Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler LLP

www.hs-law.comtel:212-397-3370

email:frontdesk@hs-law.com

Managing Partner: Jonathan Harris

Number of partners:12

Number of lawyers:19

PRACTICE AREAS 

• Employment
• Criminal & Regulatory
• Founder & Partners Disputes
• Business Advisory
• Cannabis
• Commercial Litigation & Arbitration
• Insurance Recovery
• Trade Secrets

OFFICES 

NEW YORK 

40 Wall Street, 53rdFloor, NY 10005

Tel: 212-397-3370

Fax: 212-202-6206

Firm Overview: 

With a Silicon Valley mindset and Wall Street sophistication, Harris St. Laurent & Wechsler represents a full range of clients in complex disputes, employment and business advisory matters. Small by design, the firm was founded in 2009 with a singular end in mind: to produce superior results for its clients in an open and modern manner.www.hs-law.com

Main Practice Areas: 

Employment 

HSW has earned a reputation for a premier practice counselling and litigating on behalf of founders, partners, C-Suite executives, top producers, practice leaders and employers with respect to the entire spectrum of employment-related issues including:

• negotiation of employment and partnership agreements
• restrictive covenants
• separations and termination disputes
• high-stakes contract and discrimination claims, and
• the discreet handling of internal investigations

White Collar & Investigations 

HSW defends individuals, senior level employees, partnerships and companies against federal and state criminal investigations, prosecutions and regulatory actions. In addition, HSW conducts discreet internal investigations and advises on regulatory compliance. Representative public matters include:

• The complete exoneration of a prominent financial advisor against all SEC charges following a multi-year investigation, a federal jury trial and all appeals;
• Successful resolution of civil forfeiture actions brought by the Department of Justice against properties in the United States held by the family of the former president of Taiwan.

Founder and Partner Disputes 

HSW has a leading practice representing founders and partners in there solution of internal disputes through negotiation, valuation, litigation and arbitration.

The firm brings to bear its expertise in business advisory, valuation, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment law (including restrictive covenants) and mediation to achieve outcomes that are favorable for its clients while maximizing business value.

The firm's practice includes the representation of founders and partners instart-up ventures, technology companies, investment firms (includinghedge funds, private equity firms, and other investment partnerships) and real estate partnerships.

Of particular recent note is the firm’s representation of Avi Dorfman to seek equity compensation and recognition of Mr. Dorfman as a member of the founding team of Compass, a $6 billion real estate agency powerhouse. HSW, along with co-counsel, fought a seven-year court battle on behalf of Dorfman that resulted in a 2021 settlement. Under the settlement, Compass publicly acknowledged Mr. Dorfman's role as a member of the founding team, and while financial terms of the settlement are confidential, Compass reported a $21.3 million charge on its public earnings report in addition to prior reserves.

Business Formation, Deals & Advisory 

HSW advises companies, founders, partners and employees in a wide range of transactions, including: the formation of businesses and ventures; commercial agreements; drafting and negotiating contracts with employees and partners; and the sale and purchase of businesses and investments.

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration 

HSW leverages its proven skill and reputation as a first-seat trial firm to achieve results — through trial or resolution — for plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial litigation and arbitration.

The firm specializes in matters demanding a high level of financial and commercial know-how, including securities litigation, breaches of contract, business torts, founder and partnership disputes, valuation disputes, and real estate litigation. HSW handles cases in state and federal court, and in all major arbitral forums.

Representative public matters include:

• Winning a $61 million arbitration award for a hedge fund against an international bank relating to a complex derivative transaction (among largest all-time FINRA awards)
• Winning a $20 million jury verdict for the Learning Annex and, after a re-trialwas granted on damages, winning an even larger verdict of $21.8 million against one of New York’s most prominent defense firms.
• Winning an award of $23.3 million for a terminated Portfolio Manager based upon a finding that the firm had no cause to terminate and that the Portfolio Manager had not possessed and/or failed to escalate to compliance potential material non-public information.

Insurance Recovery & Indemnification 

HSW's insurance recovery and indemnification practice enforces the rights of insureds for covered losses and obtains advancement of costs in the course of disputes. The firm aggressively identifies and seeks all potential sources of coverage, advancement and indemnification. HSW has an extraordinary record of obtaining coverage for clients through negotiation, litigation and arbitration following an initial denial of coverage. Representative public matters include:

• Obtaining a 2019 AAA award advancing legal fees for the US-based former CEO of an international investment advisor charged by the SEC with violations of the Investment Advisers Act
• Winning summary judgment for McGraw-Hill in New York state court on a $20 million coverage claim against AIG regarding coverage for copyright infringement claims

Cannabis Law 

HSW offers a full spectrum of services to its cannabis industry clients, including entity formation, drafting business governance documents, regulatory compliance advice, licensing services and litigation. Representative public matters include:

• Representing a leading California testing lab in litigation against its former CEO
• Representing a high-end CBD startup in all aspects of operation, from formation to fundraising and the negotiation of all key contracts