Editing Kasowitz Benson Torres

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox Law Firm
| firm_name       = Kasowitz Benson Torres
| firm_logo       = [[File:Kasowitz_logo_2017.gif]]
| headquarters    = [[Paramount Plaza]]<br>New York City
| num_offices     = 9<ref>"[http://www.kasowitz.com/offices/ Offices]". Kasowitz, Benson, Torres. ''kasowitz.com''. Retrieved December 16, 2016.</ref>
| num_attorneys   = 
| num_employees   = 
| practice_areas  = [[Litigation]]
| key_people      = [[Marc Kasowitz]], founder and managing partner<ref>"[http://www.kasowitz.com/marc-e-kasowitz/ Marc E. Kasowitz]". Kasowitz, Benson, Torres&nbsp;&amp; Friedman. ''kasowitz.com''. Retrieved December 16, 2016.</ref>
| revenue         = 
| date_founded    = 1993
| founder         = 
| company_type    = [[Limited liability partnership]]
| firm_slogan     = 
| homepage        = http://www.kasowitz.com/
| dissolved       =   <!-- Date/Reason the company dissolved, e.g., merger or bankruptcy -->
}}
'''Kasowitz, Benson & Torres''' is a New York law firm founded in 1993. It employs 350 lawyers and maintains offices in several states.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> The firm focuses on product liability [[litigation]], corporate, family and employment law, as well as  [[intellectual property]], bankruptcy and [[creditors' rights]].<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> Notable clients have included [[Donald Trump]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cassens Weiss|first1=Debra|title=Meet Marc Kasowitz, the litigator who often represents Donald Trump|url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/meet_marc_kasowitz_the_litigation_lawyer_who_often_represents_donald_trump|website=ABA Journal|publisher=American Bar Association|accessdate=May 19, 2017}}</ref> [[Robert DeNiro]], [[Celanese]], [[ArvinMeritor]], [[Liggett Group]], [[Enron]], [[WorldCom]] and [[Mia Farrow]].

==History==
===Founding===
The firm was founded as Kasowitz, Hoff, Benson & Torres in 1993 when [[Marc Kasowitz]] left the [[Mayer Brown]] law firm with 18 other lawyers and two clients.<ref name="American Lawyer">{{cite news|url=http://www.kasowitz.com/files/FastRise-NoWhitePage.pdf|last=Amon|first=Elizabeth|title=Fast Rise to the Top|date=August 2004|work=[[The American Lawyer]]|publisher=[[Incisive Media]]|pages=11|accessdate=December 16, 2016}}</ref> [[David Friedman (lawyer)|David M. Friedman]] was added as a partner in May 1995,<ref>"[http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/19950501/SUB/505010712/profiles-executive-moves Profiles/Executive Moves]" (May 1, 1995).  ''Crain's New York Business''</ref> and  William Bruce Hoff, Jr. left in November.<ref>[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-12-25/news/ct-met-hoff-obit-20111225_1_trial-lawyer-models-nautical-research-journal William Bruce Hoff Jr.: Lawyer, model ship builder, dies] ''Chicago Tribune''</ref>

===Expansion===
The firm began in New York City with 18 lawyers and after 6 months expanded to include a Houston branch office.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/><ref name="American Lawyer"/> Friedman joined the firm in 1993 or 1994 and opened its bankruptcy practice.<ref name="American Lawyer"/> In 1996 several new lawyers joined the firm to begin its employment and matrimonial practices.<ref name="American Lawyer"/> It opened a New Jersey office in 1997, Atlanta in 2001<ref name="American Lawyer"/> and in 2003 the fiirm opened a San Francisco office while former assistant [[district attorney]], [[Leslie Crocker Snyder]], joined the office in New York.<ref> Unknown author, (September 2003) [http://www.kasowitz.com/supreme-court-justice-leslie-crocker-snyder-joins-kasowitz-benson-torres--friedman-09-30-2003/ Supreme Court Justice Leslie Crocker Snyder Joins Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman] Official web site</ref> By 2004 the firm had increased to 160 lawyers and included an additional office in Atlanta.<ref name="American Lawyer"/> The firm opened its Miami, Florida office in 2006 and expanded its San Francisco, California office in 2007 by merging with the seven lawyer firm, Topel & Goodman.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> The 2005 launch of the intellectual property arm of the company led to several personnel changes with various key lawyers arriving and departing.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> This included Peter J. Toren who left the intellectual property department in the spring of 2007.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/>

