History of the Firm

Labaton Sucharow was established in 1963 and launched its Securities Litigation Practice that year. For more than half a century, Labaton Sucharow has successfully exposed corporate misconduct and recovered billions of dollars in the United States and around the globe on behalf of investors and consumers.

Only a year after the passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”), the Firm began specializing in assisting institutional investors with every phase of securities litigation, from monitoring for potential fraud-related losses in client portfolios to prosecuting claims at trial and on appeal. In addition, Labaton Sucharow has built a formidable reputation in transactional, derivative, consumer, and privacy litigation, as well as other forms of sophisticated financial litigation and corporate governance reform.

Our Founders

Lawrence A. Sucharow served as Chairman of the Firm for more than 20 years and retired from the practice of law after 45 years. Under his guidance, the Firm earned its position as one of the top plaintiffs' securities and antitrust class action firms in the world.  Larry’s practice focused on counseling the Firm’s large institutional clients, developing creative and compelling strategies to advance and protect clients’ interests, and prosecuting and resolving many of the Firm’s leading cases.  Clients characterized him as “a strong and passionate advocate with a desire to win.”  

Referred to as a “legend” by his peers, Larry was an internationally recognized trial lawyer and a leader of the class action bar.  He is one of a small handful of plaintiffs’ lawyers in the United States consistently recognized by Chambers & Partners USA, The Legal 500, and Benchmark Litigation for successes in securities litigation.  Because of his career accomplishments, Larry was selected by Law360 as one the “10 Most Admired Securities Attorneys” in the United States and a “Titan of the Plaintiffs Bar;” The National Law Journal’s Elite Trial Lawyers honored Larry with a Lifetime Achievement Award; and Lawdragon inducted him into its Hall of Fame.

In 2012, Brooklyn Law School honored Larry as Alumni of the Year Award for his notable achievements in the field, and in 2018, Larry was appointed to serve on Brooklyn Law School’s Board of Trustees.  He served a two-year term as President of the National Association of Shareholder and Consumer Attorneys, a membership organization of approximately 100 law firms that practice complex civil litigation including class actions.  A longtime supporter of the Federal Bar Council, Larry served as a trustee of the Federal Bar Council Foundation.

An accomplished trial and appellate lawyer, Edward Labaton devoted 50 years of practice to representing a full range of clients in class action and complex litigation matters in state and federal court. Ed played a leading role as plaintiffs’ class counsel in successful, high-profile cases involving companies such as PepsiCo, Dun & Bradstreet, American Brands, and Revlon, as well as several Big Eight (now Big Four) accounting firms, and achieved results with important precedential value.  

Ed’s distinguished career has won him recognition from The National Law Journal, Lawdragon, and The Legal 500 for excellence in the field of securities litigation.  Notably, Ed is the recipient of the Alliance for Justice’s “Champion of Justice Award," given to outstanding individuals whose life and work exemplify the principle of equal justice.

Ed’s commitment to the bar extended far beyond the courtroom.  Ed is a founder of the Institute for Law and Economic Policy (ILEP), a research and educational foundation dedicated to enhancing investor and consumer access to the civil justice system. For more than 30 years, he lectured on a variety of topics, including federal civil litigation, securities litigation, and corporate governance.  He also served on the Advisory Board of George Washington University’s Center for Law, Economics, & Finance.  Ed was active in the New York City Bar Association, American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Council, the New York County Lawyers Association, and the New York State Bar Association, and held prominent positions in those organizations. Ed is an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a Member of the American Law Institute, and a Life Member of the ABA Foundation.