Mr. Katsiris has represented leading accounting firms, investment banks and private equity firms in securities class actions and other large-scale litigation, along with investigations and regulatory proceedings
NEW YORK (March 9, 2011) – In a notable addition to its litigation practice, Venable LLP announced that Kostas Katsiris, who regularly represents major financial institutions in class actions and other disputes, regulatory proceedings and internal investigations, has joined the New York office as a partner. He arrives from the New York office of Howrey LLP.
Mr. Katsiris has represented leading Wall Street investment banks, as well as Big Four accounting firms, private equity firms and individual defendants in some of the largest financial litigation matters of the past decade. His experience extends across securities class actions, SEC and other government enforcement actions, internal investigations, and litigation arising out of bankruptcy.
Noteworthy cases in which Mr. Katsiris has played a key role include representing a Big Four auditor in the Tyco securities class action, one of the largest on record. He also represented a Big Four firm in litigation surrounding the collapse of commodities and futures brokerage Refco. He served as counsel to the underwriter of asset-backed securities in a bankruptcy proceeding, and has handled cases tied to other complex financial instruments, including mortgage-backed securities, auction rate securities, trust preferreds, and collateralized debt obligations.
During the past two years he represented a prominent private equity firm in litigation arising from the bankruptcy of one of its portfolio companies, which had been a well-known mortgage lender. He has also helped direct internal investigations for clients on a confidential basis.
In another notable assignment, Mr. Katsiris was appointed a special master by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, to oversee the notice and claims administration procedures in In Re Grand Theft Auto, a complex consumer fraud class action case involving the best-selling video game.
“With his wealth of experience representing major players across the financial services industry, Kostas is a great addition to our litigation team,” said Edmund O’Toole, managing partner of Venable’s New York office. “He adds substantial depth to our financial institutions practice and brings extra strength to our growing New York bankruptcy footprint. Indeed, as we continue to raise our litigation profile among banks, accounting firms, underwriters, investment firms and other companies involved in financial disputes, Kostas brings big-league ‘five-tool’ credentials from several high-stakes securities and complex commercial cases that complement the work we’ve done to date in Enron and other large cases.” In the Enron bankruptcy, Venable recovered more than $1 billion in assets on behalf of creditors.
Mr. Katsiris said he was drawn to Venable’s national litigation platform and also its growing visibility in New York financial circles. “Through Enron, as well as its recent work in a number of high-profile real estate bankruptcies and restructurings and other matters, the firm has continued to impress the financial institutions that form my client base,” he commented. “Venable presents a great opportunity to broaden my practice and to continue working on high-impact cases involving complex financial issues. I’m excited about joining the New York litigation practice.”
Mr. Katsiris received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School Cum Laude (1999) and his B.B.A. from the University of Michigan (1996). He served as judicial clerk to Hon. Shirley Wohl Kram, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (1999-2001). From 2001-07 he was a litigation associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell, where he gained extensive litigation experience in complex commercial cases, securities fraud actions and corporate investigations.
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