M. Elias Berman

Overview

Eli represents clients in a broad spectrum of commercial litigation and white-collar defense disputes, specializing in cryptocurrency and blockchain matters. His experience includes internal investigations, shareholder derivative actions, contractual and business tort litigation, and trust and estate disputes. He also advises on anti-money laundering and anti-corruption compliance, including drafting policies, negotiating transaction documents, and providing compliance training. Eli serves clients across diverse industries, including cryptocurrency and blockchain, private client, financial products, and technology.

Results

Represented a cryptocurrency mining company in complex, high-stakes litigation concerning colocation agreements
Advised a private crypto trading fund in a dispute concerning wrongful termination of access to services
Represented a private company accused by executor of a deceased shareholder of misappropriating shares of stock

Counseled a beneficiary of trustee in trust dispute with familial trust dispute
Served as counsel to an NFT fund in a case filed by Celsius for the return of CryptoPunk NFTs
Defended a major auditing and accounting firm in actions involving employee raiding, client poaching, and theft of trade secrets
Advised an executive of international private equity firm investigated for participating in broad scheme to mismark valuation of illiquid securities
Defended a major accounting and advisory firm in action involving defamation in the context of an anonymous, online social media campaign, including preparing expert report on forensic computer analysis
Represented a national organization of pharmaceutical distributors challenging the constitutionality of New York State statute, including drafting dispositive briefs and preparing expert reports
Advised a biodiesel processor accused of violating the Renewable Fuel Standard by the Environmental Protection Agency in civil enforcement action
Defended a chief executive accused of violating fiduciary duties in derivative shareholder action, including draft dispositive briefs, and manage large team in cross-border discovery matters
Counseled a global pharmaceutical company in an investigation for alleged False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback violations
Represented a former executive of foreign oil company in international investigation of alleged fraud in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Advised a chief executive officer of a bank in a criminal investigation of alleged Bank Secrecy Act violations
Defended a corporate executive in an insider trading investigation brought by Securities and Exchange Commission
Represented bank executives investigated for fraud arising from subprime mortgage crisis
Counseled a private equity firm in the drafting of subscription agreement for investments in various funds, and negotiation of language with individual investors
Represented a former waitress in judgment enforcement action against former employer that failed to pay minimum wage and spread of hours pay
Counseled an indigent woman denied access to any monies over the course of her 25-year marriage in divorce action
Represented a Honduran woman and her children seeking asylum in the United States
Represented a broker-dealer in a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) insider trading investigation
Represented owners of a fitness company in a dispute concerning a stock purchase and sale agreement
Handled a defamation dispute involving an internet service provider
Obtained a favorable settlement for a litigation trustee against the judgment debtor in multiple fraudulent conveyance actions in New York state and federal courts
Obtained a favorable settlement for a prominent New York City hotel in a private nuisance action against a neighboring property developer
Handled the successful petition to the New York State Supreme Court on behalf of a residential cooperative for an order direction recertification of election results