Brett D. Katz is an experienced litigator and represents U.S. and international clients in state and federal courts and before arbitral tribunals. He combines an aggressive litigation style with practical strategies, personal investment in the people and clients he represents, and pride in his work product. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation, where he has represented corporate clients from the investment management, fashion, arts and entertainment, sports, and technology fields, as well as high net-worth individuals. Mr. Katz also has considerable experience advising clients about and conducting foreclosures pursuant to Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code.
In addition, Mr. Katz oversees the firm’s New York e-discovery team and frequently assists clients through the process of gathering, reviewing, and producing ESI, whether in response to third-party subpoenas, or in connection with party discovery in litigation. In all cases, he leverages the firm’s internal litigation support team and platform to keep ESI costs as low as possible, while ensuring that data is properly preserved, reviewed, and produced in accordance with evolving e-discovery standards.
Before joining Ellis George Cipollone Ross O’Brien Annaguey LLP, Mr. Katz served as a law clerk to the Honorable Cathy L. Waldor, United States Magistrate Judge in the District of New Jersey, and to the Honorable Robert P. Contillo, Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division-General Equity in the Superior Court of New Jersey. In addition, Mr. Katz was in private practice with a large regional law firm in Newark, NJ, and was then a law clerk for the National Football League Management Council, during which he wrote briefs on behalf of NFL member-clubs in connection with injury grievance arbitrations.
Before entering law school at Fordham, Mr. Katz worked as a production assistant for various sports media outlets. Mr. Katz currently resides in New Jersey, has served on his community association boards for the last several years, and is an active member of Temple Sinai in Tenafly, NJ.
Representative Experience
- Represented television network in connection with a series of claims by and against the network against a former host brought in arbitration, and in connection with petitions and appeals in New York state court to vacate and/or confirm the arbitrator’s awards.
- Represented lender in connection with a foreclosure of a $30 million dollar mezzanine loan pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code secured by the equity interests of a portfolio of limited liability companies holding approximately 25 commercial properties spread across 10 states.
- Represented lender in connection with a foreclosure of a $35 million dollar mezzanine loan pursuant to the Uniform Commercial Code secured by the equity interests of a series of limited liability companies that hold and manage a boutique hotel located in SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan.
Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of a peer-to-peer lending group, which had been sued for its role in introducing a potential lender to sources of capital that would be used to purchase and renovate a townhouse on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. - Part of team that obtained favorable settlement on behalf of client which specializes in renewable energy projects that was involved in lawsuits with an investor concerning claims by and against client relating to breach of contract, fraud, and which involved allegations of alter ego liability.
- Defended a foreign client in connection with allegations of United States securities fraud relating to his solicitation of third party investors to invest capital into a planned hospitality and restaurant venture.
Education
- Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 2010
- University of Pittsburgh, 2007, B.A., magna cum laude
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
