Former U.S. Attorneys Form Civil Litigation Firm

NEW YORK (April 16, 2013) — Neil S. Binder and Wendy H. Schwartz, partners at Richards Kibbe & Orbe and Reed Smith, respectively, in New York, have founded the litigation firm Binder & Schwartz LLP. The firm focuses on representation of companies and individuals in complex business, capital markets and financial services litigation, and in regulatory and internal investigations.

The founding partners, who served together as Assistant United States Attorneys in the Southern District of New York until 2003 and practiced for many years at prominent national and international firms, have a combined 40 years of litigation experience, including jury and bench trials, mediations, arbitrations, and appeals. They also have substantial experience directing domestic and international investigations on behalf of institutional clients, and representing individuals and institutions in regulatory investigations.

“The legal and business worlds are evolving, and we identified a need for sophisticated legal services in a small-firm setting where clients work directly with the seasoned attorneys they retain,” said Mr. Binder. “Founding Binder & Schwartz allows us to provide the highest level of client service on complicated matters requiring a tailored, creative and strategic approach.”

“Neil and I offer decades of combined experience helping clients through some of the most challenging civil lawsuits and internal investigations in and out of the news,” said Ms. Schwartz. “At our new firm we will provide our clients the same counsel and support they are accustomed to receiving in a direct hands-on setting.”

Prior to founding Binder & Schwartz, Mr. Binder was a partner at Richards Kibbe & Orbe, where he specialized in complex financial litigation. Mr. Binder served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1999-2003, where he represented the United States in numerous matters and served as lead counsel for the United States in the Enron bankruptcy proceedings. Mr. Binder graduated from New York University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, in 1995.

Prior to founding Binder & Schwartz, Ms. Schwartz was a partner in Reed Smith’s New York office.  She served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1995-2003, ultimately as a Deputy and Acting Chief of the Civil Division, where she prosecuted the “yield burning” false claims act cases, which concluded in multi-agency settlements with 17 investment banks; tried NextWave v. FCC, a fraudulent conveyance case worth $4 billion; and represented the United States in the WorldCom bankruptcy proceedings. Ms. Schwartz earned her law degree at University of Pennsylvania School of Law, J.D.,cum laude, in 1990.

For more information about Binder & Schwartz LLP, please visit http://binderschwartz.com/.

About Binder & Schwartz LLP

Founded in New York in 2013, Binder & Schwartz LLP provides sophisticated legal services in a small-firm setting with direct hands-on involvement from seasoned attorneys. The litigation firm represents companies and individuals in complex business, capital markets and financial services litigation, and in domestic and international regulatory and internal investigations.