Shareholder
Tel:
212.880.3800
Fax:
212.880.8965
Richard Lafont is a shareholder in the Litigation practice. He is an experienced litigator whose practice focuses on complex commercial disputes. He has broad experience in federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels. He also represents clients in arbitrations and mediations before all the major alternative dispute resolution forums, including AAA, JAMS, and FINRA.
Richard has extensive banking litigation experience, including representing U.S. and international banks facing complex credit defaults, lender liability claims, and creditor disputes in bankruptcy. He has also represented real estate investors, banks, and other corporate clients in a variety of real estate matters, including construction litigation, commercial lease defaults, broker disputes, and commercial foreclosures. Additionally, Richard has litigated a number of securities fraud cases, including representing corporations, financial services firms, and directors and officers in Rule 10b-5, control person, and RICO actions.
Moreover, Richard has represented retail stock brokerage firms in customer claims; corporations prosecuting or defending breach of contract or unfair competition claims arising from violations of restrictive covenants in employment agreements or the potential disclosure of trade secrets; and various commercial clients in prosecuting or defending against breach of contract and business tort claims, including fraud, tortious interference, and negligent misrepresentation.
Richard has also conducted litigation due diligence on behalf of corporate clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions or banks conducting multi-million dollar credit reviews.
Richard has extensive banking litigation experience, including representing U.S. and international banks facing complex credit defaults, lender liability claims, and creditor disputes in bankruptcy. He has also represented real estate investors, banks, and other corporate clients in a variety of real estate matters, including construction litigation, commercial lease defaults, broker disputes, and commercial foreclosures. Additionally, Richard has litigated a number of securities fraud cases, including representing corporations, financial services firms, and directors and officers in Rule 10b-5, control person, and RICO actions.
Moreover, Richard has represented retail stock brokerage firms in customer claims; corporations prosecuting or defending breach of contract or unfair competition claims arising from violations of restrictive covenants in employment agreements or the potential disclosure of trade secrets; and various commercial clients in prosecuting or defending against breach of contract and business tort claims, including fraud, tortious interference, and negligent misrepresentation.
Richard has also conducted litigation due diligence on behalf of corporate clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions or banks conducting multi-million dollar credit reviews.
Business Disputes
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Prosecution of piercing the corporate veil action brought on behalf of major investment bank’s mutual funds against the foreign parents and principals of a foreign casino company’s U.S. affiliate that reneged on purchasing high-yield bonds resulting in a $40 million dollar judgment.
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Coordination of defense of major consulting firm’s healthcare turnaround practice group in breach of contract and malpractice claims brought by litigation trustee for estate of major New York City non-profit medical center arising from insolvency of the institution.
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Prosecution of breach of contract action for West Coast investment bank against German semiconductor company for failure to pay success fee for investment banking services that resulted in lucrative merger with Malaysian semiconductor company.
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Defense of closely held apparel company and its principals from disgruntled former member’s claims that he did not receive his fair share of proceeds from the sale of the company.
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Defense of two lender liability actions arising from major foreign bank’s consent to transfer of assets from its borrower to third-party purchaser.
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Defense of upscale fitness center in bench trial of $10 million real estate brokerage dispute with Manhattan’s leading retail "big box" brokers resulting in directed defense verdict.
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American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Member
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Hispanic National Bar Association, New York Chapter, Member; Co-Chair of General Counsel Committee, 2007-2010
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J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1990; Journal of International Business Law, Editor, 1988-1990
A.B., Harvard University, 1986; American/East Asian History
New York
New Jersey