Alexander B. Simkin
Partner
Alexander Simkin is a highly experienced commercial litigator who focuses on finding practical solutions to corporate clients’ most complicated litigation problems. With more than 15 years of trial experience on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, Alex helps some of the world’s most sophisticated financial institutions and other corporate clients successfully navigate complex issues, from pre-litigation advisory services through trial and appeal. He devotes a significant part of his practice to representing financial institutions involved in private equity, banking, insurance and other financial services in federal and state courts across the county. Many of Alex’s cases concern contracts, allegations of fraud/deceit, class actions, alleged violations of the federal securities laws, allegations of fiduciary duty breaches, or other business torts.
Clients have described Alex as an advocate with a unique ability to digest complicated problems and provide practical advice. Judges and juries also appreciate his thoughtful and straight-forward approach.
Alex has represented financial institutions including AIG, AmTrust, Angelo Gordon, Apax, Arrowstreet, Bain, Berkshire Hathaway, Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, New Mountain, Park Hill Group, Sands Capital, Sequoia, State Street, Travelers and UBS, as well as private equity portfolio companies, individual directors and officers, and other corporate or institutional clients such as Canada Goose, Charter Communications, Dillard’s Directors, Georgetown Company, Immunomedics’ Directors, Lehman Brothers’ Officers, Northwell Health, Pfizer, and the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York.
Alex is also actively involved with pro bono legal services. He has represented a victim of sexual assault in a SDNY jury trial, the plaintiffs in a New York federal class action challenging the constitutionality of New York City’s property seizures under its Third Party Transfer program, the plaintiffs in a California federal class action seeking accommodations at a privately operated detention center that was the site of a significant COVID-19 outbreak, a community garden in a land dispute, as well as clients in housing and family courts.
Experience
- Representing the plaintiff homeowners of color in the New York federal class action Dorce v. City of New York challenging the constitutionality of New York City’s property seizures under its Third Party Transfer program. The Ropes & Gray team successfully obtained a favorable ruling from the Second Circuit rejecting the City’s jurisdictional challenges.
- Representing a multinational financial services firm and its portfolio companies in matters concerning contractual, fraud, and securities litigation.
- Representing the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New York in high-profile Article 78 proceedings challenging the public release of confidential police officer information, as well as in a significant amicus submission to the New York Court of Appeals.
- Represented a multinational financial services firm in connection with securities litigation arising from its IPO.*
- Represented Lehman Brothers’ Officers in a variety of securities litigations arising from the company’s collapse.
- Represented AIG in in a dispute with a Fortune 100 company concerning coverage for a high profile defamation settlement under multiple professional liability policies.*
- Represented AIG in a dispute with a Fortune 100 company concerning coverage for a significant settlement of an antitrust lawsuit under an employment practices liability policy.*
- Representing Nationwide in a dispute with Platinum Partners and several of its executives concerning coverage under a D&O policy.*
- Representing AmTrust in a dispute with a managing general agent concerning issues arising from a taxi and limousine insurance program.*
- Representing AIG in a dispute with a Fortune 500 company concerning coverage for an ERISA lawsuit under a fiduciary liability policy.*
- Represented numerous insurance and reinsurance companies in a wide range of matters, including defending challenges to certain insurance practices or lines, insurance-related consumer class action defense, and representing cedents or reinsurers in reinsurance disputes under facultative and treaty reinsurance.*
*Representations completed prior to joining Ropes & Gray.
Publications
- Co-author, “Parallel Civil Litigation: The US Perspective,” Global Investigations Review’s Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations (2022)
- Co-author, “Citibank Loan 'Blunder' Ruling Raises Appellate Issues,” Law360 (March 5, 2021)
- Co-author, “Parallel Civil Litigation: US Perspective,” Global Investigations Review: The Practitioner’s Guide to Global Investigations (2021)
- Co-author, “Cert. Denial In Televisa May Embroil 3rd-Party Asset Managers,” Law360 (June 29, 2020)
- Co-author, “Insurance Coverage Questions Raised by Modern Public Nuisance Claims,” New Appleman on Insurance: Current Critical Issues in Insurance Law
Presentations
- Presenter, “Addressing Unfair Tax Assessments: Three Case Studies,” What Do Taxes Have to Do with It? How Tax Policy Perpetuates Racial Inequities, Thurgood Marshall Institute (December 2, 2021)
Education
- JD, cum laude, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2006
- BA, magna cum laude, University of Pennsylvania, 2003
Admissions / Qualifications
Qualifications
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Awards
- New York Super Lawyers Rising Star (2015-2021)