An experienced trial attorney, Aurora's varied litigation practice has included many business, banking, insurance, real estate, employment and professional liability matters. She has had substantial experience in securities fraud class actions, breach of contract, qui tam, fraud, and valuation actions. She has counseled companies experiencing financial difficulties and has represented various financial institutions, including foreign and domestic banks, seeking to restructure debt. In the area of professional liability, she has defended professional liability claims against actuaries, attorneys and consultants. Aurora served as Receiver for Starr & Co., LLC. and Starr Investment Advisors, LLC in the SEC v. Kenneth Ira Starr matter, and has served as the Chapter 11 Trustee in a complex bankruptcy case, The Estate of David Schick (1996-2004) which generated various litigations and reported decisions. She has also represented a number of creditors in a number of bankruptcy cases.
Representative Experience
Acted as Receiver in SEC v. Kenneth Ira Starr, Starr Investment Advisors, LLC, and Starr & Co, LLC, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 10 Civ. 4270 (SHS), a fraud case involving numerous claimants and at least $59 million in damages. June 2010-January 2012.
Acted as Monitor in SEC v. Kenneth Ira Starr, Starr Investment Advisors, LLC, and Starr & Co, LLC, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, 10 Civ. 4270 (SHS) from June 1 to June 7, 2010.
Acted as Trustee in bankruptcy in connection with a real estate Ponzi scheme where the estate consisted of close to $300 million and recovery to the creditors was approximately 40%. (In re Schick, Chapter 11, Case Nos. 96 B 42902 (SMB), 96 B 43969 (SMB) 96 B 46282 (SMB) (Jointly Administered) Chapter 11, Case No. 96 B 45033 (SMB), - United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York). Issues included those relating to fiduciary liability, secured transactions, money laundering, tracing of funds to Europe and the Middle East.
Representation of companies including those in the telecom and other industries in connection with securities fraud class actions; (In re Cellular Technical Services Securities Litigation, Master File No. C97-1155WD - United States District Court for the Western District of Washington; In re Nice Systems, Ltd. Securities Litigation, Master File No. 2:01-CV-737 (JAG) - United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; In re TTI Securities Litigation, Master File No. 2:04-CV-04305 (PGS-ES)-United States District Court for the District of New Jersey); Sarit Tamar v. MIND CTI, Ltd. et al., 09 Civ. 7132 (RMB), United States District Court for the Southern District of New York) (2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7689 (SDNY, July 2, 2010).
Representation of various banks including Citibank, Atlantic Bank of New York, Bank Leumi Trust Company of New York in connection with UCC actions (forged checks, forged endorsements, secured transactions), workouts, restructures and letter of credit issues.
Representation of Board in connection with special investigation under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of actions relating to sale of medical devices in Nigeria.
Representation of Fortune 50 Company in connection with a special investigation of employee allegations in connection with due diligence relating to acquisition of a privately held company.
Representation of consulting subsidiary of Fortune 50 insurance broker in connection with claim by union that it had rendered negligent advice which had resulted in under funding of the health and welfare plan.
Representation of reseller of telephone services in connection with breach of contract and fraud action against AT&T Corp. (Telecom International America, Ltd. v. AT&T Corp., Civil Action No. 96 Civ. 1366(AKH) - United States District Court for the Southern District of New York).
Representation of real estate developer in connection with partnership disputes and charges of defalcation by contractor/partner.
Representation of Fortune 50 insurance broker in connection with employee embezzlement and bank negligence issues.
Representation of defense industry subcontractor in connection with a qui tam action relating to overcharge of transducers (United States ex rel. Hyatt v. Northrup Corp., Civil Action No. CV-93-02529-KN - United States District Court for the Central District of California).
Representation of foreign diamond dealer in connection with partnership dispute and charges of IP infringement in a three-week arbitration proceeding.
Representation in arbitration proceedings of seller against a major utility relating to wrongful termination of a contract under a material adverse chance clause.
Represented both plaintiffs and defendants in connection with several major anti-trust actions.
Speaking Engagements
The Trend in Securities Litigation in the United States - Brean Murray Growth Conference, Beijing, China, June 2011.
Whistleblower Provisions of Dodd-Frank Act, - NYC Bar Association, May 2011.
Effects of Globalization on the Legal Profession: Recent Developments in the U.S. in Securities Class Action Pleading Requirements - International Bar Association and the Israel Bar, Eilat, Israel, June, 2009.
Preventing Malpractice Claims in an Estate Planning and Administration Practice,; American College of Trust and Estate Counsel 2008 Annual Meeting.
