Joshua Sohn
Partner, Dispute Resolution

Joshua’s practice spans a wide range of commercial and regulatory matters, with particular specialty in complex disputes involving real estate, real estate finance, construction and securities matters.

During his 20-year career, Josh has tried cases and argued appeals in New York state courts and U.S. federal courts. He has also arbitrated before regulatory bodies and private tribunals and has negotiated resolutions of disputes before, during, and after litigation.

In real estate, Josh has litigated disputes arising as a result of violation of covenants, disputes between JV partners, and outright defaults or accelerations. As a securities litigator, Josh has significant experience handling a wide range of securities cases, including SEC enforcement actions and investigations, federal securities class actions, directors’ and officers’ liability cases.

Josh was Head of the Complex Civil Litigation and White Collar Defense Group at his previous firm.

Joshua’s experience includes:

Real estate/real estate finance litigation

• Represented developer in litigation over entitlement to deposit from aborted deal to purchase Washington, D.C. office building for US$122m.
• Represented public agency in breach-of-contract arbitration brought pursuant to private development agreement concerning compliance with construction conditions
• Represented public agency in US$3.5bn arbitration brought by private developer arising out of alleged breach of development agreement.
• Represented Hong Kong-based developer in dispute with finder claiming entitlement to finder’s fee pursuant to an oral agreement.
• Represented a European bank in connection with a deficiency claim against Lehman Brothers arising out of a default under US$1.35bn repurchase agreement and the litigation management of the resulting portfolio of more than 70 mortgages around the United States.
• Represented joint venture partner/property manager in dispute with other joint venture partner in connection with purported exercise of ROFO sale option for nine-property portfolio.
• Represented turbine manufacturer in construction arbitration brought by project owner alleging delays
• Represented electric power company regarding eminent domain issues in connection with application to install power lines in New York State

Fiduciary duty/officers & directors litigation

• Represented former officer and director of public company in multiple securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty class actions in the Southern District of New York.
• Represented former officers and directors of private company in breach of fiduciary duty action brought by the company’s trustee in bankruptcy in the Southern District of New York. The trustee sought more than US$50m in damages from the defendants. Following a three-week bench trial, successfully obtained a reversal by the Second Circuit of the court’s finding of liability and an order remanding the case for a new trial to be held before a jury.
• Represented two former directors of public company in defamation case
• Represented former directors of public company in 10b-5 action alleging securities fraud in connection with securing financing for the company.
• Represented former directors of public company in fraud and tortious interference action brought by hedge fund

Investor representation

• Represented hostile tender offeror in action simultaneously in both the Southern District of New York and New York State Court in connection with tender offer to acquire debt securities of insurance company.
• Represented investor in federal court action brought by public company to prevent his candidacy for the company’s board of directors at its annual meeting.
• Represented investor in private company in New York State Court action alleging breach of fiduciary duty in connection with a series of transactions effected by the controlling shareholder through which corporate assets were transferred away from the corporation without receiving fair compensation.

Securities Litigation and Securities Enforcement Experience

• Represented former-CFO of public company in formal SEC investigation by SEC’s Northeast regional office into certain financial reporting issues. After making a Wells submission on behalf of the CFO, no enforcement action was taken.
• Represented broker in insider trading investigation by the SEC’s Boston office in investigation into his trading in publicly traded securities. After making a Wells submission on behalf of the broker, no disciplinary action was taken.
• Represented two brokers in insider trading investigation by the NYSE into their trading in publicly traded securities. No disciplinary action was taken.
• Represented investor in insider trading investigation by the SEC’s New York office into his trading in publicly traded securities. No disciplinary action was taken.
• Representing an investment adviser in insider trading investigation by the SEC’s Washington, D.C. office. No disciplinary action was taken.
• Obtained favorable settlement for the underwriters in section 11 & 12 securities class action in SDNY.
• Obtained dismissal of two amended class-action complaints in SDNY alleging securities fraud arising out of sales of Auction Rate Securities and successfully opposed a motion to consolidate action with 31 ARS cases nationwide.
• Represented securities trader in SEC enforcement action in the SDNY that alleged market manipulation, which was settled on favorable terms.

