Sorenson Law Offices - Sigurd Sorenson, Founder and Managing Partner

Sig Sorenson

sas@sorensonlaw.nyc

+1 917 916 5196

Practice Description

Our founder, Sig Sorenson, has spent his career litigating, arbitrating, and winning high-stakes domestic and international commercial disputes, first with the global firm Clifford Chance (legacy Rogers & Wells), where he ultimately headed the firm’s North American Product Liability Group; then as a Litigation Partner for six years with the global firm Baker McKenzie; and since 2013 as Managing Partner for Sorenson Law Offices (legacy Saito Sorenson). Mr. Sorenson began his career clerking for United States District Judge John T. Elfvin (W.D.N.Y.).  

In representing some of the world’s premier corporations, Mr. Sorenson has practiced throughout the United States, and in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has extricated his clients from “judicial hellholes” in Texas and California, has collected evidence and testimony for them in the Sudan, and has advised and assisted the governments of Yemen, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka in drafting national legislation. He has lectured frequently to European and Asian industry groups about reducing the litigation risks of doing business in the United States. From 2006 until 2012, he served (in addition to his law firm duties) as Adjunct Professor of Law at St. John’s University School of Law. 

Mr. Sorenson’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration, high-tech product liability/mass tort litigation, contract disputes, defamation and media law, fraud, and appellate advocacy. He is an experienced trial and class action attorney.  He excels at clearly and compellingly presenting scientific and technical evidence, and at cross-examining and impeaching expert witnesses.

Besides litigation and arbitration, Mr. Sorenson negotiates and drafts commercial agreements and employment contracts, advises shareholders concerning their rights and potential liabilities, and analyzes his clients’ business practices to identify and reduce litigation and liability risks. In proposed mergers and acquisitions, he assesses the litigation and liability risks of target companies. He also reviews his clients’ legal invoices from other law firms and, where appropriate, negotiates lower bills.

Employment history

Sorenson Law Offices (legacy Saito Sorenson), New York, 2013 to present. Founder and Managing Partner.

Baker McKenzie, New York office, 2007 to 2013. Litigation Partner.

Clifford Chance (legacy Rogers & Wells), New York office, 1995 to 2007. Litigation Associate, then Counsel, then Head of U.S. Product Liability Practice Group.

Law Clerk, United States District Judge John T. Elfvin, W.D.N.Y., 1993 to 1995.

Representative matters

  • Currently representing a Czech investment fund in an action to recognize a $410 million Czech money judgment against Viktor Kozeny, a notorious international fraudster, and to enforce it against $23 million held in a bank account under the name of a Kozeny-controlled shell company. The case follows Kozeny’s conviction in Prague for embezzling $410 million from the Czech investment fund. To date, $23 million has been successfully identified and attached, and two motions to dismiss have been defeated. See, e.g., Harvardsky Prumyslovy Holding, A.S. v Kozeny, 90 N.Y.S.3d 10 (1st Dep’t 2018).

  • In defending a medical-device manufacturer against a catastrophic product liability claim, convinced a federal judge to disqualify, via a Daubert motion and hearing, plaintiff’s entire expert team and its expert report. The team consisted of three Stanford University PhDs, a former NASA scientist, and the leading hospital-fire investigator in the United States; and the team had spent one year and $1.2 million in compiling a report that exceeded 1,000 pages.  See Werth v. Hill-Rom, Inc., 856 F. Supp. 2d 1051 (D. Minn. 2012).

  • After defeating Bank of America on appeal, negotiated a favorable settlement with it for a wealth management fund in a $30 million breach of contract case. The case involved the Lehman Brother’s bankruptcy and an ISDA Master agreement. See Guidance Enhanced Green Terrain LLC v. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, 45 N.Y.S. 3d (1st Dep’t 2017).

  • Advised shareholders of a professional corporation of their rights and potential risks concerning the proposed purchase of the corporation by a multi-billion-dollar private equity firm.

