Small-Firm Litigator and Katten Practice Leader Form New Litigation Boutique
Jay Freiberg, who was chair of Katten's New York fiduciary litigation practice, and Howard Elman, formerly of Matalon Shweky Elman, were childhood friends more than three decades ago.
October 22, 2018 at 04:07 PM
2 minute read
Howard Elman, left, and Jay Freiberg. Courtesy photos.
A former Katten Muchin Rosenman practice leader has linked up with an attorney who often defends law firms in legal malpractice cases to form a complex commercial litigation boutique, Elman Freiberg.
Jay Freiberg, who most recently served as chair of Katten's New York fiduciary litigation practice, and Howard Elman, formerly of eight-attorney Matalon Shweky Elman, formed the boutique this month. Elman said attorneys from his prior firm have joined the new boutique, including counsel Jeremy Bates, Yosef Rothstein, Judd Spray and Yelena Rapoport.
Elman said he and Freiberg have known each other for the past 34 years, since they were 15 years old.
“We both saw this as an opportunity to build something together, and the thought of being partners with your childhood best friend and to build something together was too good to pass up,” he said.
Elman said he will continue to focus on commercial litigation and representing attorneys and firms in professional liability cases. Elman has often represented Am Law 100 firms in some of their most difficult legal malpractice actions.
In addition to commercial litigation, Freiberg, who practiced at Katten for 20 years, will continue his practice representing parties in complex trust and estate disputes, including fraud and tax issues and multijurisdictional litigation.
The new boutique is in the same space as his prior firm at 450 Seventh Ave. Elman said he had an amicable split from his former law firm partner, Joseph Matalon, who continues to practice real estate and commercial litigation.
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