Ed O'Toole is partner-in-charge of the New York office. Mr. O'Toole has significant experience litigating disputes regarding complex transactions, including cross-border investigatory matters and disputes relating to asset-backed securities, corporate governance and sales and distribution agreements. He recently represented monoline insurers involved in disputes with a unit of a large money-center bank concerning representations and warranties that were made in connection with the issuance of RMBS. He also represented New York Law School in a putative class action brought by former law students who claim to have been misled about their post-graduate employment options. Additionally, Mr. O'Toole successfully tried a case for institutional investors in a securities-related action against a RMBS issuer and successfully represented a securities clearing firm in an interpleader action brought by a corporate trustee in a securities transaction.

Mr. O'Toole represented a hedge fund in litigation concerning the rights and obligations of a departing member; a private equity firm in connection with claims relating to breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty; a domestic coal company; an international chemical manufacturer; a consumer products conglomerate; an architectural firm and a French cosmetics distributor in separate complex breach of contract matters; two departing corporate officers in a derivative action brought against the officers and the Board of Directors and a Delaware corporation in a shareholder rights dispute. With more than 20 years of litigation experience, he has developed a common sense understanding of the practical issues faced by companies involved in lawsuits in U.S. courts and cross-border disputes.

Mr. O’Toole also has handled numerous employment matters for institutions defending state and federal claims involving age, national origin, disability and gender discrimination, as well as claims of harassment and retaliation. He also has represented both individuals and companies in disputes over non-competition agreements and allegations of unfair competition, in both court and arbitration proceedings.

Activities
Mr. O'Toole is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, where he serves as the firm’s pro bono liaison to the City Bar’s Refugee Assistance Project and oversees the representation of asylum applicants. He was a member of the Immigration and Naturalization Law Committee from 2010 through 2011, and also served as a member of the Bar's Committee on Federal Legislation from 1997 to 2000.