New York, NY – June 7, 2021 – In a strategic move adding to its rapidly growing New York office, Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce distinguished veteran commercial litigator Jeremy E. Deutsch and several attorneys from Anderson Kill have joined the New York Commercial Litigation Practice. A distinguished litigator with a unique background as a practicing corporate lawyer, he brings the fresh perspective that the corporate practice can exist as a form of centralized risk management with properly structured contracts helping to create productive partnerships and mitigating the risk of future litigation. Deutsch joins Cozen O’Connor as a shareholder. Joining with him will be Christian V. Cangiano, of counsel, Elliot J. Coz, counsel, and Eric W. Huang, Christopher Paolino, and Ian Bain as associates.
Deutsch brings over two decades of experience in transactional and day-to-day legal counseling and complex corporate and commercial litigation and arbitration. His work has been so well regarded by his peers that he was selected as a member of Law360’s banking editorial advisory board in 2018 and 2019.
“When you can add a lawyer of his caliber and reputation who has successfully litigated as a trial attorney before every conceivable courtroom, regulatory body, and arbitration setting, you are adding a strategic ally for your clients. Bringing a whole team shows our commitment to the commercial litigation practice, which we believe will continue to be an extremely active segment,” commented Michael J. Heller, Cozen O’Connor’s Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We have made the expansion of our flagship office in New York City a number one priority. Being able to continually bring top-notch talent like Jeremy and his team to our new office at 3 World Trade Center is a centerpiece of our strategy to provide the most robust resources possible for all of our clients.”
Deutsch has been a strong advocate for his clients, having represented and tried numerous cases to verdict and arbitrated matters to final award. His focus has been on matters involving major frauds, breaches of fiduciary duty, breaches of contract and joint venture agreements, securities and stock option litigation, real estate lending, shareholder derivative suits, and violations of restrictive covenant agreements by employees. He has successfully litigated in Canada and the United Kingdom on matters involving securities and investment fraud, copyright and trademark infringement, intellectual property and employee theft of high-tech products, and officer liability/mandatory indemnification issues.
Deutsch has been lead trial counsel in state and federal courts and private dispute resolution in the American Arbitration Association, FINRA, JAMS, and the International Chamber of Commerce International Court of Arbitration. He has represented the largest limited partner in one of the Madoff feeder funds in litigation against the fund’s auditor and in the negotiation and structure of the bankruptcy settlement with the SIPC trustee. Deutsch led an internal investigation at a commodity futures trading firm and resolved the mismarked specialist trading positions that allowed a partner to steal millions of dollars. He also successfully tried an oral breach of joint venture case before the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court and secured a verdict of millions of dollars in alleged liability.
“As the markets continue to become more complex and new and unique structured products or asset classes become prominent, there is an extraordinary need to have a team that is proactive and understands the nuances of financial instruments and their underlying contracts,” stated James H. Heller, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Commercial Litigation Department, and chair of the Product Liability Practice. “As we continue the expansion of the commercial litigation practice, we continue to seek the best talent available. This was a wonderful opportunity to make a significant addition to the team and consider our clients lucky to have landed a trusted adviser with such a keen eye and stellar track record like Jeremy and his colleagues, to add to our rapidly growing team.”
Deutsch has been frequently published in the New York Law Journal and has been a featured guest speaker on complex financial subjects such as blockchain technology, cryptocurrency trading, and the legal ramifications and potential liabilities.
“Cozen O’Connor is exactly where I know I can best serve my clients. Being surrounded by such a wealth of intelligent and accomplished teammates who can work in a collaborative manner means my clients will have tremendous resources within reach. I am thrilled to be a part of the team,” said Deutsch.
Deutsch and his team’s addition continues the buildout of Cozen O’Connor’s new offices at 3 World Trade Center, which has been experiencing rapid growth since it opened at the beginning of 2021.
Deutsch earned his B.A. from Brandeis University, his M.B.A with a concentration in asset management from the Yale School of Management, and his J.D. from the Tulane University School of Law.
Christian V. Cangiano has engaged in all aspects of corporate and complex litigation and appellate practice in federal and state courts as well as before the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Court of Arbitration, FINRA, AAA, and JAMS. His focus has been on intra-corporate, intra-partnership, and intra-company disputes, contract disputes, licensing disputes, post-merger and post-acquisition disputes, and professional liability. He is a graduate of the State University of New York, Binghamton, with a B.A. in history, and a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law. He also received an LL.M in taxation from the New York University of Law.
Elliot J. Coz worked as an extern in the New York State Office of the Attorney General before focusing on commercial and real estate litigation. He has focused on contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, employment law issues, residential and commercial real estate disputes, and corporate governance issues. He has participated as first-chair of the trial team in NYS Supreme Court a case involving employment and investment disputes, as second-chair of the trial team and examined expert witnesses in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for a private equity investment dispute, and has argued appeals before the NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department. He earned his B.A. in English with a minor in entrepreneurship and business management from the Johns Hopkins University. He received his J.D. from the Brooklyn Law School.
Eric W. Huang has represented international and domestic corporations in a broad range of corporate transactions, including general corporate formation and contracts, mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate acquisition, corporate financing, and corporate compliance and governance. He has represented and assisted 9/11 victims in applying for compensation from the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund and assisted Chinese investors in multiple securities fraud and omission cases related to the EB-5 program. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Huang is a World Affairs Council Member and a member of the National Criminal Justice Honor Society. He received a B.S. in crime law and justice, with a minor in economics from the Pennsylvania State University, where he was awarded the Superior Academic Achievement from the College of the Liberal Arts. He earned his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and was a member of the Maynard Pirsig Moot Court.
Christopher Paolino has conducted the direct examination of fact witnesses in a misappropriation of trade secrets arbitration on behalf of a NYSE broker-dealer, conducted depositions of fact witnesses in a variety of cases, including breach of contracts, breach of fully disclosed clearing agreements, fraudulent inducements, and breach of partnerships. A summa cum laude graduate of the Fordham University College of Business Administration with a B.A. in business administration, he was awarded the Excellence in Finance Award and the Senior Leadership Award. He received an M.B.A. in finance from the Fordham University Graduate School of Business Administration with a concentration in finance and was awarded the Dean’s Scholarship. He received his J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law.
Ian Bain has clerked in both the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s General Office and the Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office before joining Anderson Kill. Bain graduated with honors from Trinity College with a B.A. in American studies and earned his J.D. from the Columbia Law School and was awarded the Columbia Law School Public Interest and Government Postgraduate Fellowship.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.