Gary P. Naftalis Recognized as White Collar Trailblazer by The National Law Journal

The National Law Journal has named Gary P. Naftalis, co-chair of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, a 2015 White Collar Trailblazer. The award, which recognizes “legal professionals who have decisively altered the playing field in the legal arena,” was presented at The National law Journal 's Inaugural Trailblazer's Award Dinner on December 14 at the Eventi Hotel in New York City.

One of the nation's leading trial lawyers and premier white collar defense litigators, Mr. Naftalis has for more than 40 years represented individuals and corporations in complex bet-the-company criminal, civil and regulatory cases. Among his more prominent matters, he defended Rajat Gupta, the former Managing Director Worldwide of McKinsey, on insider trading charges. He won dismissal in favor of Kenneth Langone, former Chair of the New York Stock Exchange Compensation Committee, of all charges brought against him by the then Attorney General relating to the compensation of NYSE Chair, Richard Grasso. He successfully defended Michael Eisner, the CEO of The Walt Disney Company, in 37-day trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery of a shareholder derivative lawsuit relating to the hiring and termination of Michael Ovitz. He represented the City of New York in the inquiry relating to the fire at the Deutsche Bank building. Mr. Naftalis won summary judgment for Sirius XM Radio dismissing a breach of contract action by Howard Stern seeking $330 million in damages. He has successfully represented numerous securities industry clients, including Salomon Brothers in the investigation of US Treasury auction bidding practices, Kidder, Peabody in the Wall Street insider trading probe, and Canary Capital Partners in the market timing mutual fund inquiries.

Mr. Naftalis has received many other honors throughout his career. The National Law Journal named him one of the “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” the last two times it has compiled the list – in 2013 and in 2006. Legal 500 has named him one of the “10 Leading Trial Lawyers in the United States,” and Super Lawyers named him one of the "Top 10 Lawyers in New York" every year since 2007 (naming him Number One in 2008, 2012 and 2015). Mr. Naftalis received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from Benchmark Litigation. In 2012, he received the New York Council of Defense Lawyers Norman Ostrow Award in recognition of his white-collar defense achievements. Mr. Naftalis also received the 2011 Chambers USA Award for excellence in White Collar Crime and Government Investigations. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI honored him with the Benemerenti Award. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.