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Eli Yampel

Eli Yampel

Associate
o: (203) 325-5080
eyampel@fdh.com
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Eli guides his private equity and corporate clients through high-stakes commercial litigation, sensitive internal investigations, and actions brought by the government or regulators. He has a demonstrated history of successful outcomes, including monetary awards, orders of injunctive relief, defense verdicts, favorable settlements, and the recovery of attorneys’ fees.

From navigating clients through initial fact-gathering exercises to developing trial and briefing strategy, Eli delivers effective advocacy on behalf of his clients and advances their interests both in the courtroom and at the negotiation table. His detail-oriented research skills allow him to counsel clients on all of their options, leading to informed decision making. Eli’s litigation experience includes handling complex matters on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants before a lawsuit is filed, through discovery, at trial, and on appeal.

Whether an investigation is initiated by a company, the government, or a regulator, Eli is experienced in organizing the facts and getting to the heart of the issue efficiently. His ability to synthesize complex fact patterns into digestible yet comprehensive updates results in actionable intelligence for boards of directors overseeing internal investigations. Eli’s strategic thinking and knowledge of the law and procedure enable him to present strong advocacy to the government in regulatory and white-collar matters.

Before joining Finn, Dixon & Herling, Eli practiced in the litigation group at Kirkland & Ellis in New York. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he served as symposia editor and election committee co-chair of the Cardozo Law Review. Eli also worked at the Filmmakers Legal Clinic at Cardozo to provide pro bono representation to aspiring filmmakers from underrepresented communities.

Representative Matters
  • Defended software-as-a-service portfolio company and its private equity owner against claims that a post-acquisition reorganization entitled multiple former executives to millions of dollars in severance benefits.*
  • Represented joint venture in dispute against one of its members for breaches of contracts related to pricing terms and restrictive covenants.*
  • Obtained an injunction on behalf of a mortgage originator against its competitor and several former employees for misappropriation of trade secrets and unfair competition.*
  • Investigated multiple newly acquired portfolio companies of private equity firm to determine viability of claims for fraud and breach of fiduciary duty against sellers.*
  • Defended chief executive officer against claims that his acceptance of the role breached restrictive covenants with his prior employer; defeated plaintiff’s request for an injunction.*
  • Represented civil liberties group pro bono to obtain police disciplinary records pursuant to New York’s Freedom of Information Law.*

*This experience was at a prior law firm.

Honors
  • Pro Bono Service Awards for Outstanding Service, Kirkland & Ellis LLP (2021, 2022)
  • Order of the Coif, Dean’s Distinguished Scholar, and Jacob Burns Medal; Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (2021)
Associations
  • Member, Connecticut Bar Association