical advice throughout all stages of litigation. He advises national banking institutions, hedge funds, and privately held companies on a range of matters involving fraud, lender liability, collateral enforcement, corporate governance and fiduciary duties.

Steve Gorin
[email protected] | (314) 552-6151

Steve Gorin skillfully crafts estate plans, keeping in mind each client’s financial security and desire to minimize income and estate tax. In his work for businesses, Steve helps owners plan for their eventual sale or transfer and provides a legal framework for an orderly transition while strategically saving income, transfer, and FICA taxes. Drawing on his background as an accountant — and his still-current CPA license and Chartered Global Management Accountant credential — Steve structures businesses to achieve business objectives and save income or estate tax. He has helped fledgling businesses organize, thriving businesses restructure to save hundreds of thousands of dollars of income tax when planning a transition to the next ownership group, and mature multi-million or billion-dollar businesses plan tax-saving transfers to the next generation.

Craig Haughton
[email protected] | (212) 478-7289

Craig Haughton represents financial institutions and other regulated businesses, including fiduciaries, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and accounting firms, in business disputes, regulatory matters, and internal investigations. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as both outside counsel and a senior in-house compliance executive holding FINRA Series 7, 9, and 10 licenses, he provides practical, business-focused advice shaped by firsthand experience with how sophisticated institutions evaluate risk, allocate resources, manage litigation, and make strategic decisions under regulatory scrutiny. Before joining the firm, Craig served as an Executive Director and Compliance Officer for the Northeast business unit of a leading global broker-dealer and investment adviser, where he oversaw day-to-day compliance for more than 3,000 financial advisors. Working closely with legal, risk, compliance, and business leadership, he advised on supervisory, conduct risk, regulatory, and enterprise compliance matters. Craig advises clients on fiduciary and trust litigation, commercial litigation, FINRA arbitration, internal investigations, broker-dealer and investment adviser compliance counseling, and enforcement proceedings involving FINRA, the SEC, DOJ, and other regulators.

Larry Katzenstein
[email protected] | (314) 552-6187
Larry Katzenstein is a nationally recognized authority on estate planning, charitable giving, and exempt organizations and as an advisor to charitable organizations. He has spoken frequently to professional groups across the country, including at American Law Institute estate planning programs, the Notre Dame Tax Institute, the University of Miami Heckerling Estate Planning Institute, and the Southern Federal Tax Institute. Larry has served as an adjunct professor at Washington University School of Law, where he has taught estate and gift taxation and fiduciary income taxation. He is on the American Council on Gift Annuities board of directors, where he chairs the research committee and serves on the rates committee. Larry is also the creator of Tiger Tables actuarial software, which is widely used by tax lawyers and accountants and is well-known as a unique tool for those professionals. 

Rob Lang
[email protected] | (312) 580-2242

Rob Lang is a business litigator who prevents and represents clients in complex business disputes, including business divorces. Rob also works closely with his clients to prepare a good “prenuptial agreement” for their business that accounts for the various trigger points of conflict that he has seen over the course of almost 30 years of practicing law. If litigation proves necessary, Rob is highly experienced in navigating the complex intersection of litigation, corporate, employment, trusts and estates, and other areas of the law that frequently accompany these disputes. Rob’s general litigation experience includes the successful resolution of complex contractual and other business disputes in various industries, including financial services, real estate, manufacturing, agribusiness, health care, professional services, sports, transportation, higher education, and energy.

Steve Mandelsberg
[email protected] | (212) 478-7360

Steve Mandelsberg represents financial institutions, businesses, and constituencies in major commercial disputes. As a prolific trial lawyer, he has a focus in lender liability cases, fraud-based investigations, and complex litigation. Steve litigates, arbitrates, and mediates issues arising from financial transactions. With a career spanning 40 years of representing clients in state and federal courts across the U.S., his work is expansive. Clients seek his legal counsel in connection with loans and financing of all kinds, as well as with matters related to contract breaches, fraud, and securities. Steve’s versatile practice also includes representing creditors and other committees, trustees, and other parties in bankruptcy proceedings; governments and companies in recovering costs for removal and abatement of asbestos; litigation funders and financing companies in enforcing funding agreements and obligations; and private equity firms and businesses in cybersecurity-related and right-to-privacy disputes and in international arbitrations.

