Insights

We recently secured a major legal victory in Yean v. Tulip Health Inc. (Index No. 651710/2026, Sup. Ct. N.Y. Cnty.) where Justice Gerald Lebovits held that a corporate executive can be held individually liable as a "hiring party" under New York's Freelance Isn't Free Act (FIFA).

Our early intervention on behalf of client Irth Capital forced the plaintiff to reconsider their $300K demand ultimately suing for $60K—$240K less.

When a top-tier private equity firm terminated a mid-level associate under the guise of "performance" issues and offered a lowball opening severance of $43,000, Lawson intervened. Dismantling the firm's pretextual narrative and identifying cross-border legal exposure unforeseen by the firm, Lawson negotiated a 228% increase (+$98K), securing a $141,000 total severance package.

Prevented $233K equity clawback and secured a $1.14M settlement (+1.37M swing) during a $10M merger.

Obtaining voluntary dismissal of CIPA trap-and-trace lawsuit with six-figure exposure plus mandatory statutory attorney's fees—without settlement or payment.

Negotiated settlement of stale two-year loan dispute involving high-risk Florida defendant facing multiple creditor suits for 125% of principal — secured with a 250% default penalty, release conditioned solely on defendant's satisfaction of full settlement amount. Resolved in 35 days.

Avant Gardner tried to withhold a former Director of Premium Sales’ earned commissions after terminating him without cause. We intervened and resolved the matter for $45,000 in two weeks.

An in-depth review of certain severance terms relative to its negotiation value.

Your employer handed you a non-compete. Before you let it dictate your next move, find out what it actually restricts, whether New York law supports it, and what can be negotiated.

Represented a homeowner in a six-figure dispute against a custom staircase contractor that retained a $22,500 deposit and delayed the renovation. Identified overlooked statutory protections and secured leave, over opposition, to add claims carrying attorney’s-fee exposure.

Represented Q Management Properties LLC in litigation arising from its $1.825 million purchase of a distressed Water Mill property.

Defeated commercial landlord’s motion for summary judgment and pendente lite rent relief on behalf of Applebee’s by asserting counterclaims based on landlord interference with outdoor dining operations during COVID-related restrictions which prevented Applebees from revenue generation for payment of arrears.