Lawson’s practice focuses on high-exposure, fast-moving commercial disputes with significant financial stakes and sophisticated counterparties.
Parachuting into volatile environments, Lawson routinely reverses defensive postures into commanding positions—turning $233K equity claw backs into $1.14M settlements (in 7 days); increasing severance packages by 289%, or slashing demands by 80%, pre-litigation.
Impossible is negotiable.
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Turned $233,000 equity clawback into a $1.14 million settlement within seven days during a $10 million merger.
Negotiated a $300,000 demand asserting multiple claims in a recruiting fee dispute to a lawsuit asserting a single claim for $60,000.
Resolved contract claim and retaliation suit for 13x the initial demand in landmark first impression case expanding executive liability under New York Freelance Isn’t Free Act.
Secured 228% increase in severance compensation for private equity associate increasing the company's initial $43,000 offer by $98,000 after unearthing company’s cross-border legal exposure under US/Italian law.
Obtained voluntary dismissal of a CIPA trap-and-trace lawsuit involving six-figure exposure and mandatory statutory attorney’s fees, without settlement or payment.
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.
Secured a $45,000 pre-suit settlement from Brooklyn Mirage within 12 days for former Director of Premium Sales in no-severance termination and commission dispute. Reframed $60,000 commission kept by the venue as unlawful wage theft under NYLL with $150,000 exposure.
Recovered $50,000—approximately 90% of a $55,551.76 contract claim—within eight days after the claim had remained unpaid for a year.
Resolved a 10-count California FEHA wrongful termination lawsuit with $30,000 client contribution against a $110,000 settlement demand, and co-defendant funding the balance.
FAQs
$1.37M Financial Swing
In September 2025, Lawson secured a $1.14M cash settlement from an AI start up attempting to clawback $233,000 from a founding engineer just before their $10M merger. In a 7-day blitz, Lawson took the company and its board to task, blocking the clawback, and enforcing the client’s equity stake to secure a $1.14M cash payment from the company.
228% Severance Increase
The next month, in October 2025, Lawson negotiated a 228% increase in severance compensation for a private equity associate at a major investment firm terminated for alleged “performance” reasons. Despite their General Counsel refusing to revise the initial $43,000 offer, the parties agreed to a final severance package of $141,000 plus 100% carry.
80% Demand Reduction
Recently, Lawson successfully shielded Irth Capital—an investment firm backed by Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulla Al-Thani of the Qatari royal family—against a $300,000 multi-claim demand from an executive recruiting agency. Facing a powerhouse litigation firm, and an overwhelmingly broad fee entitlement provision, Lawson narrowed the pre-litigation dispute to a single $60,000 claim, slashing the client's exposure by 80%. Irth Capital originally retained Lawson to navigate a federal subpoena issued by the U.S. Department of State Office of Inspector General (OIG) concerning a former U.S. Ambassador who had briefly consulted for the firm.
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Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
Lowenstein Sandler LLP
Olshan Frome & Wolosky LLP
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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, 2013,
Second Best Brief, 2013National Finalist, 2014
Best Brief, 2014St. 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