Women in Negotiation - Practical Tips To Strengthen Your Negotiation Skills, The Association of the Bar of the City of New York.
Collective Actions Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Dow Agrosciences Symposium, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Conducting Internal Investigations, Annual Ethics Award and Ethics Marathon, New York, New York.
Building Shareholder Equity: Executive Compensation and Restrictive Covenants, The Corporate Lawyering Conference, New York, NY.
Ponzi Schemes and the Bankruptcy Code: Trustee's Netting Model, New York Society of CPAs, New York, NY.
Who Is The Enemy? Counseling the Client on When, Why and How to Attach (Sue, Sanction) Opposing Lawyers, ABA Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada.
How Hotly Contested Litigation Can Evolve from Highly-Leveraged Transactions, Kahn Consulting, Inc. Third Annual Litigation Conference, New York, NY.
Insurance Coverage for Business Torts, ABA/ACCA Regional Meeting, New York, NY.
Duels for the Company Jewels: Noncompetition and Trade Secret Litigation, ABA Annual Meeting, New York, NY.
Forging a Partnership - The Inside/Outside Counsel Relationship in the 90's, ABA Annual Meeting, New York, NY.
Advanced Litigation Techniques, Bank Lawyers Association.
The Basics of Loan Restructuring and Workouts, New York State Bar Association.
Lender Liability in New York: The Recent Experience, New York State Bar Association.
Hard Proof and Soft Damages: Lost Profits etc., ABA Annual Litigation Section Meeting, Chicago, IL.
Avoiding Malpractice/Malpractice Insurance, ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section Annual Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C.
Legal Point of View: Issuing a Bond, New York State Parking Association Annual Conference, Saratoga Springs, NY.
Parallel Civil and Criminal Proceedings, American Corporate Counsel, Association/American Bar Association Section of Litigation Regional Meeting, New York, NY.
Certain Techniques to Deal with Obstreperous Witnesses and Effective Ways to Take or Defend A Deposition, American Corporate Counsel Association/ American Bar Association Section of Litigation Regional Meeting, New York, NY.
The Woman Advocate '95 San Francisco and New York, ABA Special Conference.
Managing Your Time: Juggling Billable Work and Non-Billable Obligations; New Partner Forum, American Conference Institute, New York, NY.
Publications
Maximizing the Recovery of assets from the Trustee's Perspective by Aurora Cassirer and Lee W. Stremba. Appeared in the Financial Fraud Law Report, July/August 2009 edition.
Truth and Consequences? How to Avoid Employee Claims of Defamation by Aurora Cassirer Scott Feldman, and Devin M. Ehrlich, ACC Docket, September 2006, Volume 24, No. 8.
Litigating as a Class for Overtime Pay by Aurora Cassirer and Scott Feldman, New York Law Journal, February 10, 2003.
WARN Act Compliance in Today's New and Old Economy by Aurora Cassirer and Carly Wee, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, January 2001.
The Obligations of a Tenant to Repair Premises by Aurora Cassirer and Shari Garelick, The Metropolitan Corporate Counsel, February-March 1999.
Firm Management Responsibilities
Member, Executive Committee
Member, Compensation Committee
Managing Partner of the New York Office of Troutman Sanders LLP
Other Distinctions
Listed in Law & Politics' New York Super Lawyers - Metro Edition (2008-2011) for excellence in Business Litigation
AV Rated, Martindale Hubbell
2008 Honoree of the United Way of New York City's Women United in Philanthropy
Member, Board of Governors of Jerusalem College of Technology (Machon Lev)
Former President & Member of the Board of Directors, American Friends of Jerusalem College of Technology
Member, Board of Directors, NY Lawyers for the Public Interest (2009-2011)
Chair, Advisory Board of KIND (Kids in Need of Defense)
Memberships
· Member, Departmental Disciplinary Committee for the First Judicial Department (Supreme Court Appellate Division)
· Member, Commission on Fiduciary Appointments (Birnbaum Commission) (2004-2005)
· American Bar Association, Section of Litigation
Co-Chair, Real Estate and Probate Litigation (2000-2002)
Chair, Real Estate, Property and Probate Litigation (1999-2000)
Co-Chair, Professional Liability Litigation Committee (1996-1999)
Member, State Justice Initiatives Task Force (1995-1996)
Co-Director, Division V-Substantive Areas of Litigation (1994-1996)
Chair, Commercial and Business Litigation Committee (1991-1994)
· New York State Bar Association
· New York State Women's Bar Association
· Member, NYWBA Judiciary Committee