Department profile

Litigation: General Commercial

USA Guide 2026 : New York

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

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Ranked Individuals

About

Provided by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

For more information about Davis Polk’s practices, please visit https://www.davispolk.com/capabilities.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: General Commercial - New York

What the Team is Known For

Davis Polk & Wardwell is a first-class player across an impressive breadth of big-ticket disputes, acclaimed for its standout reputation in defending suits brought against issuers, auditors and financial institutions in securities matters. The group demonstrates excellent abilities in wider commercial litigation, frequently acting on multibillion-dollar breach of contract claims as well as matters such as malpractice suits and class actions. The firm calls upon a formidable roster of talented litigators, offering extensive expertise in trial and appellate proceedings.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

Davis Polk & Wardwell continued to defend Morgan Stanley in the Commercial Division of the New York Supreme Court against claims brought by IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG (IKB) arising from the sale of residential mortgage-backed securities.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Davis Polk & Wardwell's attorneys are true experts and have the ability to shepherd me through anything. They not only know their field but they are skilled at keeping the client updated, explaining developments clearly and in layman's terms, providing great advice with solid reasoning.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Davis Polk & Wardwell is thoughtful, strategic and extremely responsive. Its lawyers understand our business very well and are invested in learning more.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Davis Polk & Wardwell's ability to handle complex matters distinguishes the firm. The team knows us inside and out, and is reasonable and pragmatic. Its attorneys are very prepared and exceptionally good writers.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Davis Polk & Wardwell has an impeccable knowledge of the law, identifying angles other firms might have missed, securing phenomenal results for clients. It has a top-notch team consisting of extremely experienced, brilliant lawyers who are extremely responsive.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Senior Statespeople
Senior Statespeople
Lawrence Portnoy
Lawrence Portnoy demonstrates impressive capability in M&A disputes, often for public company clients. He is highly adept at defending against securities class actions, including ERISA cases.
Lawrence is terrific.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Lawrence offers valuable litigation insights.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 1
Band 1
James Rouhandeh
James Rouhandeh regularly appears in the most significant securities cases for a host of major corporate issuer and banking clients. He is often involved in matters such as post-IPO disputes, RMBS-related claims and wider securities class actions.
James is highly strategic and has a great vision across legal matters. He is highly effective and has very strong client relationships.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
James is a brilliant, creative strategist and a seasoned litigator. He plays the long game and cuts to the heart of our hardest litigation challenges.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Andrew Ditchfield
Andrew Ditchfield focuses on complex M&A and wider securities litigation, with notable experience in pre-transaction shareholder disputes.
Andrew is incredibly smart and hardworking.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Andrew is excellent at thinking on his feet.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Andrew is an incredible litigator.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Andrew is a recognized expert in chancery litigation.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Charles Duggan
Charles Duggan regularly represents issuers, financial institutions and high-ranking individuals in securities litigation. His recent experience includes representing financial institutions as underwriters in cases relating to stock and bond offerings.
Charles is a brilliant and sophisticated adviser.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Charles is a steady hand who is really thoughtful in his advice. He takes pride in developing mastery of the company, business and the risk profile.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Charles is a subject-matter expert in the areas he covers.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Dana M Seshens
Dana Seshens possesses an impressive breadth of securities and commercial litigation expertise, with experience handling disputes involving IPOs, mergers and acquisitions and trade secrets.
Dana is a wonderful communicator and a keen strategic thinker.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 3
Band 3
Edmund Polubinski
Edmund Polubinski represents clients in complex disputes involving securities fraud and M&A. He is prominent in litigation arising from a range of industries including pharmaceuticals, finance and cryptocurrency.
Ted is commercial, pragmatic and provides good and balanced insights. He sees the bigger picture.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Ted has exceptional strategic awareness and substantive depth of knowledge.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Ted is excellent. He is a true professional.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Ted is very talented.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 6
Band 6
Benjamin Kaminetzky
Benjamin Kaminetzky excels in complex bankruptcy related litigation as part of a broad based commercial disputes practice. He focuses his practice substantially on the representation of financial institutions.
Ben is a superb litigator.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Ben's wise counsel is invaluable. He is a true lawyer's lawyer.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Ben has the experience, expertise and advisory and advocacy skills needed to lead the team handling complex litigation matters across multiple jurisdictions.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 6
Band 6
Brian S Weinstein
Brian Weinstein is adept in a broad array of complex commercial disputes including contract, RMBS and bankruptcy related matters, with particular expertise in representing banking and finance sector clients.
Brian is a skilled litigator and adviser on all things related to the litigation process. You always want Brian in your corner as he is a smart, fierce advocate for his clients.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Brian can get into the weeds and help you through challenging fact patterns. He is an excellent writer and a terrific oral advocate.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
Brian is extremely smart, available and provides insightful and thoughtful advice.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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Band 6
Band 6
Lara Samet Buchwald
Lara Samet Buchwald excels in handling securities and bankruptcy litigation, alongside a wide range of other commercial disputes.
Lara is a smart, strategic thinker. She combines practical advice with sophisticated legal analysis.
Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
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