Steven A. Zalesin, Partner

Patterson Belknap has again been ranked as a leading law firm by Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC’s Benchmark Litigation. Recognized in the top category, “Highly Recommended,” for New York Litigation, the 2018 edition notes, “From its sole New York office, Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler has emerged as a firm whose work has spawned reverberations throughout the litigation market nationally; peers from California to DC offer recognition of its litigators and their accomplishments. Clients are not short on praise either – one in particular raves, ‘High-stakes litigation cries out for best-in-class counsel. You don’t want to bring a knife to a gun fight, and these guys are high caliber.’ Another confirms, ‘Patterson Belknap is first-class, national-caliber false advertising and class-action defense counsel.’…Yet another client champions the firm’s ‘full, strong command of the law at issue’ and ‘excellent brief writing.’”

Benchmark goes on to note that the firm’s litigators “have unique [experience] in RMBS litigation and are the most qualified plaintiff attorneys in this space.” Co-Chair of the firm, Peter Tomlinson, “is called ‘exceptional. He understands the details and nuances of… [RMBS] cases unlike anyone else in the field.’” Benchmark also recognizes litigation partner, Erik Haas, in this area.

Steven Zalesin, a litigation partner, is commended for his false advertising litigation work.

William Cavanaugh, a litigation partner and former Co-Chair of the firm, “is assessed by peers as ‘a major player in the antitrust area. I view him as one of the best antitrust lawyers to be found anywhere.’”

Litigation partner Robert LoBue “is cheered by clients, one of whom marvels, ‘Robert is so efficient and ethical it almost makes me suspicious! I'm not used to this! He just gets it done, and then wants to know if there’s anything else he can do to help.’”

Geoffrey Potter, a litigation partner and Chair of the firm’s Anti-Counterfeiting Practice team, is commended for his work in a “high-profile trademark dispute.”

The firm has been “highly recommended” by Benchmark Litigation in each of its editions since the inception of the Guide. Additionally, several of our partners are recognized as “Stars” throughout the guide, as listed below.

Benchmark Litigation identifies the leading U.S. trial attorneys and firms at the local and national levels. The rankings and editorials are the result of extensive interviews with private practice lawyers and in-house counsel. The guide’s “Stars” are named based on peer and client recognition as top trial attorneys.

Benchmark Litigation 2018

New York Rankings:
Litigation – Highly Recommended
Litigation Stars – Bill Cavanaugh, Greg Diskant, Erik Haas, Bob LoBue, Geoff Potter, Dan Ruzumna, Saul Shapiro, Peter Tomlinson, John Winter, Steve Younger and Steve Zalesin
Future Stars – Adeel Mangi, Irena Royzman

National Rankings:
Litigation Stars – Bill Cavanaugh and Greg Diskant
U.S. General Commercial – Tier 1