Stephen L. Ratner is the former co-head of our Financial Institutions Group. His practice focuses on the representation of banks and other financial services institutions in complex litigations, investigations and enforcement proceedings, arbitrations and mediations, compliance issues, and regulatory controversies involving securities, commodities, and derivative products.
Matters Steve handles include the defense of class actions and other actions involving, for example, high frequency and algorithmic trading, short selling practices, IPO allocations, and data security and privacy issues. He also handles internal investigations and investigations and enforcement proceedings by the SEC, CFTC, Department of Justice, FINRA and other regulators regarding issues such as high frequency and algorithmic trading, market access, securities lending, trade reporting, short selling, electronic communications, and supervision. Steve also represents banks and other financial institutions in fraudulent transfer litigation and other litigation based upon failed LBOs and alleged Ponzi schemes.
Steve has served as a member of Proskauer’s Executive Committee, an adjunct professor of law at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and a mediator appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Steve is the author of the section entitled “Broker-Dealer Litigation and Arbitration” in the multi-volume treatise, Commercial Litigation in New York State Courts, and is a frequent speaker on matters related to the financial services industry.
Education
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Columbia Law School, J.D.
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar -
Columbia University, B.A.
Admissions & Qualifications
- New York
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, New York, Eastern District
- U.S. District Court, New York, Southern District
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
Memberships
Federal Bar Council (Board of Editors of Federal Bar Council News)
New York State Bar Association
Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association
Futures Industry Association
New York City Bar (Past service on Committee on Judicial and Professional Ethics)
Awards & Recognition
Chambers USA: New York–Litigation: Securities Litigation (Recognized Practitioner) 2015
Benchmark Litigation National Litigation Star 2014-2022
Best Lawyers in America 2014-2023
The Legal 500 United States: Litigation: Securities: Shareholder Litigation 2015-2017
New York Super Lawyers
Corporate Defense and Disputes Blog
Emerging issues in U.S. securities law, white collar criminal defense and regulatory enforcement
Edited by Jonathan Richman and Julia Alonzo