Disputes are inevitable.
Losing is not.

Overview

Lawson represents clients in complex legal disputes with significant stakes and sophisticated counterparties.

Distinguished by a track record of unprecedented outcomes—converting a $233K equity clawback into a $1.14M settlement in 96 hours; engineering a 228% severance increase; mitigating a $300K demand by 80% pre-litigation,—Lawson regularly redefines impossible.

Drawing on his experience as a former law clerk to the Honorable Andrea Masley in New York’s specialized business court—the Commercial Division—Lawson translates behind-the-bench insight into commanding credibility at the negotiating table.

We problem solve—for sport.

  • 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 Society

    Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development

    Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition

    National Quarterfinalist, 2013,
    Second Best Brief, 2013

    National Finalist, 2014
    Best Brief, 2014

    St. John’s University
    (B.S., 2010)

  • 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

    • Turned a $233,000 equity clawback into a $1.14 million settlement within 96 hours during $10 million merger involving publicly traded AdTech company.

    • Negotiated 228% increase in severance compensation for a private equity client despite “performance” termination, raising the initial offer from $43,000 to $141,000 after surfacing cross-border legal exposure under U.S. and Italian law.

    • Successful pre-suit defense of Irth Capital against $300,000 recruiting fee demand, by blocking potential $120,000 account stated claim and narrowing dispute to filed contract claim for $60,000.

    • Engineered a $45,000 pre-suit settlement with Brooklyn Mirage within 12 days for former Director of Premium Sales, following 0-severance termination and $60,000 in withheld commissions due to undocumented compensation arrangement.

    • Secured confidential settlement in contract and retaliation suit for 13 times the initial demand in a landmark case of first impression expanding executive liability under New York’s Freelance Isn’t Free Act.

    • Secured favorable settlement terms for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen in a confidential employment mediation involving claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York Labor Law.

September 2025

Lawson prevented an AI startup’s attempt to claw back $233,000 from a founding engineer just before a $10 million merger. The company dangled equity promises to secure a year of unpaid labor, then refused to honor the equity right before its merger. Taking on the board and outside counsel, Lawson defeated the clawback and leveraged the company’s malfeasance into a $1.14 million payment to the client —in 96 hours.

May 2026

On behalf of Irth Capital, Lawson successfully blocked a potential 120,000 account stated claim, and narrowed a $300K demand down to a filed claim for $60K—an 80% reduction.


December 2025

Lawson negotiated with the General Counsel of a $7B private equity boutique on behalf of a mid-level associate terminated for alleged “performance” reasons despite no documented record of performance issues and a 5 year streak of bonus payments. Lawson took the company’s $43,000 severance offer and negotiated a 228% increase—4.3x the industry average—resulting in a final amount of $141,000 plus 100% carry.

September 2026

Lawson secured a landmark decision of first impression in Yean v. Tulip Health. In a groundbreaking ruling, a NY trial court allowed claims to proceed directly against a CEO as a potential “hiring party” under the NYC Freelance Isn’t Free Act—creating personal liability beyond the corporate veil.