Stephen J. Ginsberg

Stephen J. Ginsberg, Senior Litigation Partner and Chair of the firm’s Business Divorce Practice Group, concentrates his practice representing business owners in disputes with their co-owner(s) involving dissolution and wind-up of corporate affairs; control; compensation; asset theft, embezzlement; asset valuation and appraisals; accounting of ordinary and extraordinary transactions; and disclosure of information.  Mr. Ginsberg is also regularly called on by his clients to represent them in complex commercial litigation matters involving the RICO Act, breach of contract, fraud, trusts and estates, business torts, real estate, construction, employment, and the FLSA and NYLL. He also has extensive litigation, mediation, and arbitration experience at all stages of the legal process, including strategy development, emergency relief, and at trial.

Using both his business and legal acumen, Mr. Ginsberg regularly serves as litigation and outside general counsel to technology companies, plumbing and electrical supply and distribution companies, real estate companies, retail companies, financial institutions, accounting firms, law firms, restaurants, automobile dealerships, aesthetic equipment manufacturers and distributors, farms and produce growers, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations. In that capacity, he provides advice to his clients on legal matters relating to dispute resolution and litigation; the formation, structuring and governance of entities; negotiation and documentation of contracts; purchase, sale and leasing of real estate; intellectual property; employment law; and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Ginsberg also assists his clients with the planning and administration of their estates. His clients rely on his strategic thinking, litigation tactics, vast knowledge of the dispute resolution process, thoughtfulness, reliability, availability, empathy, and practical advice to obtain clearly-defined objectives and results.

Mr. Ginsberg currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Federal Procedure Committee of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association.  He has also been appointed by several judges as the receiver of assets in distressed situations, including the receiver of the Princeton Club.

Notable Representations

Represented the General Manager and 10% owner of one of the largest automobile dealerships in Staten Island in a AAA Arbitration in a dispute with the majority owners concerning buy-out and post-termination rights. After a six-day trial, the Arbitrator ruled in our client’s favor and issued a significant award.

Represented a 50% owner of one of the country’s largest on-line distributors of pajamas (and other clothing) in a dispute with the other 50% owner.  After more than two years of litigation, spawning multiple lawsuits, involving more than 15 depositions, the disputes between the two owners settled on the eve of trial on favorable terms for our client.

Represented a financial institution in Federal Court who was alleged to have violated the RICO Act, the Lanham Act, and committed fraud by participating in a scheme with other parties to manufacture and sell counterfeit goods.  Because of the seriousness of the allegations, our client moved swiftly to file a motion to dismiss under Federal Rule 12(b) which the Court expeditiously granted with prejudice.

Represented a 50% owner of a licensed home care services agency in a lawsuit with the other 50% owner, based upon allegations that our client breached his fiduciary duties and operating agreement. After our client defeated two motions for preliminary injunctive relief, obtained dismissal of 10 out of 11 claims, and filed a motion to hold our adversary in contempt, the lawsuit settled on favorable terms for our client.

Obtained a highly favorable settlement for our client, a brokerage firm, in a FINRA Arbitration initiated by a competing brokerage firm seeking millions of dollars in damages, based upon allegations that our client unlawfully raided claimant’s employees, interfered with contractual agreements between claimant and its employees, and misappropriated claimant’s trade secrets. After we filed a motion to dismiss with the FINRA Arbitration Panel, but before the FINRA Arbitration Panel could rule on it, claimant proposed a favorable settlement offer to our client, which our client accepted, resolving the parties’ dispute.

Successfully prevailed in a FINRA Arbitration, after a full day arbitration hearing, resulting in the expungement of two separate customer complaints against our client, a financial advisor at a major investment banking and brokerage firm.

Education

New York Law School, J.D. 2005 cum laude
Florida Atlantic University, M.B.A. 2001
The University of Michigan, B.A. 2000

Admissions

Mr. Ginsberg is admitted to practice in New York. He is also admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Affiliations

Mr. Ginsberg is an active member of the Nassau County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association, having lectured on topics and authored articles that include e-discovery, expert witness discovery, privilege logs, invocation of the 5^th Amendment privilege, remote depositions, the validity of mandatory arbitration provisions, and Federal Rule 19.

He is also involved in a variety of charitable organization in New York City and on Long Island involving Multiple Sclerosis. Mr. Ginsberg currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Multiple Sclerosis Society (Greater New York City-Long Island Chapter) and in the past served on the Board of Directors of the Tisch MS Research Center of New York.

Recognitions

2025-New York Super Lawyers®
2024-New York Super Lawyers®
2023-New York Super Lawyers®
2022-New York Super Lawyers®
2021-New York Super Lawyers®
2016-New York Super Lawyers®- Rising Star
2015-New York Super Lawyers®- Rising Star
2014-New York Super Lawyers®- Rising Star
2014-40/40 Rising Star Award Long Island Business News