In 2009 the firm hired [[Marcos Daniel Jimenez]], former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, to lead its Miami, Florida office<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"> Raymond, Nate (September 13, 2013). "[http://www.kasowitz.com/files/uploads/documents/kasowitz%20holds%20power%20close%20as%20he%20grows%20firm,%20lures%20business_new%20york%20law%20journal_9.13.10.pdf Kasowitz Holds Power Close As He Grows Firm, Lures Business]". ''[[New York Law Journal]]''. Accessed June 27, 2014.</ref> and added insurance recovery litigation to its practice.<ref name=AmLaw>{{cite web|last1=Lowe|first1=Zach|title=It's Official|url=http://amlawdaily.typepad.com/amlawdaily/2010/01/dicksteinkasowitz.html|website=Am Law Daily|publisher=AmLawDaily|accessdate=April 8, 2015}}</ref> In January 2010 the company added Robin Cohen and her insurance team from the firm, Dickstein Shapiro.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> 

In November 2012 the firm opened an additional office in Silicon Valley.<ref name="JD Journal">{{cite web|last1=Staff Writer|title=KBTF Open Office in Silicon Valley|url=http://www.jdjournal.com/2011/11/22/kasowitz-benson-torres-friedman-open-office-in-silicon-valley/|website=JD Journal|publisher=JDJournal|accessdate=April 8, 2015}}</ref> They opened a Los Angeles, California office in May 2013 led by partners that were lured away from Jenner & Block.<ref>[http://www.jdjournal.com/2013/05/21/kasowitz-benson-poaches-two-partners-sets-them-up-in-new-la-office/ June, Daniel, "Kasowitz Benson Poaches Two Partners, Sets Them Up in New LA Office"]</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Staff Writer|title=Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman|publisher=Insurance Weekly News|date=June 7, 2013}}</ref> In June, former U.S. Senator, [[Joe Lieberman]], joined the firm as Senior Counsel<ref>Unknown author, (June 6, 2013) [http://www.kasowitz.com/senator-joseph-lieberman-joins-kasowitz-06-06-20131 Senator Joseph Lieberman Joins Kasowitz] News,  Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP</ref>  and his former Senate Chief of Staff, [[Clarine Nardi Riddle]] launched a Government Affairs branch of the company in Washington D.C.<ref name="China Weekly">{{cite news|last1=News Reporter|title=Kasowitz Opens DC Office with Clarine Nardi Riddle to Lead Government Affairs Practice|publisher=China Weekly News|date=June 5, 2013}}</ref>  In October, two senior litigation attorneys from [[NBC Universal]]  joined the firm's Los Angeles office to begin an entertainment litigation practice.<ref name=Variety>{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Ted|title=NBCU Legal Execs Joint Litigation Firm|url=http://variety.com/2013/biz/news/nbcu-legal-execs-join-litigation-firm-with-focus-on-profit-participation-disputes-1200688174/|website=Variety|publisher=Variety}}</ref>

In 2014, following the resolution of several large cases, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman laid off approximately 30 of its 350 attorneys.<ref>{{cite news
 | last =Simmons
 | first =Christine
 | title =Kasowitz Layoffs Tied to End of Credit Crisis Cases
 | newspaper =''New York Law Journal''
 | date =February 21, 2014
 | url=http://www.newyorklawjournal.com/id=1202643902054/Kasowitz-Layoffs-Tied-to-End-of-Credit-Crisis-Cases
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | last =Lat
 | first =David
 | title =Nationwide Layoff Watch: Casualties At Kasowitz Benson 
 | newspaper =''Above the Law''
 | date =February 10, 2014
 | url=http://abovethelaw.com/2014/02/nationwide-layoff-watch-casualties-at-kasowitz-benson/
}}</ref> In 2014, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman was ranked as the 119th largest firm in the United States by [[Law360]].<ref>[http://www.law360.com/articles/518950/law360-reveals-400-largest-us-law-firms Simpson, Jake, "Law360 Reveals 400 Largest US Law Firms"] ''Law360''</ref> In June, the firm was awarded the Chambers USA 2014 Award for Excellence.<ref>Staff Reporter (June 13, 2014) Kasowitz Insurance Policyholder Recovery Group Receives Chambers Award for Excellence,  ''Insurance Weekly News''</ref>

