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GeoffYoung

He | Him | His

Partner

"Calm under pressure. Creative solutions to complex problems. As a seasoned litigator, I thrive when clients are facing challenges that affect legal, regulatory, or reputational risks."

Overview

Biography

Geoff has a winning record of litigating disputes of all kinds, including those related to pharmaceutical drugs and clinical trials, consumer class actions, financing agreements, M&A agreements (especially earnout disputes), media broadcasting services, technology services, real estate investment and development, and privacy-related regulations. He also has extensive experience prosecuting and defending intellectual property disputes, including copyright and trademark infringement. Geoff has litigated matters spanning several industries, including aviation, biotech, financial services and investment, mass media, oil and gas and energy, public relations and communications, real estate and construction, and transportation. He has substantial experience with construction litigation, including commercial disputes, products liability, and New York State’s Labor Law statutes (Sections 240 and 241) as they relate to construction. Additionally, he has resolved disputes inside and outside the courtroom for high-net-worth individuals and public figures, including some in the entertainment industry.

With experience counseling clients and managing disputes through pre-litigation and all phases of the litigation process, Geoff has tried cases across multiple jurisdictions, including New York City, New York State, and federal courts, and has initiated and defended numerous actions seeking various forms of emergency relief. He has also handled domestic and international arbitrations subject to a wide range of rules, including those promulgated by JAMS, the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Bar Associations

  • American Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Council
  • New York City Bar Association
  • Metropolitan Black Bar Association

Selected Memberships & Affiliations

  • American Lawyer, Young Lawyers Editorial Board
Experience

Representative Experience

  • Represented the manufacturer of construction safety equipment in a New York City construction litigation matter.
  • Represented a counterparty to an energy project for oil and gas affiliates of a Latin American country. Succeeded at trial, obtaining a judgment in excess of $166 million. Prosecuted an action seeking to collect a defaulted loan.
  • Represented a real estate developer in connection with contractual claims related to a construction project.
  • Represented midtown Manhattan real estate investors in a dispute with other investors related to claims of improper dilution, breach of fiduciary duties, etc., which is pending in Delaware Chancery Court.
  • Represented the administrator of a Hong Kong decedent in connection with multiple lawsuits related to the recovery of New York assets, including the ownership of a multimillion-dollar real estate asset in Manhattan.
  • Represented a major energy company in a contractual dispute related to a failed wind energy project.
  • Represented various companies in multiple disputes related to failed energy projects.
  • Represented the founders of various companies in the media and food/snack industries to recover contractual earnout compensation owed according to underlying M&A transactions.
  • Represented a financing company to recover cryptocurrency-based monies following the collapse of FTX Trading Ltd.
  • Defended a large regional bank in connection with multiple consumer-led lawsuits covering a variety of disputes, including purported unauthorized transactions, violations of various federal banking statutes, and adverse possession.
  • Defending executives and companies alleged to have violated noncompete agreements and misappropriated trade secret and confidential information across various industries, especially in the life sciences industry, which has included opposing preliminary injunctive relief.
  • Represented a major US airline in a consumer-led lawsuit related to alleged breach of contract and torts in connection with the airline’s services.
  • Represented a large real estate brokerage firm related to alleged violations of housing antidiscrimination statutes.
  • Defended a Fortune 100 insurance company in a multimillion-dollar breach of contract action brought by a terminated agent, which was favorably settled in the client’s favor on the eve of trial.
  • Represented and counseled companies regarding potential violations of various state privacy statutes, including biometric and genetic information privacy statutes.
  • Defended a global life sciences company against contract and tort claims arising from a clinical trial study.
  • Represented a biotech company in an American Arbitration Association arbitration proceeding involving a licensing dispute linked to a clinical manufacturing agreement and obtained a favorable resolution for the client.
  • Represented an affiliate of a global technology company in the prosecution of an action seeking to collect on a defaulted loan provided to oil and gas affiliates of a Latin American country. Succeeded at trial, obtaining a judgment in excess of $166 million.
  • Represented major New York City commuter transportation entities in connection with a significant fire that impacted the city’s transit lines.
  • Defended a global oil and gas company in actions brought by property owners seeking damages arising from alleged environmental contamination and remediation.
  • Represented a global manufacturer and distributor of personal aircraft in multiple lawsuits. Successfully defended the client against a variety of claims, including wrongful death claims.
  • Represented a manufacturer of aircraft engine bearings in wrongful death litigation and successfully defended against manufacturing defect claims.
  • Defended a major US airline in multi-district litigation arising from the crash of a commuter aircraft, which involved wrongful death and product liability claims, including on a successful appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Represented a global technology and information management company and several of its customers in a complex insurance case against an insurance company that involved contract and tort claims.
  • Represented a global footwear company in a successful lawsuit alleging contract and tort claims against a third-party logistics company.
  • Represented a cell phone manufacturer in a consumer class action and successfully defended against claims alleging deceptive business practices.
  • Represented a musical artist in a copyright infringement action and successfully defended against allegations from the purported creator of a hit song.
  • Represented a financial services company in a summary proceeding brought by a state attorney general seeking damages for allegedly deceptive business practices.

Prior Experience

  • Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP
  • Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
  • Reed Smith LLP
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Honorable Sandra L. Townes, Law Clerk

Selected Community Activities

  • Cornell Law School, Alumni Association, Executive Board of Directors
  • Cornell Law School, Equity & Inclusion Alumni Leadership Council
  • Cornell University, Mosaic, Member at-Large

Selected Honors

  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Energy Law, 2026
  • Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star (Commercial), 2024–2026
  • The National Black Lawyers, Top 100, 2020–2024
  • Selected to Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars: Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation, 2017–2021
  • National Bar Association, 40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates, 2019
Knowledge

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • MCAA Global Tech Forum, “Predictive Analytics in Litigation,” Co-Moderator
  • My Brother’s Keeper│My Sister’s Keeper 2024 Fellowship Summit, “Managing in Changing Times: Law Firm Management Roundtable,” Co-Moderator
  • General Counsel Conference East, “Emerging Trends in Biometric Data Regulation and Litigation,” Presenter
  • General Counsel Conference Midwest, “Emerging Trends in Biometric Data Regulation and Litigation,” Co-Presenter

Selected Media

  • Law360, “Financial Industry Must Beware Rising BIPA Litigation Tide,” Co-Author
  • American Bar Association, “Navigating the General Aviation Revitalization Act of 1994,” Chapter Co-Author

Featured Media

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Second Circuit Holds That Insurer's Denial of Coverage Was Untimely Under New York Insurance Law § 3420(d)

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Beyond the Denial: A Roadmap for Recovering Out-of-Network Infusion Claims

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DOL's Proposed Defined Contribution Plan Investment Rule Could Give Fiduciaries More Room to Consider Alternatives

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NYSDEC Freshwater Wetland Regulations Struck Down