Nelida Lara

Nelida is a partner in the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice group.

She represents Fortune 500 companies, joint ventures, real estate developers, educational institutions, not-for-profits, and title insurance firms, handling their litigation, transactional matters, and compliance issues. Nelida is adept at managing all phases of complex litigation, including pleadings, dispositive motions, mediations, and appeals in both state and federal courts.

She specializes in a wide range of litigation for high-profile clients, including partnership disputes, intellectual property disputes, breach of contract, and fiduciary duty claims. Her notable cases span trademark and copyright infringement across various industries, recovery of payments in bankruptcy proceedings, and defense in defamation and commercial lease disputes.

Nelida is also highly engaged in diverse transactional and compliance activities. She has experience drafting policies and procedures for web-based organizations, including disclaimers and terms and conditions. Her skills extend to negotiating and drafting vendor, SaaS, license, consulting contracts, and purchase and sale agreements across multiple industries. Nelida provides strategic counsel to corporate officers and directors on business formation, governance, employment matters, and policies, with an emphasis on data protection and privacy.

Prior to joining our firm, Nelida was an associate in the litigation group of Schulte Roth & Zabel.

SEMINARS

• Moderator – Practice Points on Emergency Applications Before the Appellate Division, New York City Bar Association, 2023

• Moderator – Do’s and Don’ts of Appellate Practice: A View from the Bench, New York City Bar Association, 2019

• Presenter – Construction Access Licenses, Westchester County Bar Association, 2021

AWARDS

• Business Council of Westchester’s 2018 Rising Star 40-Under-40

• 2018 Honorable Judith Kaye Comm. and Fed. Lit. Scholarship, New York State Bar Association

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Represented a commercial landlord in an ADA accessibility discrimination claim brought by a commercial tenant, ensuring compliance with accessibility standards while protecting the landlord’s interests.

• Represented a real estate developer in an EEOC gender discrimination and harassment claim brought by an employee of a national commercial property management company, achieving a favorable resolution and safeguarding the developer’s reputation and operations.

• Represented a nationally well-known entertainment operator in a tax certiorari matter, successfully reversing the revocation of tax-exempt status for a public amusement park, ensuring the continued financial viability of the amusement park.

• Defended a public relations firm against a competitor’s violations of false advertising under the Lanham Act and state Unfair Trade Practices Act, securing a favorable outcome that upheld fair competition standards.

• Served as lead counsel in a trial concerning a breach of contract lawsuit to recover fees for professional services rendered, resulting in a judgment in favor of the client for the full amount claimed.

• Represented a commodities trading company in a breach of contract claim against a Latin American-based company.

• Represented a professional services company in a complex case involving copyright and trademark infringement, and breach of fiduciary duty.

• Defended a textile wholesaler in a case involving copyright and trademark infringement, and breach of fiduciary duty.

• Successfully represented a healthcare in-home nursing care provider in an appeal before the Department of Labor – Unemployment Insurance Appeal Board regarding the classification of independent contractors, resulting in a favorable reclassification that minimized the client’s liabilities.

• Conducted an internal investigation for a regional landscaping company in response to a wage and hour investigation, ensuring compliance with labor laws and mitigating potential penalties.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana, NYC-based dance company – Board of Directors

MEMBERSHIPS

• American Bar Association – Co-Chair of Data and Security Subcommittee

• Westchester County Bar Association – Co-Chair Women in Law Committee

• New York City Bar Association – State Courts of Superior Jurisdiction Committee – Affiliate Member