"Cadwalader litigators distinguish themselves by being especially nimble, sharp and thorough." – Chambers USA

Cadwalader trial lawyers have tried hundreds of complex business litigation cases - in celebrated, high-profile matters and in cases that have been kept out of the public eye. Collectively, our team has numerous multi-million dollar trial wins - both on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants. Resolution of these disputes often involves complex fact patterns, intricate valuations, and ancillary issues related to a host of business operations. The scope of our litigation talents is broad and varied, with experience with all forms of business torts, including breach of contract; fraud; breach of manufacture, sale, distribution, co-development, or confidentiality/standstill or co-promote agreements; construction; environmental; indemnification; insurance; maritime; and surrogate's matters in virtually every industry.

Experience

• AriZona Iced Tea in an important summary judgment ruling from the Supreme Court, New York County, upholding transfer restrictions in the company owners' agreement and invalidating a sale of part of the company to a vulture investment firm
• PepsiCo, in multidistrict litigation dismissing on federal pre-emption grounds claims that the company engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices in violation of state consumer protection and related statutes by misrepresenting that Aquafina water comes from a pure mountain spring and not from public water supplies
• Mead Johnson & Company in a class action brought by the National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh case arguing that it has no duty to indemnify Mead in several consumer class actions, consolidated in Florida, that accuse Mead of marketing its Enfamil formula as the only formula containing two fatty acids that are beneficial for brain and eye health
• Collins & Aikman/Wickes Corporation in 28-day trial involving claims for fraud, indemnification and damages arising out of the sale of 15 aircraft manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Europe
• PepsiCo in the U.S. District Court and the Second Circuit against claims for $750 million in damages by CESPA and in efforts to stay the U.S. proceedings
• A group of sports and music copyright holders in a class action led by the U.K.-based Football Association Premier League against Google Inc. and its video-sharing web site YouTube.com. Interpublic, one of the world's largest advertising companies operating through well known subsidiaries such as McCann and Deutsch, in numerous litigations including complex cases in both federal and New York state courts overlapping insurance, securities and foreign criminal issues
• ACIC in the prosecution of claims for coverage of liabilities arising out of the sale of DES, including a four-phase trial before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and related appeals to the Second Circuit, resulting in a several hundred million-dollar recovery
• A pharmaceutical company in a six-month trial concerning issues of validity, enforceability, privilege and evidence surrounding the release of a new product
• The New York Jets football team in consumer fraud, contractual, and antitrust putative class actions relating to the sale of personal seat licenses in the new Meadowlands stadium
• The New York Jets football team in eight cases relating to its bid to acquire properties in Manhattan's western rail yards, a site that was the cornerstone of the U.S. bid to host the Olympics
• The world's leading modern art museum in a lawsuit by the heirs of Weimar-era artist George Grosz to recover three of his works, each of which had been in the museum's possession for more than 50 years
• Putative owner of the world famous Brancusi sculpture, Miss Pogany, in his efforts, in at least five counties, to obtain possession of the sculpture
• FIFA concerning protecting its intellectual property rights and commencing the process for considering the location for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup games
• Overseas Shipholding Group, one of the largest publicly-traded fuel tanker companies in the world, in resolving commercial disputes before a maritime arbitration panel with American Shipping Company and its shipbuilding partner Aker Philadelphia Shipyard
• Aguas Lenders Recovery Group, the holders of debt originally extended to Aguas Argentinas, a consortium that held a water and sewer concession with the Argentine government, in a precedent-setting ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which held that a successor in interest to a contract may be bound by a forum selection clause entered into by its predecessor
• Bristol-Myers Squibb regarding the alleged breach of supply and manufacturing agreements
• Banco BBM, a leading Brazilian financial institution, in several disputes
• W.R. Huff companies in an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit regarding profit sharing and the transferability of interests in various companies
• General Atomics in a series of high stakes, complex litigations and arbitrations relating to its uranium mining businesses, including allegations of fraud, RICO, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty
• Value Health Care, an affiliate of Omnicare Inc., in a breach of contract action seeking to enforce a guaranty agreement
• A major French telecom company in claims against the manufacturer of a virtual networking system for breach of contract and other claims relating to a major outage

We believe that our continued strength lies in ensuring that we attract, retain, and nurture the very best talent from all backgrounds, and we expect the future complexion of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP will, with each passing year, more closely reflect the global community that we serve. 