Ed McGillen
[email protected] | (312) 580-2231

Bringing more than four decades of experience to his legal practice, Ed McGillen advises individuals, businesses, fiduciaries, and charitable organizations on a wide array of legal matters. These include trust, estate and tax planning, business/business succession planning, and trust/estate administration. Ed draws on a broad set of legal skills he has developed over the years in the corporate, tax, real estate, and litigation arenas, which helps him better advise his clients today. This knowledge base enables him to often serve as a “general counsel” to clients and to offer insights into matters that extend beyond the immediate focus of his practice.

Lisa Montano
[email protected] | (314) 552-6449

Lisa Montano focuses her practice on estate and wealth planning. She previously served as a wealth planning strategist for Wells Fargo Advisors, where she worked closely with financial advisors and their clients to address all aspects of wealth planning, with an emphasis on educating clients on suitable estate planning strategies to help them achieve their financial objectives. She also coached financial advisors on using planning tools and capabilities to cultivate and strengthen client relationships. Before joining Wells Fargo Advisors, Lisa served as an associate attorney at two law firms, practicing in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration and fiduciary litigation.

Lisa Bordoff Procopio
[email protected] | (212) 478-7301

Lisa Bordoff Procopio advises clients on estate planning and is experienced in corporate and transactional tax matters. She also focuses on estate and gift tax planning, probate and estate and trust administration, business succession planning, and charitable giving. With a deep background in corporate and transactional tax, Lisa brings a value-added perspective to clients with intertwined business and personal planning needs. Her earlier work in the tax departments of several prominent New York law firms and Big Four consulting firms, focusing on mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, spin offs, joint ventures, and tax-free reorganizations, enables her to advise families and business owners on the intersection of personal wealth planning and complex business transactions.

Brigitte Rose
[email protected] | (212) 478-7295

Brigitte Rose represents multinational financial institutions, domestic and international companies, and corporate fiduciaries in all stages of litigation, from pre-suit negotiation through trial and appeals. With a practice covering state and federal court in New York, Brigitte is experienced in advising and navigating clients through the myriad issues that can arise in complex commercial litigations. Brigitte has frequently handled commercial disputes involving fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, and partnership and limited liability company disagreements. She is also experienced in commercial foreclosures, judgment enforcement, bankruptcy adversary proceedings and fiduciary litigation, including contested accountings.

Cathie Schroeder
[email protected] | (314) 552-6242

Cathie Schroeder is a business litigator defending clients in all types of business disputes. Her experience is particularly extensive in representing banking and religious institutions. She defends clients in state and federal courts and state appellate courts throughout Missouri and Illinois, drawing on her nearly three decades of litigation experience and a strong foundation handling complex commercial matters at trial and in arbitrations.

Lacey Searfoss
[email protected] | (314) 552-6316

Lacey Searfoss is experienced in all aspects of estate planning, estate and trust administration, and charitable giving. She works with individuals and multigenerational families seeking to maximize wealth preservation and minimize estate taxes. As a trusted family advisor, Lacey provides practical advice for a range of legal and non-legal matters for long-term clients, including serving as a point person for issues that arise in other legal practice areas. Lacey also works with closely held businesses for tax planning, business succession planning, and general business needs.

Roman Wuller
[email protected] | (314) 552-6121

Roman Wuller is the former chair of Thompson Coburn and a litigator who represents major corporations in high-stakes litigation across the country. Roman has litigated class actions in 32 states, including substantial experience coordinating multi-district litigation. He has argued more than 35 class certification hearings and participated in 300 class actions, with experience in industries including financial services, telecommunications, and energy. A portion of his practice involves arbitration or some form of alternative dispute resolution, and he has tried complex arbitrations for major corporations in high-value cases involving potential awards of hundreds of millions of dollars. Roman is a former chair of the firm’s litigation department and has been a part of firm management for more than 20 years.

John Viola
[email protected] | (310) 282-9407

John Viola is an experienced employment litigator, assisting companies throughout California and nationally. Through counseling and training a wide range of employers and life insurance companies, John helps clients understand their risks and develop strategies and policies to mitigate them. When the courtroom beckons, however, he brings his formidable experience, skill and creativity as a litigator to cases in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as mediations and arbitrations before numerous resolution agencies. In litigation, John defends companies facing claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge and retaliation, along with whistleblower claims, wage and hour class actions, collective actions and Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) actions. A former in-house attorney with MetLife, John has counseled and defended many insurance clients and guided insurers, reinsurers and guarantee associations through insolvencies.