• 1998: New York Bar admission
• 1997: J.D. Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York. Managing editor, Cardozo Law Review. Samuel Belkin Award for outstanding contribution to the law school
• 1994: B.A., History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Publications

• Co-author, “How the Offshore Wind Energy Industry Can Overcome the Jones Act“, POWER Mag, March 1, 2018.
• “Employers Should Not Thwart Whistleblower Awards“, New York Law Journal, October 14, 2016.
• Featured in June 3, 2005 New York Law Journal, “Conversation with Joshua Sohn”
• Co-author, “Eminent Domain: Mitigating the Risks for Lenders,” New York Law Journal (September 17, 2014)
• Co-author, “Recent Developments in the Law Affecting Corporate Counsel,” Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, Annual Survey 2014 (49:1)
• Co-author, “Leasehold Mortgagees May Have Faster Route to Collateral,” New York Law Journal (March 19, 2014)
• Co-author, “Punishing ‘Bad Behavior’: When Non-Recourse Becomes Full Recourse,” New York Law Journal (November 20, 2013)
• Co-author, “Clearing the Confusion: Misplaced Notes and Allonges,” New York Law Journal (September 18, 2013)
• Co-author, “Monitoring Joint Venture Agreements to Prevent Disputes,” New York Law Journal (July 17, 2013)
• Co-author, “Admission of Insolvency May Trigger Recourse Liability,” New York Law Journal (May 15, 2013)
• Co-author, “Recent Developments Affecting Corporate Counsel,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Law Journal, Fall 2012 (48:1)
• Co-author, “Pleading Unjust Enrichment Just Got More Difficult,” New York Law Journal (March 20, 2013)
• Co-author, “Not So Fast: Equitable Arguments Slow Foreclosures,” New York Law Journal (January 16, 2013)
• Co-author, “Shape Up or Receivership Out,” New York Law Journal (November 21, 2012)
• Co-author, “Lenders: Beware of Restrictions on Your Right to Assign Your Loan,” New York Law Journal (August 2012)
• Co-author, “Using the Courts to Resolve Inter-Lender Disputes in Tiered Loan Transactions,” New York Law Journal (March 2012)
• Co-author, “SEC Enforcement Legal Considerations” Chapter 9 in Securities Regulation Series: Federal Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (A.A. Sommer, ed., Matthew Bender, 2013)
• Co-author, op-ed “Even youths who offend deserve chance to grow up, “Chicago Sun Times, April 12, 2012
• Co-author, “Worth the Paper They’re Written on? Completion Guaranties Tough to Enforce,” BNA Real Estate Law and Industry (April 19, 2011)
• Co-author, “Recent Developments Affecting Corporate Counsel,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Law Journal, Fall 2011 (47:1)
• Co-author, “Recent Developments Affecting Corporate Counsel,” Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Law Journal, Winter 2011 (46:2)
• Co-author, “Recent Developments Affecting Corporate Counsel,” Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, Winter 2010 (45:2)
• Co-author, “Recent Developments in the Law Affecting Corporate Counsel,” Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, Winter 2009 (44:2)
• “Liable Until Proven Innocent: The Illogic of the Current Pleading Standard for Securities Act §§11 and 12 Claims,” New York Law Journal (August 2008)
• Co-author, “When Is Insider Trading Subject To Criminal Prosecution?,” New York Law Journal (July 2008)
• “Recent Developments in the Law Affecting Corporate Counsel,” ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal (Winter 2007)
• “Employment Discrimination Lawyers, the Doctor Will See You Now,” Employment Discrimination Litigation: Behavioral, Quantitative, and Legal Perspectives 491-502 (Frank J. Landy, ed. 2005)

Awards

• New York State Bar Association President’s Pro Bono Award, 2005.
• Center for Constitutional Rights, President’s Award, 2005.

• 2016 – present: Partner, Watson Farley & Williams, New York
• 2014 – 2016: Partner, Head of Commercial Litigation, Mischon de Reya, New York
• 2000 – 2014: Partner, Co-Chair of National Real Estate Litigation Group and Pro Bono Partner, DLA Piper, New York
• 1997 – 2000: Associate, Gordon Altman Weitzen Shalov & Wein, New York