Blaine Bortnick, a long-time partner at a New York boutique litigation firm, has joined Rasco Klock’s New York office. He will be joining his colleague of many years, Read McCaffrey, who is launching the firm’s New York presence. McCaffrey and Bortnick have extensive experience in international arbitration and complex litigation. In addition, Bortnick is a “go-to” counsel for very senior executives wishing to change their employment or better their financial deals.
“This was an easy choice for me, notwithstanding nearly 25 years at my old firm,” observed Bortnick. “Clients today are looking for lawyers and a firm that have the ability to deliver streamlined, economical, and prompt services. When an executive needs counseling on a compensation package or a quick exit from a company, either to the beaches or to a new management challenge, these factors are as important as talent and quality.” Added to this, according to Bortnick, is his new firm’s ability to not only handle New York-based assignments, but also to serve the international market from the recognized Latin American arbitration and business capital of the world, Miami.
In naming Bortnick to head the New York office, Ramon Rasco, firm managing partner, founder, and corporate practice head, pointed to Bortnick’s diverse legal specialties and talents, including his expertise in employment, securities and complex commercial litigation matters in federal and state courts, as well as before arbitration tribunals. He will also be able to work with his long-time colleague, Read McCaffrey, who divides his time between New York and Miami. “Blaine and Read are a great team. They have the ability to tackle the demands of international clients and high caliber executives who do not have the time to dawdle over personal needs and professional service agreements,” commented Rasco. With our team of litigators who have handled cases at every trial level and appellate level, Blaine will also have what he needs to serve his clients and his practice, be it arbitration or litigation.
As a veteran New York employment practitioner, Bortnick represents both individuals and companies in a wide range of employment matters. He has counseled high-level executives in a variety of industries, including many hedge fund managers. His expertise and in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of compensation arrangements unique to this field and non-competition issues have enabled him to negotiate favorable contracts and exit packages, as well as successfully litigate on behalf of his clients.
Bortnick also has an active and diverse commercial litigation practice. His clients have included both public and private companies in a variety of industries, foremost among them the securities industry, the banking industry and the oil & gas industry. These representations have ranged from complex contract disputes to international bank and securities fraud cases.
Additionally, Bortnick regularly advises companies and partnerships, including broker-dealers, on a wide range of issues including employment and compensation, governance, intellectual property, investigatory and general business matters. As a
former adjunct Professor of Law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he taught for 12 years, Bortnick’s expertise is often sought by out–of–state attorneys.
Read McCaffrey praised his new partner: “Blaine regularly represents clients in FINRA matters, both regulatory and in arbitration, where he has obtained many monetarily significant FINRA arbitration awards. He has also scored a significant judgment for sex discrimination as well as the second highest award for emotional distress damages in an employment case in New York on behalf of an airline employee.” “But,” claimed McCaffrey, “Blaine is far from a narrow specialties player. He has also obtained an international arbitration award of $4.7 million on behalf of a large privately-owned oil wholesaling company in the United States against a foreign supplier, and as part of an international team of lawyers, headed the New York team that obtained a $100 million judgment on behalf of a foreign bank executive in an international fraud case, litigated in the Dominican Republic, Florida, Colorado and New York.”
Rasco Klock, a minority-owned law firm, provides well-reasoned, efficient and practical solutions to the diverse business needs of market leading companies and high net worth individuals who invest or do business in South Florida and the Americas. Nearly half of Rasco Klock’s lawyers have been recognized for their legal excellence by independent third parties such as Chambers, Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers, and Top Lawyers. Their experience ranges from structuring offshore investment in the U.S., whether through start-ups, joint ventures or other business combinations, to the day-to-day operations of a going concern, including distribution, licensing, leasing, taxation, government procurement and employment issues.
Its attorneys, who have practiced before scores of state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as leading arbitral bodies, represent private and public corporations and major financial institutions in all aspects of lending, litigation and foreclosures, bankruptcy and bankruptcy litigation, taxation, trademark monitoring, trademark and trade dress infringement, copyright infringement, false advertising, and infringement of the rights of publicity and internet domain disputes. Led by a joint J.D./Ph.D. in marine biology, they have handled complex environmental cases ranging from brownfield planning and reclamation to water pollution, regulation, and preservation issues. They also represent individuals and families domestically and internationally regarding the management, taxation, preservation, and transfers of wealth, as well as the use and administration of trusts and estates.
The New York office is located at 555 Fifth Avenue, 17th Floor (10017) 1.212.856.7237, and the Florida office is located at 2555 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Ste 600, Coral Gables (33134) 1.305.476.7100.
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For further Comment:
Ramon Rasco 305.476.7100
Blaine Bortnick 212.856.7237