Deborah stands out for her attention to detail while maintaining focus on the big picture at trial.
Overview
Deborah's clients benefit from her robust experience with domestic and international arbitration and her extensive state, federal and bankruptcy court trial experience on behalf of clients in the financial, hospitality and gaming industries.
She used cutting-edge forensic analysis and recovered key digital evidence to obtain an eight-figure settlement on behalf of a client seeking a share of a Mega Millions lottery jackpot. She has litigated disputes involving complex credit facilities, cross-border transactions, troubled real estate loans, tax liabilities and election law.
Experience
Deborah has conducted arbitrations against "Big Four" accounting firms over tax shelter issues, recovering millions on behalf of wealthy individuals and the principals of a multibillion investment firm.
Her clients include Sanum Investments Limited, Lao Holdings NV, Bridge Capital, Vestin Group and Capital Seven LLC.
Her international arbitration prowess earned her client a $260 million award in a breach of contract action.
Deborah's most unique case saw the original print of the epic movie "Lawrence of Arabia" safely returned to its rightful owner in California after it turned up in a Westchester garage.
Her quick action in expedited litigation helped to keep gaming measures on the ballot in various locales.
She forced the IRS to concede more than 80% of a tax refund claim, netting a multimillion settlement.
In the construction area she has: obtained a summary decision defeating a contractor’s claim in arbitration for amounts claimed for unauthorized work injurious to the property; successfully sued to unwind toxic contractor-investor joint venture and in various matters (obviously wearing different hats!), recovered warranty damages, defeated warranty damages, prevented recovery for undocumented change orders, defeated lien claims, enforced lien claims, prevented foreclosure and recovered deficiencies from guarantors.
News & Insights
Speaking Engagements
Impact of COVID 19 on Litigation and Arbitration, ACC Virtual Seminar, Dallas, May 2020
"Rejection, always painful – a Lesson in §365(a) of the Bankruptcy Code," Breakfast in Chambers, CLE sponsored by the Bankruptcy Court given to young lawyers, July 2010
Publications
Co-author, “Pre-Bankruptcy Planning for the Commercial Reorganization,” Third Edition, ABI, 2020
Co-editor, Law Report, a quarterly publication summarizing the decisions of the New York Commercial Division, 2006 -2015
"Strategic Considerations in Dealing with Problem Loans," Sterling Education Services, 2008
"Security Interests: Practice and Procedure," Sterling Education Services, 2008
"Priming Loans, Pre and Post Confirmation," Norton Bankruptcy Law Advisor, 2005
"Sanctions to Preserve E-Evidence," article and seminar presented to New York Commercial Division Law Judges, May 2005
"When Does a Debtor Lose the Right to a Jury Trial on Lender Liability Claims," Norton Bankruptcy Law Advisor, 2003
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Mineralogical Association of Dallas, 2015-Present
NYSBA, Commercial Division Committee, 1986-Present
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- New York
- Texas
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the District of Washington, DC
Education
Brooklyn Law School, J.D., summa cum laude, 1984
Queen Mary University of London, LLM, with Distinction, 2022 (International Arbitration)