Cadwalader has worked diligently to promote an inclusive work environment and, over the years, has developed many initiatives to fit our unique goals and challenges on issues of diversity and inclusion.  With the creation of the Cadwalader Center for Diversity & Inclusion (CCDI), a central resource for the firm’s diversity programs, initiatives and policies, we aim to improve upon our successes and follow through on our promise to weave diversity and inclusion principles into the fabric of our culture. 

The mission of the CCDI is to enhance gender, racial/ethnic, and LGBT diversity and inclusion within the firm to create an unrivalled environment that attracts, retains and promotes the best and brightest talent available to serve our clients. Governed by the Global Diversity Committee, chaired by Patrick T. Quinn, Managing Partner, the CCDI is a vehicle to support the work we currently perform, to reinforce our dedication to that work, to recognize outstanding effort and to communicate - to each other and to the clients we serve - our longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Recent Programs & Events

The Cadwalader Center for Diversity and Inclusion hosts programs and events throughout the year that are designed to increase cultural competence, celebrate history and heritage and educate attorneys on how to work effectively on diverse teams.

From Megan’s Law to Bernie Madoff: A Conversation with Judge Chin

- July 23, 2015

The Cadwalader Asian Pacific American Attorney Resource Group hosted a conversation with the Honorable Denny Chin, United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit.  During the interactive conversation, Judge Chin discussed his experiences as a federal judge and his path to the bench. Attendees had the opportunity to network and speak with Judge Chin during the cocktail reception that followed.

The Fight for Marriage Equality in the Supreme Court

- June 9, 2015

The Cadwalader LGBT Network and the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) hosted a Pride Month event, The Fight for Marriage Equality in the Supreme Court, featuring Mary Bonauto, GLAD’s Civil Rights Project Director and Janson Wu, GLAD’s Executive Director. During the presentation Mary discussed her experience arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court for marriage equality and Janson discussed the future of the LGBT rights movement.

Justice Denied: Wards Cove Packing Co. v. Atonio

- May 12, 2015

Members of the Asian American Bar Association of New York, including Cadwalader attorneys and the Honorable Denny Chin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit presented a case reenactment of Wards Cove Packing Co. v. Atonio, a landmark employment discrimination case. The presentation told the story of the Wards Cove workers through narration, reenactment of court proceedings, and historic photographs. To view the performance, click here.

The Partner Track

- May 5, 2015

The Cadwalader Asian Pacific American Attorney Resource Group and the Women’s Leadership Initiative co-hosted a panel discussion with Cadwalader Partners, Ingrid Bagby, Kathy Chin and Athena Eastwood, focusing on their career experiences and paths to partnership. The panel was moderated by Helen Wan, author of The Partner Track, a fictional story about a young Asian-American corporate associate up for partner at her New York law firm.

“From Selma to Ferguson to Today: Why Civil Rights Matter,” featuring Professor Charles Ogletree, Harvard Law School

- April 29, 2015

The Cadwalader Black and Latino Association hosted a conversation with Charles Ogletree, Harvard Law School Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, and Founding and Executive Director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice.  The conversation was followed by a cocktail reception where attorneys had the opportunity to network  and speak with Professor Ogletree.

The Art of Building Business Relationships and Executive Presence

- March 25, 2015

The Women’s Leadership Initiative and Diane Darling, Founder of the Darling Institute, hosted a workshop on building business relationships and executive presence.  This interactive presentation explored how professionals at all stages of their career can integrate networking and relationship-building into their everyday lives. 

WLI London Client Event: “Walking the Nile” by Levison Wood

– March 12, 2015

The Women’s Leadership Initiative hosted a special evening at our London office with Levison Wood, explorer, writer, and photographer. Formerly an officer in the British Parachute Regiment, Wood has led pioneering journeys into undiscovered regions, travelling to more than 80 countries. His nine-month walk along the length of the Nile, from source to sea, is chronicled in a recent Channel 4 documentary. During the presentation Wood described the amazing people, breathtaking places and shocking sights he encountered on his ground-breaking expedition.