David E. Robbins

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David E. Robbins: Attorney with Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins LLP
Attorney Awards
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer AV Preeminent Rating
About Attorney Awards

Biography

David Robbins is a partner in the New York City law firm of Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins LLP and specializes in commercial arbitration and mediation. He represents investors, brokers and firms in disputes and brokers and firms before regulatory agencies. His firm also specializes in all aspects of franchise law, nationwide and worldwide. He is an expert witness in malpractice cases arising out of securities arbitrations. David and his firm have been responsible for the return of tens of millions of dollars to investors and have represented brokers in arbitrations and regulatory matters. David served as Special Deputy Attorney General of New York State, responsible for the civil and criminal prosecution of securities fraud cases, and was the American Stock Exchange Director of Compliance and Director of its Legal and Regulatory Policy Division, where his was Director of Arbitration and Director of Disciplinary Hearings. He has the highest Peer Review Rating (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell and in 2016, 2020 and 2023 was approved as a “Super Lawyer” in securities law for the New York metropolitan region.

David is the author of Securities Arbitration Procedure Manual (Dec. 2022 Matthew Bender, a division of Lexis Publishing ), which has been the primary text in this area of the law and which he has updated for over 30 years. This two-volume, 4,200+ page book presents pragmatic, balanced guides to the practice of securities arbitration and mediation for attorneys representing investors, brokers and firms. Since 1995, Mr. Robbins has written the annual Practice Commentary to McKinney's Consolidated Laws of New York, Article 23-A of the General Business Law - on securities arbitration and mediation. He has written over 80 articles on securities law, including “Trust Established – Trust Breached,” “Nothing But The Truth? Lying in Arbitration” and “The New FINRA Expungement Rules,” published by The PIABA Bar Journal.

David served as the Chairperson for more than 20 Practising Law Institute (PLI) continuing education programs on securities arbitration and mediation. He is the recipient of the Public Investors Advocate Bar Association (PIABA) lifetime achievement Golden Bow Tie Award and was a member of FINRA Dispute Resolution’s National Arbitration and Mediation Committee. He is a member of the New York City Bar Association and PIABA and is on the Board of Editors of Securities Arbitration Commentator and The PIABA Bar Journal. Mr. Robbins has been co-chair of the New York State Bar Association program on securities arbitration. In 2023, he became a Founding Member of the Financial Professionals Coalition, Ltd., a new resource for the securities industry.

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Areas of Practice (7)

  • Regulatory Enforcement
  • Arbitration
  • Mediation
  • Employment Contracts - Employee
  • State & Local Agencies
  • Securities Fraud and Insider Trading
  • Securities Regulation

Education & Credentials

University Attended:
Syracuse University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1971
Law School Attended:
Villanova University School of Law, J.D., Award for Meritorious Service. Philadelphia Community Legal Services Assoc., 1974
Year of First Admission:
1975
Admission:
1975, New York; 1975, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; 1975, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York; 1981, Pennsylvania
Birth Information:
New York, N.Y., April 14, 1949
ISLN:
902110524

Peer Reviews

5.0/5.0 (12 reviews)
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent Rating Badge

  • Legal Knowledge

    5.0/5.0

  • Analytical Capability

    5.0/5.0

  • Judgment

    5.0/5.0

  • Communication

    5.0/5.0

  • Legal Experience

    5.0/5.0

  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Retired Partner on 07/01/26 in Securities

    Robbins is the 'Dean' of the Securities practice nationwide. Unlike most practicing lawyers, he is also an editor on the PIABA Bar Journal for several decades and a scholar who researches and writes his own very in depth articles. Additiona... Read more

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Attorney on 06/21/26 in Securities

    One of the finest legal minds I have encountered. Brilliant analysis of complex issues. Very trustworthy. Highly endorse David Robbins.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Attorney on 06/20/26 in Alternative Dispute Resolution

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Attorney on 06/20/26 in Arbitration

    First rate lawyer. Esteemed by his colleagues.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Managing Partner on 06/20/26 in Arbitration

    Mr. Robbins has written the manual used by lawyers in the securities arbitration field, by both sides of the issue.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Managing Partner on 06/20/26 in Securities

    Mr. Robbins is the foundation for securities law in the US. He is the author of most of it and has practiced it as well. There are none finer and there are no better human beings practicing it.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Attorney on 06/19/26 in Arbitration

    David is the best of the best in securities arbitration.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Attorney on 06/19/26 in Securities

    David is the author of the most widely used guide to securities arbitration disputes in the United States. The guide is updated annually. For many years David chaired the PLI annual program on securities arbitration. He is widely respected.

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Principal on 06/19/26 in Securities

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  • 5.0/5.0 Rated by a Member on 06/18/26 in Alternative Dispute Resolution

    David Robbins is an accomplished author, speaker and truly the Dean of Securities Arbitration. David “wrote the book” and keeps it current.

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