Business Litigation Group

Our Business Litigation attorneys never lose sight of what our clients’ goals and the best way to achieve them. We look at each matter and devise a path forward that is proportional to our client’s exposure and avoids unnecessary expense. We develop sensible approaches to e-discovery, and position our clients for the best possible outcomes while preparing for potential challenges. Because avoiding litigation can be the most effective strategy and the most practical solution, we always assess the potential for alternative dispute resolution (ADR). When ADR is in our clients’ best interest, we endeavor to achieve desirable settlements, rather than engage in expensive and protracted litigation and trial. Many of our cases arrive at swift, cost-effective conclusions through mediation and arbitration to the benefit and satisfaction of our clients.

With deep experience in New York State courts, as well as in other state and federal courts across the country, many of our litigators are ranked among the best in New York and the United States. Jonathan B. Nelson, Partner and Chair of the Commercial Litigation Department, is selected to the New York – Metro Super Lawyers list year after year and is named to the Best Lawyers in America ® list in 2022 and 2023. Most recently, in a matter involving the once prominent architectural and engineering firm of Wank, Adams, Slavin Associates LLP, after a four-day trial Mr. Nelson was successful in proving that our clients were not responsible for a claim of contribution.

Mark Zauderer, co-leads the Commercial Litigation Department. He is a prominent and widely respected trial and appellate attorney who has represented major corporations, prominent individuals, and a Presidential cabinet secretary in significant business, financial and commercial litigation throughout the United States. Among many distinctions, Mr. Zauderer has been listed in Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in America, New York – Metro Super Lawyers list and New York Magazine’s “The New York Areas Best Lawyers”. He is frequently quoted in professional and business journals and has served as a television and radio commentator on legal issues. Notably, Mr. Zauderer represented Richard Grasso, former chief of the New York Stock exchange, in a suit brought by the New York State Attorney General. With the level of experience of our attorneys it is no surprise that our winning cases are often notably complex and high profile.

Our experience in court and finesse at the negotiation table have earned us the trust of Fortune 500 companies, corporate banks, significant investors, and top-tier law firms in the United States and abroad. Our litigators regularly coordinate and collaborate with international clients and legal teams on matters impacted by U.S. law and/or subject to multijurisdictional laws and regulations. Prominent law firms retain Dorf Nelson & Zauderer on complex disputes to add our focused energy, decades of perspective, and notable skills to their litigation teams. We are also regularly retained by out-of-state law firms to counsel and assist their clients litigating in New York courts.

Our business litigation attorneys represent a wide array of clients including major financial institutions, real estate developers, professional and financial services firms, multinational corporations, public and privately owned businesses, partnerships, limited liability companies, executives, contractors, subcontractors, property owners, insurance companies, and municipalities.

We represent clients in a variety of disputes that can arise in a business context including:

• Partnership and shareholder rights
• Corporate governance disputes
• Breach of contract
• Breach of fiduciary duty
• Fraud
• Legal and accounting malpractice
• Licensing/franchise disputes
• Family estate disputes
• Banking and lender liability
• Restrictive covenants
• Unfair competition/trade secrets
• Indemnification/contribution claims
• Intellectual property