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Welcome to marc gottlieb law
I
have been practicing law in the States of New York and New Jersey
for the past 23 years. During most o f
my career, I have been a trial lawyer, although as with most
attorneys, I handle many non-litigation matters, including acting as
advisor to numerous boards of directors and public and private
companies throughout the country. My practice is rather unique
insofar as it has evolved into two primary areas of law which are
quite different yet surprisingly, overlap at times; securities
regulation and family law practice.
Corporate & Securities Regulation and Litigation
During my
law school studies, I had a great curiosity about Wall Street,
especially hostile takeovers and focused much of my legal education
on securities law and securities regulation. My fascination of this
area of law compelled me to write my first novel, Pride, a
tongue and cheek look at hostile takeovers. During the tech bubble
of the 90’s, while a partner in a small, boutique Manhattan law
firm, and already a seasoned trial lawyer, I had the opportunity to
represent a small broker-dealer. My handling of this one regulatory
matter led to an explosive growth of securities cases which
continues to this day. Since then, I have handled nearly every
conceivable type of securities related matter that exists. I have
acted as litigation counsel to dozens of broker-dealers and hundreds
of individual brokers and compliance personnel. I appear regularly
before the SEC and FINRA, the two entities with primary
responsibility for regulating the securities industry. On occasion
I have also represented legitimately aggrieved private investors who
have been victimized by the occasional unscrupulous broker, and more
than one "too big to fail" Wall Street bank. Over the past 17 years,
I have handled hundreds of FINRA arbitrations throughout the U.S.
trying many of these matters to verdict, sometimes on behalf of the
Claimant, many on behalf of the Responding party, usually a broker
or brokerage firm. Having worn both the plaintiff and defense hats,
I have developed a unique view of securities related matters and I
am comfortable on either side of the courtroom.
My practice has also led me into the board room of many privately
held and publicly trading companies. I have been retained to handle
a wide range of corporate litigation matters involving disputes over
intellectual property, shareholder (derivative) suits, contracts,
labor related issues, throughout the U.S. including acting as lead
counsel to a large, publicly trading defense contractor in a matter
venued in Orange County, California.
I have also represented, and continue to represent a number of
individuals indicted by the U.S. government on securities related
criminal charges taking cases from arrest and arraignment through
the sentencing phases of federal criminal procedure.
Family Law
Interestingly enough, very early in my career, well before I entered
the world of financial regulation, I had the occasion to represent a
wealthy client in a very complex and well-publicized matrimonial
matter in New York County. Ultimately, this case went to trial (the
trial itself lasted more than 70 days). This one case presented an
incredible array of complex Domestic Relations Law issues, including
parental kidnapping, relocation, equitable distribution, alleged
child abuse, custody, visitation, etc. There was even a five week
trial on grounds, then a necessary element in obtaining a judgment
of divorce. This one case found its way into the courts of three
states, including New York’s highest court and eventually, it even
made its way into the Federal Court system. Ultimately I prevailed
on nearly every substantive issue and by the time I concluded my
five year representation, I had grown into a seasoned matrimonial
lawyer. This led to a rapid growth in my matrimonial and family law
practice. Since that time, I have handled a great number of
matrimonial matters, many of them quite complex. My knowledge of
securities and corporate litigation has paid huge dividends for many
of my matrimonial clients. Having a keen knowledge of corporate
finance, knowing where assets may be hidden, how to read a financial
statement, etc., have all proven invaluable resources to me in this
area of law.
Philosophy
I was
fortunate enough to attend Brooklyn Law School (1986-1989) where
instilled in all of its students was a sense of service to the
community and to the law. Of course to excel in the practice of
law, wherever that practice led us, but more importantly, to never
forget the aggrieved, the underprivileged, or those that sought
nothing more than simple justice. Yes, we were trained to make a
good living, but we were also taught to stretch ourselves; to put
our training and our licenses to the continued evolution of the
law. Where an injustice had been done, it was our moral duty to
right it, even if it meant little or in many cases no recompense.
Correcting a wrong was its own reward. I took that philosophy very
much to heart as, I'm proud to say, did so many of my fellow
alumni. Over the years, I have taken on causes and cases on behalf
of people and companies that could not afford any lawyer, let alone
a highly skilled trial lawyer. Often, money should not be the aim
of a good lawyer. I have sought to change the law where I saw a
change was necessary. In one particular instance, I represented an
individual in the state of Virginia who had been substantially
harmed by the malfeasance of his professional healthcare provider.
Through a procedural technicality, the lower Virginia Court
dismissed my client's case before it ever got off the ground; an
injustice if there ever was one, especially since the underlying
facts were never in dispute. Even though I found myself in a
foreign court, I refused to give up. I successfully petitioned the
Virginia Supreme Court to hear this case of first impression, argued
the case before the full court, and obtained a 7-0 reversal making
law in the Commonwealth and reinstating my client's lawsuit (it
settled shortly thereafter and my client received his just
compensation). I sought justice - justice was done. More recently
I successfully appealed an adverse FINRA ruling to the SEC forcing
FINRA to follow proper protocol in certain matters. Before this
case, FINRA denied having this obligation which may have resulted in
countless professionals, including my client, to be denied the
right to work in the financial services industry. As a result of
this one case, FINRA was forced to forever adopt new procedures so
as to come into compliance with the law; and oh yeah... my client
got his license to become a broker.. I have been taught to handle
every case in this way - to do what lawyers are ethically bound to
do; zealously represent our clients with honesty and integrity. I'm
proud to say this is my philosophy; this best describes my practice. |