Elizabeth Myers
[email protected] | (972) 629-7111

Elizabeth Myers represents clients in high‑stakes litigation and arbitrations across the country, involving commercial disputes, consumer fraud and securities fraud class actions, and civil rights matters across the United States. With experience across a diverse range of industries and claims, Elizabeth helps companies and individuals achieve impactful results in state and federal litigation, arbitrations, and appeals. Applying creative strategies and nearly 20 years of jury‑trial and arbitration experience, she helps clients defend against class actions in jurisdictions across the country, successfully defend against shareholder and consumer actions, and resolve complex business disputes. Elizabeth also regularly represents officers, directors, and board committees as they investigate and respond to alleged regulatory violations and executive‑misconduct matters. She represents clients in FINRA arbitration proceedings arising from investor disputes, allegations of broker misconduct, and supervision‑related issues, and she works closely with boards and compliance teams to assess potential violations and develop strategies that reduce regulatory exposure.

Josh Mogin
[email protected] | (310) 282-2520

Josh Mogin is a real estate and finance attorney who represents a range of clients in complex real estate and financing transactions. With over 20 years of experience, Josh represents institutional lenders, financial institutions, developers, special servicers, rating agencies, insurance companies, credit unions, hotels and property owners in financing, securitization, construction financing, agency lending, mezzanine financing, loan restructurings, foreclosures, acquisitions and dispositions. Josh’s practice also includes entertainment and corporate financing, including the representation of banks and private financing companies in connection with financing power facilities, film production, and intellectual property rights.

Rob Lang
[email protected] | (312) 580-2242

Rob Lang is a business litigator who prevents and represents clients in complex business disputes, including business divorces. Rob also works closely with his clients to prepare a good “prenuptial agreement” for their business that accounts for the various trigger points of conflict that he has seen over the course of almost 30 years of practicing law. If litigation proves necessary, Rob is highly experienced in navigating the complex intersection of litigation, corporate, employment, trusts and estates, and other areas of the law that frequently accompany these disputes. Rob’s general litigation experience includes the successful resolution of complex contractual and other business disputes in various industries, including financial services, real estate, manufacturing, agribusiness, health care, professional services, sports, transportation, higher education, and energy.

David Duffy
[email protected] | (312) 580-2225

David Duffy concentrates his practice in product liability and complex commercial litigation in federal and state courts in Illinois and elsewhere. He has experience in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation matters including, among others: failed multi-million-dollar enterprise software implementations, consumer class actions, employment-related claims, including the enforcement of restrictive covenants, wrongful termination and defamation. His product liability experience includes the defense of mass tort and serious injury matters. David also has litigated insurance coverage disputes and has experience managing complex e-discovery issues.

Matt Guletz
[email protected] | (314) 552-6311

Matt Guletz is a litigator who resolves business, banking, and financial services matters. Deeply focused on representing banks and financial services organizations, Matt has an impressive history of achieving favorable outcomes in cases related to federal statutory claims, including FDCPA, FCRA, TCPA, RESPA, TILA, and related statutes. He also successfully navigates state law claims, whether through summary judgment, at trial, or on appeal. Beyond his banking and financial services practice, Matt handles class actions and other complex business litigation matters. His diverse experience includes tackling products liability cases, deceptive trade practices or consumer fraud claims, malpractice suits, and insurance defense.

Jeffrey Brown
[email protected] | (310) 282-9418

Jeff Brown crafts powerful litigation strategies to resolve complex disputes. His sophisticated solutions for clients minimize exposure and maximize recovery. Throughout Jeff’s 30-plus years of practice, he has consistently delivered favorable results in the state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as in arbitration. Both buyers and sellers turn to Jeff when buying and selling commercial real estate. He is sought by joint venturers, partners, LLC members, and investors in real estate funds to litigate and arbitrate everything from operating agreement breaches to common law fiduciary duty matters. Because of his reputation and experience, national real estate companies, funds, and shopping center owners hire Jeff to provide advice and, if necessary, handle significant litigation. His extensive experience extends to counseling lenders and borrowers in unsecured and secured debt disputes, as well as in California’s complex foreclosure and receivership procedures, pre-judgment attachment, and judgment enforcement.

Bill Bay
[email protected] | (314) 552-6008

Bill Bay represents major corporations in high-stakes litigation nationally. He has served at the forefront of leadership in the legal profession as a past president of the American Bar Association. He achieves favorable results for clients in state and federal courts across the country and serves as regional or national counsel for clients facing suits and regulatory actions in multiple venues. Bill has been selected as chair of multiple statewide commissions, examining critical issues in the practice of law. Bill’s clients vary from major financial institutions, to manufacturers, to post-secondary institutions. He litigates cases on behalf of companies facing high-risk litigation and helps businesses manage and respond to large portfolios of litigation in multiple jurisdictions. These matters include highly complex and document-intensive cases involving breach of contract, fraud, corporate governance, insurance coverage, lost profits, lender liability, and tortious interference. Bill’s extensive litigation experience includes insurance coverage cases as well as trust and estate litigation, including issues relating to fiduciary obligations.

