Menter attorneys assist in developing Commercial Court in Onondaga County
The Commercial Division of the Supreme Court first opened its doors in New York and Monroe counties in November 1995. Since then the Division has expanded to Albany, Erie, Kings, Nassau, Queens, Suffolk and Westchester Counties. The Commercial Division was implemented to provide specialized judicial treatment to commercial cases and to stem the tide of commercial cases away from the state courts in favor of federal courts, Delaware Chancery Court and private alternative dispute resolution methods. Several years ago, under the direction of the Honorable James C. Tormey, III, Administrative Judge of the Fifth Judicial District, a committee was formed locally to investigate the creation of a commercial part in Onondaga County. That original committee included Menter attorneys James McGowan and Mitchell Katz.
The Onondaga County Commercial Part was created in March 2007. The Honorable Deborah Karalunas has been named as the assigned Justice. Justice Karalunas has appointed Mitchell Katz to serve as the chair of the Onondaga County Commercial Part Advisory Committee. The Committee will work with Justice Karalunas, representatives of the Office of Court Administration, the Onondaga County Supreme Court Clerk's office and the New York State Bar Association to help put the Commercial Part into action here in Syracuse.
Mr. Katz is a member of the firm's Board of Directors and manager of the Litigation practice group. Mr. Katz handles commercial litigation in state and federal courts in cases involving creditors' rights, lender liability defense, limited liability companies and partnerships, shareholder disputes in closely held corporations, contract disputes, trade secrets and technology licensing matters, employers' rights under non-competition and confidentiality agreements, and contested commercial foreclosure actions. Mr. Katz also provides litigation support to the firm’s Business Restructuring and Bankruptcy practice group in complex matters arising under and in connection with cases filed under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code.
Mr. Katz has lectured on commercial litigation issues for the New York State Bar Association, the Central New York Bankruptcy Bar Association and the Capital District Bankruptcy Bar Association. He has organized the Onondaga County Bar Association’s Law Section’s programs at the Syracuse Technology Garden. Mr. Katz is also a member of the Finance Committee of CNY Med Tech, an organization promoting the bioscience industry in Central New York.
Mr. McGowan is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Personal Injury practice groups. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in all manners of personal injury claims. Mr. McGowan has also acted on behalf of banks, corporations and contractors in many areas of commercial litigation and arbitration. A frequent lecturer, Mr. McGowan has given presentations on various litigation topics.
