Sam Lieberman is Co-Head of Sadis’s Litigation department. He is a tenacious trial lawyer who consistently delivers successful results for high-profile plaintiffs and defendants in securities and business disputes. He regularly represents clients in high-stakes securities, M&A, shareholder rights, blockchain technology, RMBS, and business divorce litigation. He regularly defends clients in investigations by the SEC, FINRA, U.S. Attorneys’ Office, and other regulators.
On the Plaintiffs’ side, Sam has obtained well over $100 million in judgments and recoveries for clients. As defense counsel, Sam has repeatedly won full dismissal of claims at the pleading stage and at trial, and has had success persuading government regulators to close investigations without bringing any charges. Sam has been recognized as a leading lawyer or profiled by SuperLawyers, Martindale-Hubbell (AV-rated), the American Lawyer, and the National Law Journal. He began his career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, after graduating Columbia Law School as Senior Editor of the Law Review.
J.D., Columbia University, 1999, Kent Scholar; Senior Editor, Columbia Law Review
B.A., State University of New York (SUNY) Binghamton, 1996
ADMISSIONS
New York
COURT ADMISSIONS
U.S. District Court: Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court: Eastern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals: Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals: Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals: Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals: Ninth Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Memberships & Affiliations
Member of the American Bar Association, Litigation Section, Securities Litigation Committee
Member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Member of the American Technion Society’s Leadership Development Committee
Honors & Awards
American Lawyer Litigator of the Week Runner up, April 22, 2019
New York Super Lawyer, Securities Litigation, 2018-2021; Rising Star 2013-14
Rated AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell
National Law Journal’s Appellate Hot List 2010, Recognized
2024 Chambers & Partners New York Regional Dispute Resolution Spotlight
Experience
SECURITIES LITIGATION & INVESTOR RIGHTS
Won $57.7 million trial victory as lead counsel for private equity investors in appraisal action. Won a valuation that was 25 times higher than trading price of merger consideration on date of judgment, three times higher than the opposing party’s position, and a substantial premium to deal price.
Won $25 million as lead counsel for hedge fund alleging fraudulent valuation of mortgage-backed securities. Forced favorable settlements by defeating motions to dismiss and developing evidence exposing Defendants to significant liability.
Won $12.1 million for investors as co-lead counsel in related M&A fiduciary duties & appraisal actions, including winning trial verdict in appraisal action and partial summary judgment in M&A fiduciary duties action. Obtained 195% premium over deal price for all investors.
Won over $3.7 million as lead counsel for family office investor in securities litigation over hedge fund investment, after winning Second Circuit appeal reinstating case and ordering trial.
Lead counsel representing several large hedge funds as certificateholders of residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS) trusts in disputes over the allocation of write-ups and principal payments.
BROKER & BLOCKCHAIN ARBITRATION/DISPUTES
Won recovery of $8 million in Pokadot (DOT) cryptocurrency tokens for a hedge fund from a former officer.
Won three of the five largest FINRA Arbitration awards ever against Interactive Brokers, at the time, including:
$2.4 million FINRA arbitration award for VIX Futures trader arising out of broker’s misstatement of settlement date.
$1.9 million FINRA arbitration award for hedge fund arising from the broker’s inability to trade WTI Oil Futures at negative prices.
Won millions of dollars in arbitration awards and favorable settlements for customers against brokers-dealers arising from a range of improper practices.
Representing cryptocurrency hedge fund in arbitration against former officer over ownership of MobileCoin cryptocurrency and terms of his termination.
GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATIONS
Successfully defended Managing Director of investment bank against SEC insider trading claims. Won rare summary disposition dismissing part of SEC’s case. Won favorable settlement reducing nine fraud claims to one negligence claim, with no suspension.
Successfully defended executives of multi-billion dollar hedge fund in U.S. Attorneys’ Office and SEC investigation into valuation fraud. No charges filed.
Representing fund portfolio manager and venture capital fund in separate ongoing SEC and FINRA investigations focused on cryptocurrency trading and valuation.
Successfully defended CIO of $1 Billion-plus investment adviser in SEC investigation into misallocation of expenses and soft-dollar credits. Obtained termination notice with no charges filed against client.
Successfully defended broker-dealer and CEO in FINRA investigation into front-running and cross-trading. Obtained letter of caution with no money sanctions, even after S.E.C. referred the investigation to FINRA Department of Enforcement.
Successfully defended CEO of broker-dealer in SEC insider trading investigation. S.E.C. closed investigation without bringing any claims.