  • Convinced federal judge (via motion and oral argument) to dismiss a civil RICO case brought by an investor against high-tech media start-up. See Martinez v. Accellerant Media et al., S.D.N.Y., Index No. 20-cv-9366 (GBD), Dkt. No. 29 (Order dated March 31, 2021 granting motion and dismissing case against client).

  • Extricated German manufacturer of respiratory protection devices from dozens of “silica” product-liability cases filed against it in plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions in Texas and California (achieved dismissals of every case).

  • Successfully defended a French engineering and construction company in arbitrations involving engineering, procurement, and construction contracts for ethanol production plants.

  • Represented Heimann Systems GmbH in its infringement case to enforce its patent on an x-ray imaging device to detect contraband in truck cargo.  After a successful Markman hearing, reached a favorable settlement.

  • Successfully defended Credit Lyonnais in a $40 million contract case involving non-deliverable forward currency contracts governed by an ISDA Master Agreement.

  • Represented The Associated Press, Univision, and other media clients in numerous defamation and media law cases and controversies.

  • Successfully defended German high-technology company in the 53 product liability cases filed against it in the United States since 1996. Never lost any of these cases.

  • Defended European medical-device manufacturer, in plaintiff-friendly Eastern District Texas, in an “aftermarket” antitrust case. The case was brought by anesthesia machine service organizations claiming a right to more favorable access to spare parts, and alleged nine-figure damages. After discovery and the filing of a strong summary judgment motion, the case settled favorably.

  • Advised Korean multi-national electronics manufacturer about ways to lessen consumer class action exposure in the United States.

  • Extricated leading shoe manufacturer from a threatened consumer fraud class action in California.

  • Successfully represented leading racing bicycle manufacturer before the Consumer Product Safety Commission concerning voluntary bicycle recall.

  • Defended Canadian oil company in an Alien Tort Claims Act class action (class certification was denied).

Admissions

New York, Wisconsin, S.D.N.Y., E.D.N.Y, Second Circuit, Ninth Circuit. Admitted pro hac vice for various cases in numerous jurisdictions.

Pro bono

Volunteer attorney since 2007 for the International Senior Lawyers Project. Represented clients of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts from 1995 to 2006.

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., cum laude.  Three-time winner of the American Jurisprudence award.  International Law Journal member.

St. John’s College, Annapolis, MD, B.A., Classical Liberal Arts (Philosophy, Astronomy, Ancient Greek, Mathematics, Physics, Logic, Literature).

Sorenson Law Offices - Sigurd Sorenson, Founder and Managing Partner

Sigurd Ansgar Sorenson

Founder and Managing Partner

sas@sorensonlaw.nyc

office: +1 212 245 1919

+1 917 916 5196

Practice Description

Our founder, Sig Sorenson, has spent his career litigating, arbitrating, and winning high-stakes domestic and international commercial disputes, first with the global firm Clifford Chance (legacy Rogers & Wells), where he ultimately headed the firm’s North American Product Liability Group; then as a Litigation Partner for six years with the global firm Baker McKenzie; and since 2013 as Managing Partner for Sorenson Law Offices (legacy Saito Sorenson). Mr. Sorenson began his career clerking for United States District Judge John T. Elfvin (W.D.N.Y.).  

In representing some of the world’s premier corporations, Mr. Sorenson has practiced throughout the United States, and in Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has extricated his clients from “judicial hellholes” in Texas and California, has collected evidence and testimony for them in the Sudan, and has advised and assisted the governments of Yemen, Mongolia, and Sri Lanka in drafting national legislation. He has lectured frequently to European and Asian industry groups about reducing the litigation risks of doing business in the United States. From 2006 until 2012, he served (in addition to his law firm duties) as Adjunct Professor of Law at St. John’s University School of Law. 

Mr. Sorenson’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration, high-tech product liability/mass tort litigation, contract disputes, defamation and media law, fraud, and appellate advocacy. He is an experienced trial and class action attorney.  He excels at clearly and compellingly presenting scientific and technical evidence, and at cross-examining and impeaching expert witnesses.

