Litigation

Since its founding in 1986, Friedman Kaplan has built a reputation for excellence in complex, cutting-edge, and high-stakes litigation. Across all of our practice groups, we have a long track record of representing both plaintiffs and defendants with tenacity, creativity, and attention to detail, especially in matters of particular complexity and first impression.

Our experience on the leading edge of business and law ensures that we bring a sophisticated perspective to every matter we handle, and our attorneys excel in all aspects of dispute resolution, from providing pre-litigation advice to representing our clients in significant jury and non-jury trials and arbitrations. Furthermore, due to the focused nature of our practice, we are often available to assist clients in situations where other lawyers – because of conflicts or other business considerations – cannot.

Practice Areas

Corporate

"What distinguishes Friedman Kaplan attorneys from everyone else is that they understand the uniqueness and nuances of our problems and invest the time and energy to understand the particulars afresh and provide creative, informed, unique solutions, in many instances which have never been done before." - Chief Counsel, Corporate Department client

At Friedman Kaplan, we pride ourselves on the analytical, detail-oriented approach we take to helping our clients recognize and realize their goals. From the outset of every matter, each client receives attention from senior lawyers, who evaluate the matter and partner with the client to develop a strategy. We have found that this targeted, thoughtful approach leads to greater success not only in achieving the client’s goals, but also in avoiding inefficiencies and unnecessary expense. The dedication, focus, experience, and exceptional insight of our corporate attorneys give our clients an edge in negotiations and transactions.

Practice Areas

Pro Bono

At Friedman Kaplan, we have a longstanding and substantial commitment to pro bono work, and we bring the same strategic, insightful, and tenacious approach to this practice that we do to our other matters. We strongly encourage our attorneys to take on pro bono representations, and the nature of the work that they have chosen to do reflects the diversity of their interests and concerns. Among other matters, attorneys from Friedman Kaplan:

  • Alongside the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University Law Center and African Communities Together, obtained a major victory overturning the problematic “passport rule” that blocked those without valid passports from applying to the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, which affected millions of aspiring immigrants across the world, with the most dramatic impact on those from Africa.
  • Filed an amicus brief in the D.C. Circuit, in support of a Guantanamo detainee’s habeas corpus challenge to his ongoing detention, on behalf of an expert in due process and civil commitment standards.  

  • Represented a refugee from Côte d'Ivoire as a petitioner for political asylum in a successful appeal before the Second Circuit, convincing the court that the immigration judge had ignored key facts suggesting that our client, who had suffered multiple beatings on account of his participation in a political rally, had a well-founded fear of future persecution in his home country.
  • Represented several victims of Hurricane Sandy in insurance and contract disputes related to their efforts to rebuild their homes following the storm.
  • Represented the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence as amicus in opposition to challenge to New Jersey’s regulations banning large-capacity ammunition magazines.
  • Represent individuals in connection with matters of gender and sexual orientation discrimination, and also in their efforts to legally change their names to reflect their gender identities.
  • Represented an elderly man who was denied disability benefits in a successful social security appeal. 

  • Along with co-counsel at the Legal Aid Society, we represented a former national restaurant chain employee as plaintiff in an employment discrimination lawsuit alleging the employee was improperly fired from her job after missing work due to injuries suffered in a domestic violence incident.
  • Have represented several children dealing with disabilities and mental health issues in seeking proper care and resources.
  • Have represented survivors and families of victims of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in seeking awards from the Victim Compensation Fund.
  • Have volunteered with the Monday Night Legal Advisory Workshop of the New York City Bar Association and the Incarcerated Mothers Law Project of the Women's Prison Association.
  • Provide pro bono legal services to clients referred to the firm through inMotion, the Institute for Justice, Lambda Legal, the Fair Housing Justice Center, and Human Rights First.
  • Have represented a number of nonprofit organizations on a pro bono basis, including Freedom House, the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Synapse Productions, and the Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center.