Lawson represents institutional clients and growth-stage companies in high-stakes commercial disputes and regulatory inquiries.
Lawson advises founders, executives, and growth-stage companies in high-stakes commercial disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, fraud, executive compensation, equity clawbacks, among other conflicts arising from complex business relationships.
Lawson brings a systems-based approach to disputes, looking beyond surface-level friction to the surrounding interests, incentives, constraints, and stakeholders that shape each party’s decision-making environment. That broader lens has produced a track record of exceptional outcomes achieved with unusual consistency.
Negotiating a 228% increase in severance compensation (from a $43,000 offer to $141,000)
Turning a threatened equity clawback into a $1.14M payout from the other side (adding +$907,000 net value) in 7 days
Negotiating a 90% reduction of a $49,000 demand in an ABC assignee matter
Converting a no-severance termination into a $45,000 payment from famed venue the Brooklyn Mirage in 12 days
Obtaining voluntary dismissal of a CIPA class action without payment or settlement
A graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, Lawson was the Managing Director of the Moot Court Honor Society. From 2013-2014, Lawson had a record-setting run in the Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition earning national recognition in back-to-back years as both an advocate and brief writer. In 2013, he won the Northeast Regional Championship and advanced to the national quarterfinals, where he won Second Best Brief in the country, and Second Best Oralist nationally. In 2014, after repeating another Northeast Regional Championship, he returned to nationals and advanced to the national final round, securing the national Best Brief award, and cementing one of the strongest consecutive competition performances in the program’s history.
After law school, Lawson joined Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, and later Lowenstein Sandler LLP, and Olshan Frome Wolosky, where he represented multinational corporations and hedge funds in complex commercial litigation, securities litigation, and shareholder activism campaigns. In 2017, Lawson clerked for New York Supreme Court Judge Andrea Masley in the Commercial Division in New York County.
-
Prevented $233K equity clawback and secured a $1.14M settlement (+$907,000 net value) during a $10M merger in 7 days.
Negotiated a 228% increase in severance (from $43K to $141K) while navigating cross-border Italian and U.S. labor law.
Secured favorable settlement terms for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in a confidential FLSA and NYLL employment mediation.
Converted a no-severance termination into a $45,000 payment for a former Director at Brooklyn Mirage within 12 days.
Settled a 10-count California FEHA lawsuit, capping client exposure at 30% with a 70% contribution from the co-defendant.
Secured voluntary dismissal of CIPA class action by challenging plaintiff firm’s demand and declining settlement offers while maintaining defensive footing. Voluntarily discontinued without payment or settlement preventing potential nine-figure exposure.
-
Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Olshan Frome & Wolosky LLP
-
Law Clerk, Hon. Andrea Masley, J.S.C.
New York State Supreme Court, Commercial Division (2017) -
St. John’s University School of Law (J.D., 2016)
Managing Director,
Moot Court Honor SocietyJournal of Civil Rights and Economic Development
Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition
National Quarterfinalist,
Second Best Brief, 2013National Finalist,
Best Brief, 2014St. John’s University (B.S., 2010)
Government/Politics
-
State of New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York