New York Business Journal profiled Eric J. Belfi on his first 100 days as Chairman of Labaton Keller Sucharow, highlighting the early impact of his leadership and his larger mission “to guide one of the country’s premier plaintiffs’ firms into a new era of innovation and international growth.”

Eric’s tenure began just as the Firm headed into the courtroom as lead trial counsel in the groundbreaking data privacy case against Meta Platforms, which resulted in a historic jury verdict finding Meta liable for its role in the unauthorized collection and commercial use of highly personal health data.  As noted by New York Business Journal, Eric played a pivotal role by providing critical guidance, empowering the litigation team, and overseeing settlement negotiations.  “As Chairman, I wanted to send a clear message: We are not only willing to litigate—we are prepared to take cases to trial when necessary,” Eric said.

The profile underlines Eric’s leadership style of “pragmatism, boldness, and a willingness to push into uncharted territory,” as evidenced by his courtroom experience, prosecutorial rigor, and reputation for building trust with some of the world’s largest institutional investors.  Eric’s priorities as Chairman reveal a clear and rigorous intention to uphold the Firm’s vital service to its clients.  As Eric says definitively, “everything we do—whether investing in technology or tracking regulatory shifts—is guided by a single priority: delivering first-class client service.”

Underscoring that international clients are increasingly drawn to Labaton’s willingness to litigate aggressively and its reputation for working in close partnership with clients to anticipate long-term risks, Eric identifies an expanding client base overseas as “an important benchmark of success in the year ahead.”  While technology and regulation changes are rapidly reshaping the legal industry, the Firm continues to invest in proprietary technology; however, Eric emphasizes strict safeguards, insisting that “innovation has to assist, not replace, our standards of excellence.”

The profile points to Labaton’s ability to build and retain top talent as an additional measure of the Firm’s continued success, with the Firm’s unique mentorship and summer associate programs creating “an environment where attorneys know they can grow and thrive.”  Eric also emphasizes the accomplished leadership core and senior business professionals with whom he leads, emphasizing that “leadership means listening carefully, weighing different perspectives, and making decisive calls.  I am fortunate to rely on colleagues whose judgment and experience I deeply trust.”

Balancing a collaborative approach with the need for decisive action, New York Business Journal punctuates this profile of Eric’s first 100 days as Chairman with his own vision of his legacy: “That the Firm continued to grow, was successful, and was led in a way that promoted sustainable growth.  That there is pride in the clients we represented and the settlements and judgments we achieved.  That people look back and feel fortunate to have been associated with Labaton.  That we were known as a firm seeking justice and as a place where people wanted to work.”