Litigation Practice Group Co-Chair Brian Katz is a seasoned advocate who resolves business problems through enforcement of legal rights in a variety of settings, including state and federal courts, ADR proceedings and direct party negotiations nationwide.
Brian maintains a broad-based commercial litigation practice. Among other areas of expertise, Brian has extensive experience in financial markets disputes. He regularly represents financial institutions in litigation and advisory matters involving a variety of instruments and transactions, including high-profile clients facing securities actions in both federal and state courts. He also represents private investment funds, and other financial institutions, real estate developers, and commercial borrowers in litigation and advisory matters involving commercial and residential real estate transactions and projects, foreclosure proceedings, workouts and restructuring.
In addition, Brian maintains a comprehensive general commercial litigation practice, representing a diverse client base across a variety of industries and in a wide array of matters, including breach of fiduciary duty, unfair competition, and other business torts, breach of contract, licensing, trademark infringement, false claims act, employment actions, and other disputes growing out of business relationships and transactions.
Applying a keen focus on practical tactics to achieve favorable results, Brian is equally comfortable in the court room, alternative dispute resolution proceedings, or at the negotiating table. He also maintains an active counseling practice geared towards assisting clients in minimizing and addressing litigation risk at all stages of the business and dispute resolution cycle.
Prior to joining Olshan, Brian was in the litigation practice at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP.
- Representing industry-leading media company in connection with several multi-million dollar breach of contract disputes involving outdoor advertising industry in federal and state courts across the country.
- Representing industry-leading media company in anti-trust action involving outdoor advertising industry in federal court.
- Representing multiple commercial borrowers in commercial foreclosure and other disputes, with an aggregate exposure of billions of dollars, concerning various real estate projects, including luxury residential and commercial developments, as well as workouts involving CMBS and other financing structures in New York and other jurisdictions.
- Representing restauranteur and celebrity chef in partnership dispute over closely held business in state and federal court.
- Represent multiple law firms and partners in various partnership disputes, involving termination, valuation and related issues in court, arbitration and ADR proceedings.
- Representing executive in employment and defamation litigation in state court against former employer and principals.
- Successfully represent minority investors in shareholder activism campaign and subsequent litigation with medical manufacturing company in federal court.
- Successfully represent majority owners in leading furniture and design company in breach of fiduciary duty and related business combination litigation in Delaware Chancery Court.
- Successfully represent major international investment bank in breach of contract litigation with leading mortgage loan servicer in Delaware Chancery Court.
- Successfully represent major international investment bank in Maryland State Court regarding CMBS and related loan program through trial and appeal.
- Successfully represent micro-cap investor in securities litigation in federal court regarding warrants and PIPE agreements.
- Successfully represent multiple commercial borrowers in litigation in state and federal court concerning loan agreements, and attending workout and restructuring efforts.
- Successfully represent sponsor of luxury condominium project in lower Manhattan in litigation adverse to minority partner in state court, resulting in final judgment in client’s favor.
- Successfully represent, including obtaining summary judgment, owner and founder of construction company in litigation adverse to minority partners in state court related to business control.
- Successfully represent international pharmaceutical company in anti-trust litigation in federal court concerning manufacturing and distribution of prescription drugs.
- Successfully represent international apparel brand in trademark litigation in federal court.
- Successfully represent multiple executives, including technology sales and other executive leadership across various industries, in separation from company and attending litigation in state and federal court and in arbitration.
News
Speaking Engagements
Publications
Honors & Recognitions
- Named to the New York Metro Super Lawyers list, 2023
- Consistently named a "Rising Star" by New York Metro Super Lawyers since 2011
Blog Posts
Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Securities Litigation & Enforcement
- Real Estate Litigation
- Construction Law
- Appellate Practice
- Arbitration
- Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring
- Business Tort Litigation
- Contract Litigation
- Corporate Governance & Directors & Officers Litigation
- Cross-Border
- Loan Restructuring & Distressed Real Estate
Education
J.D., magna cum laude, Boston University School of Law, 2006
- Winner, Boston University School of Law’s Homer Albers Prize Moot Court Competition
- Selected Best Oralist in Albers’ final argument by panel of federal appellate judges
B.A., magna cum laude, Tulane University, 2001
- Tulane University Honors Program
- Tulane University Dean’s List
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- US District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York
