Thomas J. Kavaler

Thomas J. Kavaler is Senior Counsel in Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP's litigation practice group.

Tom joined Cahill in 1975 after clerking for Judge Milton Pollack of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. He became a partner in 1980 and was elected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 1996.

Tom has successfully litigated a variety of high-visibility matters for a roster of leading companies (and their boards, officers and directors) in virtually every major field, including financial services, entertainment, energy, telecommunications, publishing, professional services, insurance, food and agriculture, healthcare and heavy manufacturing.

His practice is as varied as his clientele, with a long track record of victories in commercial litigation, securities, class actions, insurance, intellectual property, antitrust, employment, tax, corporate governance, product liability, contracts and criminal law matters. Tom is recognized as one of the top 25 securities litigators in the U.S. by Benchmark Litigation and is recommended by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 in commercial litigation in New York. He is also listed in Who's Who in American Law and Who's Who in America. In 2023, Tom was inducted into Lawdragon’s Hall of Fame, which recognizes lawyers “who have made a remarkable contribution to the profession."

Tom conducts jury trials, bench trials, appeals, commercial arbitrations (and other forms of A.D.R), and administrative and investigatory proceedings throughout the United States. He has served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, National Association of Securities Dealers, Better Business Bureau, New York Supreme Court and United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Tom has litigated extensively on behalf of Wall Street's largest brokerage firms and their senior officers. He has represented Prudential Securities in several hundred matters, including one that resulted in a landmark decision from the Second Circuit that made new law on issues relating to the bonding requirement for a preliminary injunction. His work for Prudential and others has included the defense of dozens of employment disputes and arbitrations, often arising from disputes wherein claimants allege wrongful discharge, statutory violations, breach of contract and/or promissory estoppel.

Professional Activities:

Tom is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a Life Fellow of the New York Bar Foundation. He received the Fordham Law Alumni Association's Medal of Achievement in 1998 and the Fordham University School of Law Dean's Medal of Recognition in 2002.

Tom is a former Vice President of the Federal Bar Council and a former President of the Fordham Law Alumni Association. Tom also has been a member of the Judiciary Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York.