===Notable clients and cases===
In 2003 the firm successfully opposed a chemical company called Celanese and won an asbestos lawsuit involving the auto parts supplier, ArvinMeritor.<ref name="American Lawyer"/> They also overturned a $799 million punitive damages award levied against the Liggett cigarette company.<ref name="American Lawyer"/> 

In 2004 the company received the "largest toxic tort settlement in U.S. history" in a case involving one of [[Monsanto]]'s company plants in Alabama.<ref name="American Lawyer"/> By 2005 the firm had participated in the bankruptcy cases of Enron, WorldCom, [[Global Crossing]] and [[Adelphia Communications]] and the matrimonial proceedings for Robert De Niro, [[Donna Hanover]] and Mia Farrow.<ref name="American Lawyer"/> The firm has represented [[Donald Trump]] since 2001.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Morrow|first1=Brendan|title=Marc E. Kasowitz: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know|url=http://heavy.com/news/2017/04/marc-e-kasowitz-attorney-lawyer-bill-o-reilly-donald-trump/|work=Heavy.com|date=April 19, 2017}}</ref> In January 2006, the firm filed a defamation lawsuit (dismissed in 2009) on behalf of Donald Trump against the author and publisher of ''[[TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald]]''.<ref>{{cite news
 | last =
 | first =
 | title =Trump Sues Writer and Book Publisher
 | newspaper =The New York Times
 | date =January 25, 2006
 | url =https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/business/media/25trump.html
 | accessdate = 
 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news
 | last =Goodman
 | first =Peter
 | title =Trump Suit Claiming Defamation Is Dismissed 
 | newspaper =The New York Times
 | date =July 15, 2009
 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/16/business/media/16trump.html
 }}</ref> In 2010 the firm's clients included [[Fortress Investment Group]], [[Liggett Group]], [[MBIA]] and [[Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited]].<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> In 2016, the firm represented Harold Peerenboom of Toronto in an extended legal fight with his seasonal [[Palm Beach, Florida]], neighbor, businessman [[Isaac Perlmutter]].<ref>[[Andrew Ross Sorkin|Sorkin, Andrew Ross]], [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/08/business/dealbook/lurid-suit-over-hate-mail-embroils-isaac-perlmutter-marvel-chief.html "Lurid Suit Over Hate Mail Embroils Isaac Perlmutter, Marvel Chief"], ''New York Times'' Dealbook, March 7, 2016. Retrieved 2017-06-09.</ref> In 2017, the firm had recently added the Russian [[Sberbank]] "in a case that accused it of conspiring to take over a Russian granite company".<ref>Sorkin, Andrew Ross, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/05/business/dealbook/sorkin-marc-kasowitz-trump-lawyer.html "Trump’s Lawyer, Marc Kasowitz: ‘The Toughest of the Tough Guys’"], ''New York Times'' Dealbook, June 5, 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-09.</ref>

==Administration==
The firm's main administration consists of the partners, Marc Kasowitz, Daniel Benson, Hector Torres and [[David M. Friedman|David Friedman]] and its executive committee consists of Kasowitz, Benson and Torres.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> The company's average per partner profit was $2.9 million in 2004<ref name="American Lawyer"/> and $2.1 million in 2009.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> According to a 2004 article in [[American Lawyer]] the firm had a "diverse culture" featuring an exceptional number of young lawyers but fewer than the average number of women and minority employees.<ref name="American Lawyer"/> In contrast, a 2014 a report by American Lawyer ranked the firms cultural diversity as 59th out of the 223 firms they evaluated.<ref name="Amer Law">{{cite news|last1=Staff writer|title=Diversity Scorecard: How the Firms Rate|url=http://www.americanlawyer.com/id=1202657037862/Diversity-Scorecard-How-the-Firms-Rate?slreturn=20150502153310|accessdate=June 2, 2015|publisher=The American Lawyer|date=May 29, 2014}}</ref>

==Controversy==
In September 2007 the firm was dismissed by its client, [[Biovail Corporation]] after a Southern District Judge found Biovail Corp. had used legal documents in violation of a protection order.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> The law firm denied knowledge of the protective order and was later rehired by Biovail.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/>  

