Civil Dispute Resolution – Complex Commercial Litigation

Kostelanetz LLP has a high-caliber civil litigation practice that covers all manner of disputes and complex commercial litigation and provides strategic advocacy for businesses, entrepreneurs, company executives, and others. 

The firm’s diverse practice ranges from business disputes (e.g., breach of contract, business tort, breach of fiduciary duty, business dissolution or “divorce,” corporate governance, unfair competition, and theft of trade secrets) to disputes involving governmental policies and decisions (e.g., challenges to government regulations, licensing decision reviews, and “impact litigation” raising public policy questions).  

Our experience with employment law matters is extensive. Kostelanetz attorneys help employers avoid or navigate disputes with employees, prospective employees, former employees, government regulators, and competitors. The firm also provides employers and executives advice about employment contracts, breach of contract, trade secrets, employee confidentiality, restrictive covenants (e.g., non-compete and non-solicitation agreements), “cease and desist” letters, and claims of employment discrimination. Kostelanetz LLP handles employment-related litigation directly and sometimes assists clients in monitoring counsel designated by insurance carriers.

Many of the firm’s cases are highly complex, involving international and cross-border issues, multiple jurisdictions, numerous parties, extensive documentation, parallel criminal and civil proceedings, and/or unusual procedural questions. Our cases often draw on the firm’s deep bench of experienced professionals who focus on specific areas of law, such as taxation, trusts and estates, and government procurement. The firm is also sometimes called on to represent clients in tort litigation.   

Our civil litigators have extensive courtroom and arbitration experience but also know how to resolve a matter without a trial– or even litigation – when warranted.

While the firm handles cases in state and federal courts across the country, we have particular experience in the New York Supreme Court (including the Commercial Division); the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division (First, Second, and Third Departments); New York Surrogate’s Court; the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; the U.S. Court of International Trade; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal and Second Circuits.   

The practice is led by Claude M. Millman, a partner with over 30 years of civil litigation experience who is a Senior Fellow of “Litigation Counsel of America,” ranked in Best Lawyers for Commercial Litigation, and ranked in Super Lawyers for Business Litigation.