Lara A. Chassin

Counsel

Lara A. Chassin

Lara is a seasoned, tenacious litigator who strives to achieve the best results for her clients in the most efficient way possible. Lara prepares each case for trial from its inception to maximize the outcome for her clients. Her experience in private practice and as in-house counsel lend Lara a thoughtful, strategic approach to litigation. She ensures that no stone is left unturned when developing her client’s case while remaining cost-conscious.

Lara has over 20 years of experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes disputes, including in the real estate, financial services, title, commercial, insurance, and pharmaceutical sectors. Lara has extensive courtroom experience spanning the entire lifecycle of a case. She has tried cases, argued dispositive motions, and argued appeals. Lara has also conducted and advised corporate clients regarding internal investigations in addition to providing general counseling, and regulatory advice to her clients.

Lara’s experience covers all aspects of litigation in both federal and state court, as well as in bankruptcy court, surrogate’s court, and arbitration.

Prior to K&S, Lara worked at White & Case LLP; Fidelity National Financial, the country’s largest title insurance company; and a plaintiff’s-side securities litigation boutique.

When not advocating for her clients, Lara provides mentorship to first-year law students at Fordham University School of Law, her alma mater. Lara also actively serves on different alumni councils and executive committees for the University of Rochester.

Experience

Some of Lara’s representative engagements include the following:

  • Defending mortgage lenders and investors against allegations of common law fraud and forgery.
  • Insurance company in state and federal courts in various matters involving breach of contract, duty to defend and indemnify, and alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.
  • Insurance company in adversary proceeding in bankruptcy court regarding duty to defend and indemnify under the insurance policy.
  • Privately held corporations in enforcing priority of commercial liens against other corporations and federal and local authorities.
  • Homeowners enforcing and defending against claims of prescriptive easements and adverse possession.
  • Privately and publicly held corporations in litigations concerning complex issues of jurisdiction and the applicability of bankruptcy plans and UCC sales with respect to lien priority disputes.
  • Institutional plaintiffs, including the FDIC as Receiver, in disputes against Wall Street banks over residential mortgage-backed securities. Lara served on a team representing the FDIC in multiple jurisdictions, securing recoveries of well over $1 billion. She also represented a Federal Home Loan Bank in similar litigation, helping to recover hundreds of millions of dollars.
  • Insurance company prosecuting claims of defalcation and fraud against agent.
  • Defending pharmaceutical company against whistle-blower claims under the False Claims Act.
  • Defending pharmaceutical company in multi-district, complex litigation involving claims of false advertising, allegations of violations of various anti-kickback statutes, and allegations of fraudulent and false price reporting.
  • Defending pharmaceutical company against allegations of fraud and violation of the civil RICO statute.
  • Defending pharmaceutical company in dispute alleging pay-for-delay scheme violated antitrust laws.
  • Representing companies involved in governmental investigations, including liaising with representatives from the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigations, and responding to government subpoenas.

Lara has remained committed to pro bono work throughout her career. Some of her pro bono work includes:

  • Successfully representing multiple clients seeking citizenship under the Violence Against Women Act.
  • Advising Republic of Libera regarding the drafting and promulgation of mental health legislation.
  • Represented The Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under Law in drafting a shadow report submitted to the united Nations Human Rights Committee assessing the United States’s commitment to civil and political rights.

Education

  • J.D., Fordham University School of Law 2005, cum laude
    • Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Society
    • Fordham Law Review, Notes & Articles Editor
    • Moot Court Board, Associate Editor, Mulligan Competition
  • B.A., University of Rochester, 2002, Major in Economics; Minor in English
    • High Departmental Honors in Economics
    • Order of Omega Honors Society
    • Dean’s List

Admitted to Practice

  • New York
  • U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern District of New York