Christina Berish
[email protected] | (312) 580-2329

Christina Berish is a deeply valued resource to clients as they interpret and enforce agreements. Her practice spans industries including financial services, manufacturing, energy and gas, real estate, and transportation. Christina assists businesses facing critical situations related to the sale or purchase of goods, services, property, or in the post-acquisition aftermath of assets. Her work includes payment terms, contract requirements and performance, post-acquisition disputes, and recovery and remedies including injunctive relief, fraud, contract termination, and warranty claims. She also handles partner disputes, fraud and business torts, and property and construction litigation. While much of Christina’s experience stems from the manufacturing and supply chain sector, she has also handled significant procurement and bid protests. Christina also regularly represents shareholders and LLC members in various shareholder disputes, a “business divorce.” 

William Hennessey
[email protected] | (212) 478-7335

Bill Hennessey has extensive U.S. and foreign litigation and investigations experience both as outside counsel and in-house as a director and senior counsel at a large, multinational financial institution. Bill has effectively represented financial institutions, fiduciaries, corporate entities, pharmaceutical companies, and individuals in complex commercial litigations and regulatory and governmental investigations and enforcement matters. Bill’s combination of law firm and in-house legal experience has helped him balance clients’ business objectives with potential litigation and regulatory risks, manage litigation and regulatory strategy across multiple domestic and international jurisdictions, and provide succinct and timely advice and recommendations to clients’ U.S. and global senior management.

Sarah Capungan
[email protected] | (212) 478-7314

Sarah Capungan represents and advises financial services institutions and other businesses in complex commercial disputes. Sarah’s practice spans a wide range of commercial disputes arising from lending relationships and fiduciary obligations. She represents clients in federal and state court on a variety of matters, including actions involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and fraud. Her work also encompasses judgment enforcement and pre-litigation counseling, including advising of risks, liabilities, and the viability of potential claims against adversaries.

Sophia Dudgeon
[email protected] | (212) 478-7328

Sophia Dudgeon concentrates her practice on commercial litigation matters as a member of the Business Litigation practice. While in law school, Sophia spent a semester as a full-time student law clerk under the Alexander Fellows Program for the Hon. Pamela K. Chen of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. She also worked as a student attorney in the Cardozo Tech Start-up Clinic, providing pro bono representation to early stage, high-potential emerging companies in finance and other growth industries.

Hayden Farmer
[email protected] | (212) 478-7303

Hayden Farmer represents financial services institutions, large corporations, and emerging businesses in high-stakes commercial disputes. Hayden’s practice sits at the intersection of litigation and transactional strategy, where he regularly advises on loan workouts, restructurings, and the enforcement of credit facilities involving complex financial instruments. His experience includes navigating intercreditor dynamics, as well as developing practical strategies around collateral realization, distressed asset resolutions, and sophisticated judgment enforcements. He drafts and argues motions, appeals, and dispositive briefs in state and federal courts nationwide. His work includes preparing complex legal analyses, managing discovery strategy, and developing motion practice tailored to the procedural dynamics of trial and appellate courts, including matters involving contract enforcement, jurisdictional challenges, and business tort claims.

Jonathan Schloth
[email protected] | (212) 478-7235

Jonathan Schloth represents clients in complex commercial disputes and provides strategic counsel on litigation matters. Jonathan’s experience spans federal appellate work and trial-level litigation, giving him a strong foundation in legal analysis and advocacy. Before joining Thompson Coburn, Jonathan completed externships with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the Third Circuit, where he assisted chambers with research and drafting on significant appellate issues. His diverse background across private practice and federal courts equips him to navigate complex disputes with precision and insight.

Elizabeth Myers
[email protected] | (972) 629-7111

Elizabeth Myers represents clients in high‑stakes litigation and arbitrations across the country, involving commercial disputes, consumer fraud and securities fraud class actions, and civil rights matters across the United States. With experience across a diverse range of industries and claims, Elizabeth helps companies and individuals achieve impactful results in state and federal litigation, arbitrations, and appeals. Applying creative strategies and nearly 20 years of jury‑trial and arbitration experience, she helps clients defend against class actions in jurisdictions across the country, successfully defend against shareholder and consumer actions, and resolve complex business disputes. Elizabeth also regularly represents officers, directors, and board committees as they investigate and respond to alleged regulatory violations and executive‑misconduct matters. She represents clients in FINRA arbitration proceedings arising from investor disputes, allegations of broker misconduct, and supervision‑related issues, and she works closely with boards and compliance teams to assess potential violations and develop strategies that reduce regulatory exposure.

