Dewey & LeBoeuf

Jeffrey J. Amato

Associate

Jeffrey Amato is an associate with the firm's Litigation Department. Mr. Amato’s practice deals in the preparation and trial of complex commercial cases in a variety of areas, such as contracts and business torts, class actions, tax controversy, insurance, and bankruptcy. Mr. Amato also has experience in white collar criminal defense and corporate internal investigations. Mr. Amato has litigated in state and federal courts, administrative forums, as well as in domestic and international arbitration and mediation. Mr. Amato also provides representation to criminal defendants in federal and state courts at both the trial, appellate, and post-conviction levels.

Prior to joining Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, Mr. Amato served as law clerk to the Honorable Arthur D. Spatt, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York. Prior to his clerkship, Mr. Amato was an attorney with the United States Department of Homeland Security where he prosecuted numerous civil enforcement actions against individuals, air carriers, shippers, and other regulated entities. During his tenure, he received an interim appointment as Special Assistant to the Chief Counsel of the Transportation Security Administration. Following his graduation from law school, Mr. Amato was an Honors Attorney with the Office of the General Counsel of the United States Department of Transportation.

Class Action Litigation Experience

Deutsche Bank AG. Representation of Deutsche Bank AG in a putative class action brought by investors alleging RICO, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment, in which the Firm successfully obtained denial of class certification. Kottler v. Deutsche Bank AG, 2010 WL 1221809 (S.D.N.Y. Mar. 29, 2010).
Washington National Ins. Co. Representation of a subsidiary of CNO Financial Group, Inc. (formerly Conseco, Inc.) in a class action in the Southern District of Florida and the Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, concerning allegations of breach of contract.
National Union Fire Ins. Co Pittsburgh PA. Representation of a subsidiary of Chartis Inc. in a putative class action in federal court involving allegations of civil RICO, fraud, and breach of contract.
MBIA Inc. Representation of provider of financial guarantee insurance in a putative class action involving allegations of fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance.

Tax Controversy, White Collar Criminal Defense, and Investigations Experience

Representation of various companies in civil litigation and government investigations involving alleged tax shelters, including a major international bank in the largest criminal tax investigation in US history.
Representation of an investment banker in allegations of official misconduct brought by a state attorney general.
Representation of a court-appointed receiver for a multinational financial firm, in securities litigation and investigations in New York federal court.
Representation of an international developer in a government investigation and related civil litigation arising out of a serious construction accident.

Bankruptcy Litigation Experience

Representation of Ames Department Stores Inc. in an adversary proceeding against a surety company for breach of contract.
Representation of a foreign court appointed receiver in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.
Counsel to a foreign representative of a Russian debtor in a Chapter 15 proceeding.

Other Representative Matters

Representation of a sovereign government in an international arbitration brought in the Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague under the rules of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law.
Litigation of disputes relating to requests for international discovery in the context of applications to the U.S. federal courts under 28 U.S.C. §1782 for discovery in the United States in aid of foreign proceedings.
Defense of Bioniche Life Sciences Inc., a Canadian biotech firm, which has been sued in New York State court for breach of an acquisition agreement.

Selected Activities

Federal Bar Council

Publications

Author, The MTA, It's Not "Going Your Way"-Liability of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Under FELA : Greene v. Long Island R.R., St. John's Law Review, Vol. 75, Issue 113 (2001).