Besides litigation and arbitration, Mr. Sorenson negotiates and drafts commercial agreements and employment contracts, advises shareholders concerning their rights and potential liabilities, and analyzes his clients’ business practices to identify and reduce litigation and liability risks. In proposed mergers and acquisitions, he assesses the litigation and liability risks of target companies. He also reviews his clients’ legal invoices from other law firms and, where appropriate, negotiates lower bills.

Representative matters

  • Currently representing a Czech investment fund in an action to recognize a $410 million Czech money judgment against Viktor Kozeny, a notorious international fraudster, and to enforce it against $23 million held in a bank account under the name of a Kozeny-controlled shell company. The case follows Kozeny’s conviction in Prague for embezzling $410 million from the Czech investment fund. To date, $23 million has been successfully identified and attached, and two motions to dismiss have been defeated. See, e.g., Harvardsky Prumyslovy Holding, A.S. v Kozeny, 90 N.Y.S.3d 10 (1st Dep’t 2018).

  • In defending a medical-device manufacturer against a catastrophic product liability claim, convinced a federal judge to disqualify, via a Daubert motion and hearing, plaintiff’s entire expert team and its expert report. The team consisted of three Stanford University PhDs, a former NASA scientist, and the leading hospital-fire investigator in the United States; and the team had spent one year and $1.2 million in compiling a report that exceeded 1,000 pages.  See Werth v. Hill-Rom, Inc., 856 F. Supp. 2d 1051 (D. Minn. 2012).

  • After defeating Bank of America on appeal, negotiated a favorable settlement with it for a wealth management fund in a $30 million breach of contract case. The case involved the Lehman Brother’s bankruptcy and an ISDA Swap agreement. See Guidance Enhanced Green Terrain LLC v. Bank of America Merrill Lynch, 45 N.Y.S. 3d (1st Dep’t 2017).

  • Extricated German manufacturer of respiratory protection devices from dozens of “silica” product-liability cases filed against it in plaintiff-friendly jurisdictions in Texas and California (achieved dismissals of every case).

  • Successfully defended a French engineering and construction company in arbitrations involving engineering, procurement, and construction contracts for ethanol production plants.

  • Represented Heimann Systems GmbH in its infringement case to enforce its patent on an x-ray imaging device to detect contraband in truck cargo.  After a successful Markman hearing, reached a favorable settlement.

  • Represented The Associated Press, Univision, and other media clients in numerous defamation and media law cases and controversies.

  • Successfully defended German high-technology company in the 53 product liability cases filed against it in the United States since 1996. Never lost any of these cases.

  • Defended European medical-device manufacturer, in plaintiff-friendly Eastern District Texas, in an “aftermarket” antitrust case. The case was brought by anethesia machine service organizations claiming a right to more favorable access to spare parts, and alleged nine-figure damages. After discovery and the filing of a strong summary judgment motion, the case settled favorably.

  • Advised Korean multi-national electronics manufacturer about ways to lessen consumer class action exposure in the United States.

  • Extricated leading shoe manufacturer from a threatened consumer fraud class action in California.

  • Successfully represented leading racing bicycle manufacturer before the Consumer Product Safety Commission concerning voluntary bicycle recall.

  • Defended Canadian oil company in an Alien Tort Claims Act class action (class certification was denied).

Admissions

Admitted to practice in the states of New York and Wisconsin, and in federal courts in New York, California, and Wisconsin. Admitted pro hac vice for various cases in numerous jurisdictions.

Pro bono

Volunteer attorney since 2007 for the International Senior Lawyers Project. Represented clients of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts from 1995 to 2006.

Education

University of Wisconsin, J.D., cum laude.  Three-time winner of the American Jurisprudence award.  International Law Journal member.

St. John’s College, Annapolis, MD, B.A., Classical Liberal Arts (Philosophy, Astronomy, Ancient Greek, Mathematics, Physics, Logic, Literature).