Contact

Tel: 646-663-4774
[email protected]


What We Do

Litigation Experience →
Corporate Experience →
Accomplishments →
Connections →

Education

Harvard College ’95
Harvard Law School ’00

Litigation Experience

Corporate Experience

Accomplishments

Law Firm Connections

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Don sharpened his litigation skills for over ten years at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP’s NYC office. He successfully represented corporations and individuals in a broad range of complex commercial and criminal litigation matters, including RICO claims, Chapter 11 confirmation proceedings, securities class actions and contractual disputes.  His notable representations include, among others:

  • Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman Sachs Credit Partners L.P., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as a consortium of lenders, in a confirmation hearing dispute concerning a $2 billion loan to Chapter 11 debtor Solutia Inc.;
  • Spectrum Brands, Inc., a Chapter 11 debtor, in a dispute involving the proper interest rate on a $1.4 billion loan;
  • Bear Stearns Cos. in a RICO action related to the theft of $200 million dollars by convicted financier Martin Frankel – who’s story is the basis for an episode of Law & Order Special Victims Unit;
  • Amerigroup, in a securities class action alleging fraud through hidden costs and inflated earnings forecasts; and Xerox Corporation, in a securities class action alleging fraud through undisclosed accounting actions.

While at Skadden, Don began his public service with a secondment to the Trial Division of the New York City Law Department. He also litigated with the Innocence Project, winning the exoneration from death row of a Mississippi man who had been falsely imprisoned for over twelve years.  Don also recently served an Equity Partner and Co-Founder of the NYC office for a fast growing litigation boutique, where he advised on broad range of litigation related issues.

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After working at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Don was appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo as General Counsel of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), where he also concurrently served as Acting President during part of his four-year tenure. Don served as Chief Legal Advisor to RIOC’s Board of Directors representing the interests of a public benefit corporation with a $65 million annual budget on a wide range of matters including: contractual negotiations, commercial and residential real estate transactions, as well as labor and employment issues. Don was also integral to negotiating transactions related to the billion-dollar Cornell University engineering campus, and the iconic aerial tramway.

Don recently worked as Senior Counsel with WeWork Companies Inc., widely recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the world, where he provided advice on unique legal and business issues, including litigation advice. Don served as the Lead of the WeWork Enterprise Legal Team for over two years and  successfully handled negotiations with hundreds of enterprise entities, including multiple Fortune 500 Companies and Wall Street banks, while leading WeWork’s Enterprise legal team from inception through robust and rapid growth.  Don handled both the legal and business aspects of many of these negotiations and is essentially an expert on legal and business issues related to co-working spaces.

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Lewis Law, LLC Individual Accomplishments

  • Successfully represented a college student in upstate New York, falsely accused in a Greek campus hazing incident.
  • Successfully represented a former law firm partner in multi-million claims against former firm.
  • Successfully assisted multiple co-working space providers in securing favorable terms for mega-space deals with enterprise clients.
  • Developed an initial membership agreement for an emerging business development outfit.
  • Negotiated favorable terms of a contentious separation agreement between an employee and a fast-growing finance company.
  • Coordinated with local counsel concerning a restructuring and reassignment of employees in Toronto.
  • Advised on defense of securities fraud claim of a disgruntled investor.
  • Advised CFO of a public company with respect to illicit conduct of co-executives.
  • Counseled a professional hockey player on the terms of a new contract, as well as post-career options.
  • Successfully negotiated a lease and related documents for an emerging growth company for office space in an iconic NYC building.

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Lewis Law, LLC  Connections with Leading Firms

  • Co-counsel with a nationwide mega-firm on behalf a major sports supplement company involved a multiple litigation with another major company in the same field.
  • Co-counsel with a firm in the District of Columbia involving a probate issue involving a multi-million estate
  • Co-counsel with a digital-age NYC based firm with an internationally diverse roster of former Big Law attorneys on an employment litigation and an IP litigation
  • Co-counsel with a leading litigation boutique in bringing claims on behalf of a cutting-edge German security company related to theft of trade secrets by a US company
  • Coordinated efforts with a Toronto-based firm concerning claims arising from a sham internal investigation.

Client Testimonials

  • Don was super helpful in my efforts to transition into the corporate workforce.


    I got to know Don playing in Long Island hockey leagues. The teams he captained were always filled with quality guys. When my hockey career ended, Don was super helpful in my efforts to transition into the corporate workforce. I will be forever grateful.
    –Chris “CuJo” Joseph, former professional hockey player
  • If you got a problem, he’s got the solution.


    If you got a question, he’s got the answer. If you got a problem, he’s got the solution. THE GREAT DON OF NEW YORK CITY! Look no further.
    –Rock stars Logan and Roger Raskin of The Raskins of NYC
  • Where others see obstacles, he sees solutions! Don is a great guy to have in your corner!


    Don is a trusted professional advisor and lifelong friend. From the days we played junior tennis up until now, Don has always been driven by both manic and good-natured desire to win. Where others see obstacles, he sees solutions! Don is a great guy to have in your corner!
    — Rob Principe, Founder & CEO Scratch Music Group Inc.
  • Whenever I need legal assistance, I search my phone for ‘Better Dial Don!


    Donnie Dangerous is like 1.5 degrees of separation! He knows everybody. Whenever I need legal assistance, I search my phone for ‘Better Dial Don!
    –Alvarez Symonette, former U Penn Track Star, Former Hedge Fund Executive, Charter School-Founder
  • Don’s network is so strong because he is a genuine down-to-earth guy.


    Don’s network is so strong because he is a genuine down-to-earth guy and lives life by the Golden Rule. That said, with as much as he plays hockey . . . he could stand to learn to back-check and skate backwards.
    –Danny Genovese, New York City hockey legend and Director of Chelsea Piers Hockey
  • Don is hyper intelligent...


    Don is hyper intelligent in terms of book smarts, common sense and street sense, a combination extremely hard to find.
    — Oba McMillan, Executive VP and Co-Owner of Tetrad Digital Integrity
  • His connections have proved invaluable...


    I have known Don for years. You can’t walk a day in NYC with him without running into someone he knows. His connections have proved invaluable on a personal and professional level.
    –Darrick Hamilton, Distinguished PhD, Economist focusing on race and ethnicity
  • Don is singularly focused on solutions.


    Don is a force to be reckoned with. If he doesn't immediately know the answer, he figures it out. Don is singularly focused on solutions . . . and all about getting shit done!
    –Brendan Gilmore, former airline pilot and current private pilot to the stars
  • Don is a ROCKSTAR... he hooked me up big when I had a legal issue.


    Don is a ROCKSTAR!!! He took the stage and led my spin class like a pro! Don hooked me up big time when I had a legal issue. . . the Man’s got range!
    — Kym Perfetto, celebrity trainer and Soul Cycle Master Instructor, featured on The Amazing Race, supporting roles in the The Wire and Premium Rush.

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