Olshan Law: Attorney Profiles: Mason A. Barney

MASON A. BARNEY
Associate / New York

Mason Barney is an experienced commercial litigator who has represented both corporations and individuals as first or second chair in several federal trials, before the state appellate division and in multiple arbitrations and mediations. Mr. Barney also has experience in conducting internal investigations for international companies. He focuses his practice on representing financial institutions, media and software companies. Mr. Barney is an active participant in pro bono work in the areas of special education and prisoner rights.

Prior to joining Olshan, Mr. Barney was an associate in the Litigation Department at Latham & Watkins LLP and a law clerk to the Honorable David G. Trager in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Before attending law school, Mr. Barney served as lead database developer at a successful internet start-up in Washington D.C. and obtained an undergraduate degree in Computer Science.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
• Argued and won reversal of state court ruling, thereby securing the validity of a sublease on apparent authority grounds even though the Operating Agreement of the entity that owned the building prohibited the sublease in question.

• Served as first chair in four-day federal jury trial representing a prisoner in asserting his constitutional right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

• Served as second chair in a 13-day bankruptcy trial representing a Japanese animation company attempting to terminate a licensing agreement with a bankrupt American licensee.

• Represented international software manufacturer in U.S. Attorney and SEC investigations.

• Represented one of the world's largest advertising holding companies in complex corporate governance actions and contract disputes.

• Represented Big Four accounting firm in several professional malpractice mediations and arbitrations related to its promotion of tax advantaged transactions.

• Represented major French bank in a FINRA arbitration concerning breaches of contract and fiduciary duty.

BAR ADMISSIONS
2006, New York
2008, U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York
2008, U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of New York