Chaffetz Lindsey LLP

Firm Details:

Founding Partners: Peter Chaffetz, Andreas Frischknecht, James Hosking, Yasmine Lahlou, David Lindsey, Alan Lipkin, Sandy Litvack, Cecilia Moss, Caline Mouawad, Andrew Poplinger, Aníbal Sabater, Steven Schwartz, Charles Scibetta, Gretta Walters, Erin Valentine

Number of partners: 15

Number of other lawyers: 18

Languages: Arabic, English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, Romanian

Firm Overview:

Chaffetz Lindsey is a premier litigation and international arbitration boutique. For over 10 years, it has helped clients find business-minded solutions where possible or win in arbitration or court if necessary. It provides the service, expertise and international experience clients expect from the largest firms, but from a smaller, client-friendly, New York City platform. Chaffetz Lindsey’s international reach is unique for its size and single-office location. In addition, the firm is distinguished by its flexibility on fees and lack of conflicts. Chaffetz Lindsey can and does act against major businesses that many large firms will not oppose.

Main Areas of Practice:

Commercial Litigation:

Chaffetz Lindsey has an active commercial litigation practice with significant trial and appellate experience in federal and state courts. The team represents companies in disputes involving complex commercial contracts, sales/licensing and distribution agreements, construction projects, and disputes arising from domestic and international crises (including COVID-19). The firm excels in cross-border litigation, including cases involving sovereigns, international discovery, enforcement of judgments/arbitration awards, and parallel proceedings.

International Arbitration:

Chaffetz Lindsey is an international arbitration powerhouse. It represents clients in arbitrations administered by all of the major institutions and under all of the major arbitral rules, including HKIAC, ICC, ICDR, ICSID, LCIA, SCC, SIAC, and UNCITRAL Rules. The team handles disputes in a variety of industries, with a particular expertise in energy, engineering and construction, financial services, insurance, infrastructure, manufacturing, mining, oil and gas, and pharmaceuticals. In addition to its broad commercial arbitration practice, Chaffetz Lindsey has expertise in public international law and currently represents investors and sovereigns in multiple treaty disputes. The firm’s current caseload includes arbitrations involving more than 20 jurisdictions covering Asia, Continental Europe, Latin America, North America, and the Middle East. In addition to being US-qualified, the team includes lawyers trained in both civil and common law systems who have practiced in Europe, Latin America, or Asia-Pacific and are fluent in several languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and German. The firm’s lawyers are recognised thought leaders who regularly speak, teach, and publish on cutting-edge international arbitration issues.

Insurance/Reinsurance:

Chaffetz Lindsey has one of the deepest insurance/reinsurance practices in the market. The firm has delivered successful results to clients facing exposures ranging into the billions of dollars in every major industry issue of the past three decades. These issues include asbestos, environmental, 9/11, finite risk, financial guarantee, commutations, late notice, workers’ compensation, managing general agencies and pools, insurance wrapped residential mortgage backed securities, disputes over arbitrability, COVID-19, and insolvency matters, including cases against liquidators and cut-through endorsement claims by policyholders. In addition, the firm has extensive experience in disputes arising out of mergers and acquisitions of insurance and reinsurance companies. Chaffetz Lindsey’s team members are recognised leaders in the industry and are active members in a variety of industry forums, including ARIAS and the International Bar Association’s Insurance Committee. Peer firms frequently call on Chaffetz Lindsey to submit amicus curiae briefs on major industry issues.

Bankruptcy:

Chaffetz Lindsey recently expanded its team to bring on a leading bankruptcy specialist, Alan Lipkin. Chaffetz Lindsey advises major creditors, shareholders, creditors and ad hoc committees, and other key parties in chapter 11 and debtors’ chapter 7 cases and out-of-court workouts. The firm also has substantial experience in insurance and bank insolvency matters and in addressing potential insolvency issues in structured finance and other complex transactions. Consistent with the team’s deep international network and experience, many of firm’s insolvency-related matters involve cross-border components and ancillary proceedings under chapter 15 of the bankruptcy code.