New York, 20 January 2023 – Pallas Partners (US) LLP is delighted to announce the arrival of Shireen Barday as a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation practice, based in the New York office, alongside two associates, John McAdams and Mark Davies. An experienced commercial litigator, Ms Barday joins from Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where she was a partner. Prior to this, she spent nine years at Kirkland & Ellis, latterly as a partner.
“Shireen is a highly regarded litigator and a fantastic addition to Pallas” said Natasha Harrison, Founder and Managing Partner of Pallas. “Her extensive knowledge and experience in complex commercial litigation, alongside her excellent track record and growing practice, complements our client offering and will add significant value to the firm as we grow our presence in New York. We are thrilled to welcome Shireen to Pallas, together with John and Mark, and very much look forward to working with them.”
Barday has served as principal in a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters, with a particular focus on business disputes involving fiduciary duties and allegations of fraud or other misconduct. Although Shireen has represented companies and individuals across a wide range of industries, she also has particular experience in counselling life science and biotech companies in connection with commercial disputes relating to milestone payments, royalties, commercially reasonable and best efforts, and issues relating to supplier and manufacturing contracts. She has served as lead counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in litigation across the U.S. relating to M&A transactions, lending activities, securities and corporate governance issues, contractual disputes and contested restructuring matters.
Shireen regularly appears in Delaware and other U.S. courts, representing private equity funds, portfolio companies, issuers, directors and officers in class action and other high stakes litigation.
Dedicated to pro bono work, Barday has received The Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Publico Award every year she has been in private practice, for her work in post-conviction relief. She serves on the board of directors of the Off-Broadway not-for-profit theater Primary Stages. She previously served on the Board of the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, and has been appointed by the Chief Judge of the Southern District of New York to serve on the Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the district.
“Shireen is a terrific hire,” said Duane Loft, Partner at Pallas Partners (US) LLP. “She brings first-rate quality to our growing practice and helps raise our profile with new clients. I look forward to building on our success in New York with Shireen as my partner.”
“I am delighted to be joining Pallas and its growing commercial litigation group in New York” said Shireen Barday, Partner at Pallas Partners (US) LLP. “This is a remarkable opportunity to be a part of a growing practice challenging the status quo while delivering clients exceptional services. I am excited to help develop the firm’s growing complex litigation, as well as pro bono practice, and look forward to building on the momentum of what has been a remarkable first year for Pallas.”
Barday earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Barnard College, her Master of Arts in Political Science from the City University of New York and her Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, where both her Note and Comment were selected for publication by the Stanford Law Review.
Following her graduation, Barday clerked for the Honorable Colleen McMahon of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and then for the Honorable Rosemary S. Pooler of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Barday is admitted to practice in the courts of the State of New York, the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Eastern District of Michigan, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Sixth, Ninth and Eleventh Circuits.
John McAdams, Associate, focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration, on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants, in state and federal courts. He formerly served as a law clerk to the Honorable Matthew W. Brann of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and as a judicial intern to the Honorable Michael B. Brennan of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He joins from Cyrulnik Fattaruso LLP. He received a BA in Economics from Cornell University and his law degree from The University of Chicago Law School.
Mark Davies, Associate, represents plaintiffs and defendants at all stages of complex commercial litigation, with significant experience in high-stakes contract, tort, and False Claims Act matters. His active pro bono practice includes a successful amicus brief before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals seeking an emergency stay of execution for a death row inmate. He joins from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. He received his BA from Emory University and his law degree from New York University School of Law.