Eric Shames | New York Merger and Acquisitions Lawyer

Eric J. Shames is a lawyer, businessman, private-equity funding coordinator, and International Due Diligence Liaison. He is currently a Managing Director of Strategic Litigation Solutions and a practicing attorney and Managing Principal with the Law Office of at Eric J. Shames, Esq., P.C. Previously, Mr. Shames was senior counsel and corporate secretary for a New York City based investment firm, and held a similar position with a New Jersey based on-line broker/dealer. He has more than 25 years experience in the fields of securities law, financial market regulation and enforcement, litigation assessment, strategy and management, as well as in investment structuring and funding.

Mr. Shames holds a Juris Doctor from Yeshiva University, an M.B.A. in Finance from Columbia Business School and a B.A. in Economics from Brandeis University.

He has lectured extensively on securities litigation and arbitration strategy, investment management, portfolio diversification, and derivative hedging. He has authored a newspaper column on contemporary economic news and issues, and he has been a guest lecturer at Fordham Law School. Mr. Shames also serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Securities Law, Regulation and Compliance and the Latin American Herald Tribune.

Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire

Please describe a case in the last year or two where you made a big difference.
I recently represented a client falsely accused of fraud and RICO for coordinating a home refinancing and for taking kickbacks from the mortgage broker. Believing my client that the allegations were false, it was soon confirmed that, in fact, the allegations were untrue and had no basis to have even been asserted. It was further learned that the Plaintiff’s law firm had not performed any due diligence prior to filing their client’s claim. The unsupported, uninvestigated claims were made by the Plaintiff in order to stay a foreclosure proceeding brought by the lending institution. Under the threat of pursuing sanctions for failing to perform any due diligence, the false claims were summarily withdrawn and discontinued.

How did you build a successful practice?
Obviously, experience and a track record of results are very important. Results come from hard work, attention to detail and perseverance. Being responsive to a client’s needs, understanding what causes their fears and anxiety and being able to address their needs and answer their questions with patience, understanding, explanations and direction are key. Maintaining a positive reputation must be earned and confirmed with each new client; one will then be rewarded when this positive reputation travels by word of mouth, leading to new clients when and from where you may have never expected.

What should clients look for in a lawyer?
Most people in need of a lawyer are not able to aptly ascertain who might be the correct counsel for them or for their particular issue, even if given a formula or criteria. Knowing a lawyer’s educational and experience background is helpful, the number of years of practice in a specific area and geography are important. However, the best way is by personal referral and by reputation. Making a decision “upfront” with information from those who have previously worked with a particular attorney is usually the best way to go. Not enough can be said about the value of reputation.

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• Practice Areas
• Litigation and Arbitration
• Employment Law
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