Claude Szyfer concentrates his work in commodities and derivatives law, antitrust, real estate litigation and counseling, and general litigation. His diverse practice involves representing major financial institutions such as trading firms, utilities, and trade associations. Claude has participated in both jury and non-jury trials in both Federal and State Court, and has an active antitrust counseling practice. His diverse practice allows him to be equally comfortable in front of jury, or advocating on behalf of his clients before federal and state regulators. Claude is also a founding member and co-chair of Stroock’s eDiscovery and Information Governance Practice Group. Fluent in Spanish, Claude’s practice often involves the representation of international financial institutions both in the United States and abroad, particularly with respect to international insolvency proceedings.
Claude specializes in commodities and derivatives law, and has represented trading firms and financial institutions involved in the trading of commodities and the execution of derivative contracts and other types of futures and forward contracts. He has served as counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in actions arising from contracts for the purchase and sale of power, natural gas, crude oil, petroleum products and coal, as well as a diverse array of swap, options, and bespoke derivative arrangements. In addition, Claude has represented numerous counterparties and trading firms as creditors in the chapter 11 proceedings of the following firms: Lehman Brothers, Inc., Enron, Mirant, Black Diamond Mining Company LLC and ASARCO.
During the Lehman Brothers chapter 11 proceeding, Claude represented over 40 different unsecured creditors in the resolution of their derivative claims against the Lehman estate. Those claims involved some of the most complex and bespoke derivative transactions traded by the Lehman estate, and included claims exceeding over $1 billion each. Among the matters litigated and resolved by Claude included:
In addition, Claude has represented a major financial institution in the Adelphia Corporation chapter 11 proceeding in an action involving over 50 other financial institutions all accused of participating in fraudulent transactions with the Rigas Family and Adelphia. Mr. Szyfer’s client was the only one not to settle and was granted summary judgment dismissing all claims against his client, which judgment was affirmed by the Second Circuit.
Claude’s antitrust work has involved representing both plaintiff and defendants in actions involving many different antitrust issues, including:
Critical to all aspects of Claude’s practice is his expertise in the law concerning eDiscovery and Information Governance. Indeed, Claude has counselled clients in connection with a broad array of eDiscovery issues, including litigation management procedures, establishing or complying with litigation holds, and establishing company-wide document retention programs.
Claude has been recognized as a Super Lawyer (2013 to 2017). He is also a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program.
New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York; U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court
J.D., New York University School of Law, 1995; Notes and Articles Editor, Journal of International Law and Politics
B.A., with honors, Wesleyan University, 1990
Clerk, Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1998-1999
Claude Szyfer concentrates his work in commodities and derivatives law, antitrust, real estate litigation and counseling, and general litigation. His diverse practice involves representing major financial institutions such as trading firms, utilities, and trade associations. Claude has participated in both jury and non-jury trials in both Federal and State Court, and has an active antitrust counseling practice. His diverse practice allows him to be equally comfortable in front of jury, or advocating on behalf of his clients before federal and state regulators. Claude is also a founding member and co-chair of Stroock’s eDiscovery and Information Governance Practice Group. Fluent in Spanish, Claude’s practice often involves the representation of international financial institutions both in the United States and abroad, particularly with respect to international insolvency proceedings.
Claude specializes in commodities and derivatives law, and has represented trading firms and financial institutions involved in the trading of commodities and the execution of derivative contracts and other types of futures and forward contracts. He has served as counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in actions arising from contracts for the purchase and sale of power, natural gas, crude oil, petroleum products and coal, as well as a diverse array of swap, options, and bespoke derivative arrangements. In addition, Claude has represented numerous counterparties and trading firms as creditors in the chapter 11 proceedings of the following firms: Lehman Brothers, Inc., Enron, Mirant, Black Diamond Mining Company LLC and ASARCO.
During the Lehman Brothers chapter 11 proceeding, Claude represented over 40 different unsecured creditors in the resolution of their derivative claims against the Lehman estate. Those claims involved some of the most complex and bespoke derivative transactions traded by the Lehman estate, and included claims exceeding over $1 billion each. Among the matters litigated and resolved by Claude included:
In addition, Claude has represented a major financial institution in the Adelphia Corporation chapter 11 proceeding in an action involving over 50 other financial institutions all accused of participating in fraudulent transactions with the Rigas Family and Adelphia. Mr. Szyfer’s client was the only one not to settle and was granted summary judgment dismissing all claims against his client, which judgment was affirmed by the Second Circuit.
Claude’s antitrust work has involved representing both plaintiff and defendants in actions involving many different antitrust issues, including:
Critical to all aspects of Claude’s practice is his expertise in the law concerning eDiscovery and Information Governance. Indeed, Claude has counselled clients in connection with a broad array of eDiscovery issues, including litigation management procedures, establishing or complying with litigation holds, and establishing company-wide document retention programs.
Claude has been recognized as a Super Lawyer (2013 to 2017). He is also a graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program.
New York
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York; U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit; U.S. Supreme Court
J.D., New York University School of Law, 1995; Notes and Articles Editor, Journal of International Law and Politics
B.A., with honors, Wesleyan University, 1990
Clerk, Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1998-1999