Craig Haughton
[email protected] | (212) 478-7289

Craig Haughton represents financial institutions and other regulated businesses, including fiduciaries, broker-dealers, investment advisers, and accounting firms, in business disputes, regulatory matters, and internal investigations. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience as both outside counsel and a senior in-house compliance executive holding FINRA Series 7, 9, and 10 licenses, he provides practical, business-focused advice shaped by firsthand experience with how sophisticated institutions evaluate risk, allocate resources, manage litigation, and make strategic decisions under regulatory scrutiny. Before joining the firm, Craig served as an Executive Director and Compliance Officer for the Northeast business unit of a leading global broker-dealer and investment adviser, where he oversaw day-to-day compliance for more than 3,000 financial advisors. Working closely with legal, risk, compliance, and business leadership, he advised on supervisory, conduct risk, regulatory, and enterprise compliance matters. Craig advises clients on fiduciary and trust litigation, commercial litigation, FINRA arbitration, internal investigations, broker-dealer and investment adviser compliance counseling, and enforcement proceedings involving FINRA, the SEC, DOJ, and other regulators.

Joseph De Santis
[email protected] | (212) 478-7365

Joe De Santis focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and has represented clients in diverse industries such as banking and finance, consumer goods and retail, hospitality, pharmaceuticals, real estate, and health care, among others, in federal and state courts. Joe’s experience extends beyond litigation. He also provides valuable counsel to businesses in various employment and compliance matters, including leave, wages, recruitment, hiring, termination, and discrimination. Joe has also played a significant role in appellate litigation, having clerked for a Presiding Justice of the Appellate Term, Second Department. His experience has given him a well-rounded understanding of the legal system and allows him to provide comprehensive legal solutions to his clients.

William Hennessey
[email protected] | (212) 478-7335

Bill Hennessey has extensive financial services experience both as outside counsel and in-house as a director and senior counsel at a leading international bank for corporations, institutions, and individuals. His experience in regulatory investigations and enforcement matters includes representing banks, broker-dealers, futures commission merchants, and their employees in FINRA, SEC, CFTC, CME, NYSE, CBOE, and CBOT investigations and enforcement matters involving various compliance, operational, risk management, reporting, AML/BSA, and record keeping issues. He works with financial institutions in litigation involving loans, securities, RMBS, trusts and estates, AML, and other issues, including claims for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary and other duties, TRO, RICO, and False Claims Act and Anti-Terrorism Act violations.

Alex Pennetti
[email protected] | (972) 629-7168

Alex Pennetti represents corporations, fund managers, and high-net-worth individuals in complex commercial disputes in federal and state courts and arbitration proceedings nationwide. His practice focuses on disputes arising from sophisticated financial and business transactions, including structured finance, private investments, and corporate governance matters. Alex also represents brokers and investment advisors, often in FINRA arbitration proceedings involving allegations of misrepresentation, unsuitable investment recommendations, supervisory failures, and breach of fiduciary duty. He has handled disputes arising from asset purchase agreements, business separations, real estate joint ventures, mezzanine financing arrangements, and executive compensation packages. He regularly advises clients on contractual issues, fiduciary obligations, and fraudulent transfer claims. In addition to his commercial litigation practice, Alex has experience defending global enterprises in class actions and multidistrict litigation involving consumer protection statutes, financial services issues, and nationwide business practices.

Rosa Guerrero
[email protected] | (212) 478-7227

Rosa Guerrero advises on an array of complex commercial matters in state and federal court and arbitration, with an emphasis on business torts, partnership disputes, breach of contract claims, and securities litigation. Her experience includes FINRA and securities arbitration. Prior to joining the firm, Rosa worked as commercial litigator at firms in New York and as an Appellate Court Attorney at the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department where she advised on civil, family, and criminal law appeals.

Rachel Colao
[email protected] | (212) 478-7326

Rachel Colao is a member of the Business Litigation practice, where she represents commercial clients in a wide range of complex disputes. Before joining Thompson Coburn, Rachel litigated a diverse set of insurance disputes, representing and advising insurers on complex coverage issues and related litigation. While in law school, Rachel interned at the United States Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, where she participated in investigations throughout the Criminal Division.