A partner in the Litigation Department, Yahonnes Cleary represents clients in complex commercial litigation in state and federal court, including product liability litigation, securities litigation, consumer class actions, and contractual disputes. He has substantial trial experience, including representing financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and other corporate and individual clients in high-stakes trials in federal and state court.
Yahonnes also has represented financial institutions and other companies and organizations in connection with sensitive internal and regulatory investigations.
Yahonnes maintains an active pro bono practice, particularly on matters concerning criminal and racial justice. He recently filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 190 state and local government officials in support of the challenge to the proposed citizenship question in the 2020 Census. He also has worked on matters with the Sentencing Project, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, the American Bar Association, the Bronx Defenders, and Clemency Project 2014.
Yahonnes is an alumnus and member of the board of trustees of Prep for Prep, a leadership development program for minority students in New York City, and a member of the Yale Law School Fund Board.
Yahonnes was named to the “40 & Under Hot List – Northeast” and recognized as a “Future Star” in the 2019 edition of Benchmark Litigation.
Last updated July 2020
