Fried Frank, particularly through its New York office, has established itself in a number of litigation disciplines, including white-collar and securities enforcement and real-estate matters, the latter practice being an area in which the firm is considered one of Manhattan’s premier players. “Real estate has always been big for them, but they have been building out other areas as well,” assesses a peer. One area in which the firm has always been noted (and has successfully demonstrated a generational succession plan) is in the white-collar area. “They have been strong there since the days of [since-retired partner] Audrey Strauss, but now they have
Stephen Juris, who is great.” Juris, a celebrated star in this practice since his days with famed white-collar boutique Morvillo Abramowitz, continues to generate accolades from clients as well. “Stephen is a one-of-a-kind New York lawyer. He's the total package,” testifies one client. “From Day One with a client, he can spot any potential pitfalls, as well as the path to a successful resolution. He is careful, thoughtful, open and respected by his peers. He is a true joy to work with on matters.”
Ilan Graff also has quickly amassed fans among peers and clients. “He is a fantastic communicator, brilliant lawyer, extremely thoughtful about and sensitive to the cascading variety of non-legal problems that can flow from investigations and prosecutions,” extols one client. Graff secured a sentence of probation for FTX co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Gary Wang. Graff has helped Wang navigate overlapping DoJ, SEC, CFTC, bankruptcy, and civil proceedings. Wang proved a cooperative in all proceedings. “Gary Wang was the ‘good guy’ in that whole FTX shitshow,” quips one peer, who goes on to stress, “but that doesn’t necessarily make Ilan’s job any easier. He was very impressive [with this representation.]”
Scott Luftglass, cheered by a client for his “excellent judgment and communication skills,” represents alternative-investment Apollo Global Management and several members of Apollo’s Board of Directors in a shareholder- derivative action in the Delaware Court of Chancery filed by an Apollo stockholder. The plaintiff alleges that Apollo’s founders and several members of its board of directors breached their fiduciary duties and committed corporate waste by causing Apollo to make $570 million in payments to Apollo’s founders and controlling stockholders in connection with Apollo’s restructuring. Through this restructuring, the founders and controlling stockholders gave up voting control over Apollo. Matthew Parrott, touted by a client as “highly experienced and practical,” is a noted leader in the firm’s celebrated real-estate practice. Parrott represents an affiliate of Yellowstone Real Estate Investments in connection with a mortgage foreclosure of the former Maxwell Hotel at 541 Lexington Avenue in New York City. Yellowstone acquired the $170 million in mortgage loans in March 2022 when the loans were already in maturity default and commenced a mortgage foreclosure action in September 2022. The borrower asserted various counterclaims against Yellowstone seeking to delay the foreclosure and secured an injunction in Delaware temporarily prohibiting Yellowstone from exercising its right to sever the loans to create a UCC pledge.
