Joseph Alonzo
Partner
Joe Alonzo’s practice focuses on complex, high-value commercial litigations and cross-border disputes. Over the past two decades, he has represented clients through all phases of litigations before state and federal courts throughout the US, including the US Supreme Court and federal and state trial and appellate courts, as well as in state and federal administrative and regulatory proceedings and in arbitrations and mediations. Joe regularly serves as counsel to foreign governments and a broad range of private companies and their senior executives, including international financial institutions and multinational corporations.
Joe has served as an expert witness on US law in a foreign court proceeding. He also has significant experience litigating claims brought pursuant to the Anti-Terrorism Act and Alien Tort Statute.
- Challenged the constitutionality of federal jurisdictional statute targeting foreign government in lawsuits brought pursuant to the US Anti-Terrorism Act.
- Representing multiple international financial institutions in lawsuit arising out of Anti-Terrorism Act, including obtaining dismissal of all Anti-Terrorism Act primary liability claims.
- Representing Middle Eastern financial institution and senior official in multiple federal lawsuits alleging Anti-Terrorism Act violations.
- Representing Middle Eastern financial institution in multijurisdictional dispute with Iraqi telecommunications venture, including obtaining lifting of order attaching client’s correspondent bank account.
- Obtained summary judgment defeating Anti-Terrorism Act claims against Middle Eastern government based on lack of proximate causation.
- Obtained dismissals of claims against multiple international banks in federal and state courts by plaintiffs seeking to force overseas funds transfers despite limits placed on such transfers in the context of the Lebanese economic crisis, including affirmance of dismissals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and New York’s Appellate Division. Daou v. BLC Bank, 42 F.4th 120 (2d Cir. 2022); Chaar v. Arab Bank P.L.C., 220 A.D.3d 479 (N.Y. App. Div. 2023).
- Obtained dismissal of multiple foreign-law claims against Middle Eastern financial institution by alleged victims of terrorism. Licci v. Lebanese Canadian Bank, SAL, 505931/2015 (N.Y. Sup. Ct. June 28, 2023), appeal pending, 2023-10449 (N.Y. App. Div.).
- Representing international financial institutions in multiple federal lawsuits involving claims arising under Anti-Terrorism Act.
- Regularly advise international financial institutions on issues including regulatory compliance, sanctions, correspondent banking and foreign bank secrecy.
- Represented Middle Eastern financial institution in multibillion-dollar federal lawsuits arising out of the Alien Tort Statute and Anti-Terrorism Act.
- Represented Middle Eastern financial institution in regulatory proceedings before US federal agencies.
- Asserted claims on behalf of Middle Eastern government before Permanent Court of Arbitration.
- Represented a Chinese real estate company in litigations alleging violations of international law in connection with real estate development project in New York.
- Represented a global professional services company in multiple litigations and arbitrations against a competitor firm and former employees, involving corporate raiding, unfair competition and violation of employment contracts.
- Represented a New York real estate developer in litigations and arbitrations arising from a shareholder dispute.
- Represented a global insurer in litigations and regulatory proceedings throughout the country relating to the marketing of a patented captive reinsurance product, including obtaining dismissals of claims in multiple proceedings.
Education
- New York University School of Law, J.D., 2006
- University of Missouri, B.A., B.J., 2003
Admissions
- New York, 2008
Courts
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
- U.S. Dist. Ct., Dist. of Colorado
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit