Charles Platt is a partner in the firm's Litigation/Controversy and Securities Departments, a co-chair of the Business Trial Group, a member of the firm's Management Committee and partner-in-charge of the New York office. He joined the firm in 2003. Mr. Platt is a leading commercial litigator, recognized nationally for his defense work in class action matters for financial services and insurance companies.

Practice

Mr. Platt has extensive experience in a wide variety of civil litigation matters, ranging from securities and consumer fraud class actions to internal investigations and corporate control contests. He has defended numerous companies in national class actions regarding financial and retirement products and services, and has tried cases raising contract, tortious interference, fraudulent conveyance, business valuation, preliminary injunction, franchise termination, bankruptcy and other commercial issues. 

Recent Highlights

Mr. Platt is currently representing companies in securities, breach of fiduciary duty, and ERISA class actions, as well as companies in the Tribune LBO bankruptcy litigation and in the Madoff-related cases. His recent appellate experience includes victories in the Ninth Circuit, Fourth Circuit, and Sixth Circuit in class actions alleging fraud in connection with the sale of financial and retirement products, and Fifth Circuit victories dismissing a "market timing" class action and a major sales practice case.

Professional Activities

Mr. Platt is a member of the Board of Trustees of Saint David's School in New York and Brooks School in Massachusetts. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Bar Council from 2000 to 2006.

In 1992, Mr. Platt was appointed as Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Blanca Nazionale Del Lavoro ("Iraqgate") Investigation by the US Department of Justice.

Honors and Awards

• Recognized for exceptional standing in the legal community for his general commercial litigation practice in the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
• Selected by peers for inclusion in the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 editions of The Best Lawyers in America
• Named a 2011 "New York Super Lawyer" for his work as a leading commercial litigator