Hecker Fink LLP

Hecker Fink LLP Partner Jenna Dabbs is featured in the Law360 article, “A Winding Path: How Lawyers’ Career Aspirations Shift.” With a keen interest in climate change and an undergraduate science degree, Jenna believed in law school that she would become an environmental lawyer and even interned at the US Environmental Protection Agency, but a clerkship with Judge Denise Cote in the Southern District of New York changed her trajectory and goals for the future. Jenna went on to join the white collar and criminal defense team of an international law firm, and then served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for nearly a decade, both in the Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force and in the Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. “There are many parallels between working in white-collar law and my scientific background — investigation, mastering facts, and learning about new fields and industries — all of which helped me become a strong advocate for my clients.” Read more about Jenna's career path here: https://lnkd.in/ejv999Qb

Today, the Appellate Division, Third Department unanimously affirmed the post-trial order that removes Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from the New York general election ballot, in a thorough six-page decision rejecting each of RFK’s arguments. Read the decision here: https://lnkd.in/e_Pp62WM Earlier this month, the New York Supreme Court invalidated RFK’s nominating petition and ordered him removed from New York’s general election ballot.—a total victory for the Hecker Fink LLP trial team representing Petitioners-Objectors in an expedited trial proceeding.  The team was led by John Quinn and included Kate H., Joseph Posimato, Ian Roberston, Tayonna Ngutter,  Savannah Wagoner, and Finn Barry.

Hecker Fink LLP was profiled in the New York Law Journal for being named an Innovation Firm Award finalist as part of the publication’s 2024 Professional Excellence Awards. In a Q&A, Partner John Quinn discussed the firm’s work in neutralizing Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. In March, the firm secured a historic settlement agreement with the Florida state officials that effectively nullified the most dangerous and discriminatory impacts of the law. The Innovation Award recognizes “creative and inspiring approaches” and “forward-thinking firms.” Finalists will be honored at an awards ceremony on September 5th in New York City. Learn more about this year’s finalists here: https://lnkd.in/e37X5HzH

We are proud to share that former Hecker Fink LLP Case Manager Nikki Zinzuwadia has been awarded the Virginia Public Service Scholarship, a full-tuition award given to University of Virginia School of Law students pursuing public service careers. All of us at Hecker Fink couldn't be more excited for Nikki as she embarks on the next chapter of her legal career. Congratulations, Nikki!

We are proud to share that Hecker Fink LLP is a finalist in The American Lawyer’s 2024 Industry Awards. These awards recognize “outstanding achievements and contributions made by individuals, law firms, and legal departments across various practice areas and specialties.” Hecker Fink was recognized among nine finalists in the “National Boutique/Specialty Litigation Department of the Year” category. According to the publication, the prestigious awards “serve not only as a platform to honor these achievements but also as a means to inspire excellence and innovation within the legal industry.” Finalists will be honored on November 13th in New York City. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/e8ryucJ3

Today, the New York Court of Appeals affirmed the constitutionality of New York’s Early Mail Voter Act, a 2023 law which makes absentee voting available to all registered voters in New York. This is a victory for Hecker Fink LLP and the amici they represented in the case. Earlier this year, Hecker Fink filed an amicus brief on behalf of a group of legal scholars in support of the State of New York’s defense of the Act. The brief’s analysis sought to bolster the constitutionality of the Act with an argument raised by neither party to the case: namely, that the New York Constitution evinces a structural commitment to democracy—which Amici call the “democracy principle”—that requires interpreting the Constitution with a presumption in favor of democracy-expanding legislation. Properly applied here, the democracy principle required finding the Act fully consistent with the text, history, and structure of the Constitution. The Court’s decision vindicates these principles by affirming the constitutionality of the Act. Hecker Fink’s filing, reflects the firm’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting fundamental tenets of our democracy. Read the full brief here: https://lnkd.in/eQd9fe3b The Hecker Fink team includes Joshua Matz, Joseph Posimato, and Anna Collins P. Amici are: Richard Briffault, the Joseph P. Chamberlain Professor of Legislation at Columbia Law School; Jessica Bulman-Pozen, the Betts Professor of Law at Columbia Law School and a Director of the Law School’s Center for Constitutional Governance; Wilfred Codrington III, the Walter Floersheimer Professor of Constitutional Law at Cardozo School of Law and Co-Director of the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy; Nestor Davidson, the Albert A. Walsh Professor of Real Estate, Land Use and Property Law at Fordham University School of Law and Faculty Director of the Law School’s Urban Law Center; James A. Gardner, the Bridget and Thomas Black SUNY Distinguished Professor of Law at the University at Buffalo School of Law; and Michael Pollack, a Professor of Law at Cardozo Law School and Co-Director of the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy.

Last week, Hecker Fink LLP initiated actions in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and the District Court for the District of Columbia to quash subpoenas served on its clients, Dmitri Mehlhorn and Rae Steward. Mr. Mehlhorn and Ms. Steward are dedicated political advocates who, in their efforts to thwart the reelection of former President Donald Trump, have publicly criticized the efforts of No Labels to run a third-party candidate in the 2024 presidential election. After it failed to a secure a candidate to run on its ticket, No Labels urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate several opposing political advocates and organizations for racketeering charges, and it filed a trademark suit against a parody website. Then, No Labels served Mr. Mehlhorn and Ms. Steward with sweeping non-party subpoenas to collect political contribution records, meeting attendance lists, donor rolls, and correspondence about their political advocacy. The filings make clear that the First Amendment forbids the misuse of federal courts to exact political retribution through compelled disclosure, and urges both courts to quash No Labels’ thinly veiled attempt to extract information for its own political purposes. The Hecker Fink team is led by John Quinn, and includes Joshua Matz, Matthew Craig, Hyatt Mustefa, Jackson Erpenbach, and Madison Singh.

Hecker Fink LLP Partner Joshua Matz spoke on the panel, “What is an Insurrection?: How LGBTQ+ Rights Continue to be Impacted by the Harms of the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol” at the 2024 Lavender Law Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. The panel, moderated by Adam Smith of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), explored the profound impact of the January 6th insurrection on marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals. Joshua and co-panelists Skye Perryman (she/her) of Democracy Forward, and Praveen Fernandes of the Constitutional Accountability Center (CAC) highlighted the intertwining of authoritarian movements and anti-LGBTQ+ activism and discussed the critical impacts of  strong alliances and policy advocacy to protect democracy and civil rights.

A Hecker Fink LLP team led by John Quinn was recognized in The American Lawyer Litigation Daily's “Litigator of the Week” feature for securing a ruling keeping independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. off the November ballot in New York. After a four-day bench trial earlier this month, State Supreme Court Justice Christina Ryba of Albany County this week found that Kennedy’s connections to a Westchester County address listed on his nominating petition “existed only on paper and were maintained for the sole purpose of maintaining his voter registration and political standing in the State of New York.” The Hecker Fink trial team included Kate H., Joseph Posimato, Tayonna Ngutter Ian Robertson, Mariah Mizbani, Savannah Wagoner, and Finn Barry.

Hecker Fink LLP is proud to share that Partner David Patton will be honored with the Milton S. Gould Award for Outstanding Oral Advocacy at the Office of the Appellate Defender's (OAD) upcoming First Monday of October Gala. The award is presented annually to two of the most "highly regarded advocates in the nation." David will be recognized along with Helen Gredd of Lankler Siffert & Wohl LLP. The First Monday in October Gala is an annual fundraising event hosted by the OAD featuring a mock U.S. Supreme Court argument. This year's event will be held on October 7th at the City Bar. Click here for more details about the event and 2024 honorees: https://lnkd.in/gue_AsdM.