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Gayle Pollack

Partner
Gayle Pollack's headshot
Gayle Pollack Partner

Gayle Pollack is an experienced trial attorney whose diverse practice involves all phases of litigation.

Gayle handles a variety of actions from pre-litigation through trial and appeal, including matters involving joint ventures and partnership disputes, debtor-creditor litigations and complex real estate matters.

Gayle is also an experienced appellate attorney and has argued over 50 cases before New York’s appellate courts, including the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals. As part of her appellate practice, she advises other firms on appellate briefing and participates in moot court sessions to prepare attorneys to argue in New York’s appellate courts. Gayle participated in drafting the amicus brief on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign and several other national gay rights organizations in the landmark Supreme Court case, Lawrence v. Texas.

In addition to her courtroom and hearing experience, Gayle regularly counsels high-net-worth individuals and family offices on a range of disputes. While Gayle recognizes the value of litigation as a business tool, she always seeks practical and cost-efficient solutions for her clients.

Prior to joining Morrison Cohen, Gayle clerked for the Honorable Kathleen Blatz, Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and was associated with O’Melveny & Myers LLP, where she practiced primarily securities law and white-collar defense. She currently serves as a co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Network.

Experience

  • Led the successful prosecution of a trademark infringement claim by a world-renowned jewelry company and on summary judgment obtained dismissal of Lanham Act-based counterclaims, resulting in a substantial monetary judgment in favor of the client.
  • Led a team of attorneys on rocket docket discovery proceedings relating to a multi-tower development project in Yonkers, ultimately obtaining favorable settlement after summary judgment.
  • Participated in the successful defense of a NYSE biotech company and certain of its officers and directors in connection with a number of securities fraud actions seeking more than $100 million in damages, including obtaining summary dismissals in multiple courts and defending the dismissals on appeal, and obtaining an award of sanctions against one of the plaintiffs and his counsel.
  • Participated in the prosecution of an action on behalf of two investors in a Ponzi scheme and obtained a widely reported ruling from the Appellate Division, First Department, sustaining claims against attorneys as aiders and abettors in the Ponzi scheme.
  • Successfully represented an individual in an arbitration proceeding against a contractor and architect, ultimately obtaining a meaningful settlement with the architect and a substantial judgment against the contractor.
  • After an evidentiary hearing, defended a temporary restraining order and obtained a preliminary injunction preventing a JV partner from interfering in management of a joint venture.
  • On a motion to dismiss based on documentary evidence, obtained dismissal of books and records request from purported limited partner.
  • Obtained dismissal of Interstate Land Sales Disclosure Act claim against condominium sponsor.
  • Obtained emergency injunction requiring property owner to remove impediments to neighboring construction.
  • Counsel in a 13-day bench trial in New York concerning the potential sale of an affordable housing property. Obtained a verdict in favor of the property owner.
  • Defended mortgage brokerage company in investigation by New York State Attorney General’s Office into collusive appraisal procedures, resulting in discontinuance of investigation.
  • Defended investment bank in a fraudulent conveyance action in federal bankruptcy court arising from debtor’s acquisition of a dot-com company.
Gayle Pollack's headshot

Practices

Sectors

Education

  • New York University School of Law, J.D., Review of Law and Social Change
  • Brown University, B.A.

Bar Admissions

  • New York
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

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