Biography: Commercial Litigation

Mr Kolb has for many years been a practising litigator and trial lawyer in both federal and state courts throughout the United States.

Mr Kolb has successfully handled a long list of high profile matters with significant client exposure. His clients have typically been major accounting firms, financial and industrial corporations, law firms, and a range of public interest organisations. His experience includes extended trials in courts throughout the United States and significant government investigations. He has presented appellate arguments in numerous Federal Circuit and State Appellate Courts. He has participated in significant arbitrations as both an advocate and arbitrator and has participated as an advocate in many significant mediations involving both domestic US and cross-border matters.

Mr Kolb's significant matters have centred on issues as to financial reporting, including alleged fraud and non-disclosure, contract interpretation, banking, financial institution and other significant business failures, US and state jurisdiction, major issues of constitutional law and complex antitrust and estate matters.

His career highlights include Fourth Circuit Affirmance in Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado, et al v Deloitte & Touche, LLP of dismissal of purported securities class action claims against Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with purchases of the shares of Royal Ahold Corporation; the Second Circuit affirmance in Lattanzio v Deloitte & Touche LLP of dismissal of purported securities class action claims against Deloitte & Touche LLP in connection with purchases of the securities of Warnaco Corporation; and the dismissal by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in Re: Parmalat Securities Litigation of all securities class action claims against defendants by non-US purchasers.

He is listed as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business and Legal Media Group's Benchmark Litigation. He is a recipient of the Gould Award for Outstanding Advocacy, presented by the Office of the Appellate Defender. He is on the roster of mediators for the Supreme Court New York County's commercial division.

He was appointed as special master in New York's Appellate Division First Department to conduct mediations. He is a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers and former national chair of the college's access to justice committee. He is also a member of the audit committee, New York City Bar; former vice president and chair of the executive, judiciary and litigation committees. He is member of the board of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; former national co-chair, vice chair, board of directors, The Legal Aid Society; a member of the CPR Panel of Distinguished Neutrals; a member of the ADR section, American Bar Association; a member of the dispute resolution section, New York State Bar; and chair of the audit committee, Brennan Center for Justice.

He was named senior counsel in 2011, was a partner from 1973 to 2011, associate from 1965 to 1973, head of the Washington office from 1980-1988 and practice coordinator for the litigation practice from 1989 to 1999.

Mr Kolb graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1963 and received his JD from the University of Michigan Law School, 1965.