Joshua Colangelo-Bryan

Criminal Representations 

Represented:

• Former New York State Senate majority leader in U.S. v. Sampson (E.D.N.Y.), securing acquittals on six of nine counts at trial.
• Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network in federal investigations, as publicly reported. All matters resolved.
• New York City contractor during federal and local investigations into Mayor de Blasio’s political fundraising. Secured immunity for CEO. No charges brought.
• Major hospital system after CEO was indicted in federal court for political corruption. No charges brought against hospital system or other hospital personnel.
• Individual client who pled guilty to charges in Canada and two federal courts in U.S. Secured substantially below-Guidelines sentences in U.S. to be served in Canada concurrently with Canadian sentence.
• Subject in federal investigation of illegal practices at prominent medical facility. Secured non-prosecution agreement for client.
• Victims in federal investigation into improper police targeting of Hispanics in East Haven, Connecticut that resulted in numerous convictions. Ensured clients suffered no adverse immigration consequences.
• Owner and employees of electronics business charged with trafficking in stolen goods. Case resolved on pleas to non-criminal violations.
• Individual who managed diamond business at time of $40 million theft. No charges brought.

Investigations

• Conducted internal investigations into issues such as alleged employee theft, physical abuse of children at residential treatment facility, improper testing of pharmaceuticals, potential False Claims Act violations, and financial malfeasance.
• Conducted investigations regarding human rights abuses, including in Yemen, Kosovo, Bahrain, and Guantanamo Bay.

Representative Litigation

• Polanco v. Dom. Rep. et al., 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 220623 (E.D. Pa. Dec. 11, 2023). Secured dismissal of claims against Dominican Republic brought by failed office seeker who complained that his bribes to political party did not secure seat in Dominican legislature.
• Hindu American Foundation v. Rasheed Ahmed et al., 646 F. Supp. 3d 78 (D.D.C. 2022). Secured dismissal of politically motivated defamation lawsuit filed against executive director of Indian American Muslim Council by ideological opponents.
• Willis Re Inc. v. Herriott, 21-CV-487 (S.D.N.Y. 2021). Secured denial of motion for contempt of court following evidentiary hearing in action based on violations of restrictive covenants.
• Recovery Fund II USA LLC v. Rabobank, N.A., et al., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17395; 2020 WL 509166 (D. Del. Jan. 31, 2020) (counsel for defendants, Bankruptcy Management Solutions, Inc., the largest provider of software services to Chapter 7 trustees, and its CEO, in dismissing, with prejudice, plaintiff’s class action complaint alleging RICO, fraud, and numerous other claims); 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 94065; 2020 WL 2784080 (D. Del. May 29, 2020) (awarding defendants attorneys’ fees as a sanction against plaintiff for filing a frivolous claim).
• Defended boutique New York City law firm in arbitration brought by formerly associated attorney, seeking nearly $20 million in referral fees.  After 11 days of hearings and extensive post-hearing briefing, all claims against the firm were dismissed in reasoned decision issued in July 2018. Affirmed by Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool, LLP v. Queller, 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 202579 (S.D.N.Y. Nov. 15, 2018).
• Global Access Inv. Advisor LLC v. Lopes, et al., 2017 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2150 (Supreme Court, New York County May 31, 2017). Secured dismissal, after week-long jurisdictional hearing, of claims for aiding and abetting conversion against off-shore bank.
• Penguin Group (USA) Inc. v. Time/Warner Retail Sales & Marketing Services, Inc., 979 N.Y.S. 2d 69 (1st Dep't 2014). Counsel to Penguin in action yielding $3 million judgment in Penguin’s favor for breach of distribution agreement.
• Peter Lampack Agency, Inc. v. Martha Grimes and Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 958 N.Y.S.2d 310 (Supreme Court, New York County 2010), aff’d, 93 A.D.3d 430 (1st Dep’t 2012). Counsel to Penguin in context of contract and tort claims brought by author’s agent, dismissed on summary judgment.
• Figueiredo Ferraz E Engenharia de Projeto Ltda. v. Republic of Peru, 665 F.3d 384 (2d Cir. 2011). Defended Peru in action to enforce $21 million Peruvian arbitral award in New York. The Second Circuit, hearing interlocutory appeal from district court’s denial of motion to dismiss, reversed and remanded with directions to dismiss action on forum non conveniens grounds.
• Papay v. Haselhuhn, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112272 (S.D.N.Y. 2010). Secured dismissal of antitrust and constitutional claims against administrator of medical licensing tests.
• Sidney v. Wilson, 03 Civ. 830 (S.D.N.Y. 2009). Prevailed in four-day jury trial on behalf of inmate who brought 8th Amendment claim for excessive force against correctional officer.
• Rosales v. Transamerica Merchant International (Supreme Court, New York County 2008). Represented Chilean investment firm and principal alleged to have made unauthorized, speculative investments that led to multi-million dollar losses. After six-day trial, all claims were dismissed.
• Willis Re Inc. v. John B. Collins Associates, 29 A.D.3d 489 (1st Dep’t 2006). Won summary judgment, affirmed on appeal, for defendant in action for breach of restrictive covenant.
• Parkwood Partners, L.P. v. Sovereign Partners, L.P., AAA Case No. 13 168 Y 00045 04 (2005). Successfully represented hedge fund in five-day arbitration involving claims for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty brought by second hedge fund.
• Bear Stearns & Co. Inc. v. EnviroPower, LLC (Supreme Court, New York County 2004). Secured judgment for Bear Stearns in suit for failure to pay “break-up fees.”
• Keeney v. Larkin, 306 F. Supp. 2d 522 (D. Md. 2003), aff’d, 102 Fed. Appx. 787 (4th Cir. 2004). Prevailed on motion to dismiss a class action securities fraud complaint that alleged – in the court’s words – "a veritable smorgasbord of affirmative misrepresentations of, and failures to disclose, material facts."
• McGowan v. Merrill Lynch, et al., 2003 WL 271354 (N.A.S.D.).  Successfully represented respondents in ten-day arbitration involving claims for “financial suicide,” unsuitability, failure to supervise and churning.
• Kunzler v. Canon USA, Inc., 257 F. Supp. 2d 574 (E.D.N.Y. 2003). Won summary judgment on claims for retaliatory discharge.