In December 2007, one of the firm's partners, Jeremy Pitcock, was fired for "extremely inappropriate personal conduct." Pitcock sued the firm for wrongful firing and defamation and the firm countered with a suit claiming Pitcock sexually harassed 12 female employees. A panel of the Appellate Division, dismissed both suits.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/>

A former associate filed a lawsuit against the firm in August 2011 alleging negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract and wrongful termination. The suit's 2012 dismissal was upheld upon appeal.<ref>Weiss, Debra Cassens (January 23, 2013) [http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/associate_who_told_partners_of_his_superior_legal_mind_loses_appeal/%5d%5bCITE Associate Who Told Partners of His Superior Legal Mind Loses Appeal] ''ABA Journal''</ref><ref> Pearson, Brendon (January 23, 2013) [http://www.newyorklawjournal.com/id=1202585369244?slreturn=20140421172247] ''New York Law Journal''</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kasowitz, Benson, Torres and Friedman}}
[[Category:Law firms established in 1993]]
[[Category:Law firms based in New York City]]
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}}
 {{Infobox Law Firm
-| logo                      = [[Image:Kasowitz Benson Torres_logo.jpg|200px]]
+| firm_name      = Kasowitz Benson Torres
-| headquarters             = New York; NY
+| firm_logo      = [[File:Kasowitz_logo_2017.gif]]
-| num_offices               = http://www.kasowitz.com/offices/
+| headquarters   = [[Paramount Plaza]]<br>New York City
-| offices                  =
+| num_offices     = 9<ref>"[http://www.kasowitz.com/offices/ Offices]". Kasowitz, Benson, Torres. ''kasowitz.com''. Retrieved December 16, 2016.</ref>
-| num_attorneys             = 273
+| num_attorneys   =
-| num_employees             =
+| num_employees   =
-| practice_areas           = Litigation
+| practice_areas  = [[Litigation]]
-| established              =
+| key_people     = [[Marc Kasowitz]], founder and managing partner<ref>"[http://www.kasowitz.com/marc-e-kasowitz/ Marc E. Kasowitz]". Kasowitz, Benson, Torres&nbsp;&amp; Friedman. ''kasowitz.com''. Retrieved December 16, 2016.</ref>
-| key_people               = Marc Kasowitz
+| revenue         =
-| revenue                   =
+| date_founded    = 1993
-| profit_per_equity_partner =
+| founder        =
-| billable_hours            =
+| company_type    = [[Limited liability partnership]]
-| website                  =
+| firm_slogan    =
-| nalp_profile              =
+| homepage        = http://www.kasowitz.com/
-| nickname                  =
+| dissolved      =   <!-- Date/Reason the company dissolved, e.g., merger or bankruptcy -->
 }}
-{{Law Firm Pay Scale
-| year            = 2017
-| salary_1st_year = 180
-| bonus_1st_year  =
-| salary_2nd_year = 190
-| bonus_2nd_year  =
-| salary_3rd_year = 210
-| bonus_3rd_year  =
-| salary_4th_year = 235
-| bonus_4th_year  =
-| salary_5th_year = 260
-| bonus_5th_year  =
-| salary_6th_year = 280
-| bonus_6th_year  =
-| salary_7th_year = 300
-| bonus_7th_year  =
-| salary_8th_year =
-| bonus_8th_year  =
-| salary_9th_year =
-| bonus_9th_year  =
-}}{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}}
 '''Kasowitz, Benson & Torres''' is a New York law firm founded in 1993. It employs 350 lawyers and maintains offices in several states.<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> The firm focuses on product liability [[litigation]], corporate, family and employment law, as well as  [[intellectual property]], bankruptcy and [[creditors' rights]].<ref name="New York Law Journal Sept 2013"/> Notable clients have included [[Donald Trump]],<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cassens Weiss|first1=Debra|title=Meet Marc Kasowitz, the litigator who often represents Donald Trump|url=http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/meet_marc_kasowitz_the_litigation_lawyer_who_often_represents_donald_trump|website=ABA Journal|publisher=American Bar Association|accessdate=May 19, 2017}}</ref> [[Robert DeNiro]], [[Celanese]], [[ArvinMeritor]], [[Liggett Group]], [[Enron]], [[WorldCom]] and [[Mia Farrow]].