Tag: Firm News

On Wednesday, June 5th, Pastore LLC welcomed our summer class to the firm.

Kacey Hartmann has returned to the office as a Summer Associate after starting with Pastore as a Law Clerk in January of 2024. She received her Bachelor of Science in Political Science at Auburn University in 2022 and recently finished her second year at University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law. Kacey is involved in the Women’s Law Caucus, the Sports Law Society, and volunteers as an advocate for CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Rob Washburne joins us as a Summer Law Intern. He is a rising junior at Bates College, where he majors in Politics and minors in Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies. After completing his bachelor’s degree, Rob intends to attend law school. While in school, Rob is the founder and president of the Club Tennis Team, actively involved with the Student Government and the Bonner Leader Program, and works at the Lewiston District Court.

Ellie Carter has returned to the office after starting as a Summer Law Intern in 2023. She is a rising senior in the Dual BA program between Columbia University and Sciences Po Paris, studying Politics & Government and Anthropology. Outside of the classroom, Ellie is the President of Columbia University Mock Trial, and is involved in Jewish life on campus. She looks forward to attending law school after graduation.

Pastore has successfully obtained jurisdiction over the CEO of an national logistics company in a dispute between founders of the company. The CEO had previously claimed that service was improper over him in Connecticut and that there was no personal jurisdiction over him within the state despite owning property in Connecticut and the fact that the company was founded in Connecticut. Pastore’s client, a shareholder and founder, was successful in overcoming that argument. Pastore client’s claims exceed $50 Million, alleging that the logistics company has failed to honor his rights as a shareholder and employee. The company, which also owns a large share of Attabotics, a Canadian logistics company, has recently engaged in a series of corporate transactions which may be subject to judicial review.

Pastore LLC has been retained in two separate SEC matters. One matter is an appeal to the Second Circuit arising from an SEC civil action that seeks disgorgement due to alleged false statements under 15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(5). Another involves an SEC investigation into a publicly traded retail store. Pastore has a thriving securities practice and has attorneys who have previously worked for SEC enforcement and the NYSE.

Pastore was retained by a billionaire and his company in connection with a dispute over the maintenance and ownership of a fleet of private jets. The new action, filed in Federal Court in Connecticut, involves Wheels Up and Delta Airlines and alleges breach of contract and unfair trade practices concerning N79B aircraft.

In a hotly contested alternative investment hedge fund dispute involving a billionaire family office, the Connecticut Complex Litigation Court recently reduced an award after trial by more than half. In a motion to modify, Pastore LLC argued that requiring their clients to pay this amount plus interest would be excessive, due to a settlement payment previously received by Plaintiff in a related federal court proceeding. The judge agreed with Pastore LLC on that issue. The issue of costs and attorney’s fees is still pending. Additionally, Pastore LLC’s client won the aforementioned related case in federal court and the corresponding appeal before the Second Circuit, and thus, the entire state court matter is subject to appeal.

Pastore LLC, along with Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP and Levitt LLP, moved to remand an Adversary Proceeding originally pending in the Complex Litigation Docket in the Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford. Although the case was pulled from the docket by the original bankruptcy filing, a SDNY bankruptcy judge ordered it returned for “equitable” remand. The claims involve corporate governance and ownership structure of construction projects totaling over $1.6 Billion. Related to this dispute, Pastore’s client has already won a $14 million Arbitration Award, which will be paid out under the Bankruptcy Court’s supervision.

Pastore advised a well-known New York public college foundation with respect to the endowment investments totaling in excess of $100 million. Pastore advised the university foundation on a new investment management agreement with Bank of America, and helped them negotiate a more balanced contract for both parties involved.

Pastore LLC attended the Digital Assets Connection 2023 as a sponsor on June 7, 2023. This third iteration of the conference, which was formerly known as Crypto Connection, saw approximately 250 attendees, speakers, and sponsors join together for meaningful and innovative dialogue about the digital asset industry. Central topics included stablecoin and payment tokens, current trading and exchange environments for centralized and decentralized finance, and digital asset custody, utility, and purpose.

At Digital Assets Connection 2023, Pastore LLC representatives discussed with other attendees the difficulties that arise from ambiguous or insufficient regulations, the importance of making a good faith effort to comply, and projections for the future of public policy in the industry. As a firm that applies a long history of practice in traditional finance to the realm of decentralized financial platforms, Pastore LLC can advise clients on best practices for compliance with regulations related to digital assets.

Pastore LLC was proud to sponsor the event alongside co-sponsors such as LMAX Group, Ciphertrace – Mastercard, Hedera, BSO, Wilkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Prometheum, INX, Oasis Pro Markets, Chainlink Labs Aon, Cboe Digital, Ledgible Crypto Tax & Accounting, NODE40, American Crypto Academy, XTRD, and Astra Engine. More information about the forum can be found at https://www.tabbgroup.com/digitalassetsforum2023.