Alexander H Shapiro

Alexander H. Shapiro joined Rosenberg & Estis, P.C. in 2025 and is a Member in the firm’s Litigation Department.

Shapiro is an accomplished trial and appellate advocate with a proven track record of success in representing individuals and businesses in complex commercial disputes and white-collar regulatory and criminal investigations in state and federal forums. His distinguished background includes serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York and holding senior in-house leadership roles at three Fortune 500 companies.

Shapiro represents clients with regard to a broad range of issues, including breach of contract, corporate governance disputes, business torts, securities and wire fraud, money laundering, asset forfeiture, piercing the corporate veil and voidable transfers, discovery in aid of foreign litigation (28 U.S.C. § 1782), and general counsel advisory services, including compliance and policy development.

Shapiro has significant courtroom experience, having led and/or directed numerous trials in both federal and state court, as well as before administrative bodies such as FINRA and the NLRB. He also has extensive appellate expertise, having briefed and argued appeals in federal circuit courts across the country.

Shapiro is also an experienced mediator, and currently serves on the roster of neutrals for the New York State Supreme Court Commercial Division Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.

Before entering private practice in 2001, Shapiro served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Department of Justice, and then as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he prosecuted a wide range of cases from complex commercial frauds to an international art theft conspiracy. His government service earned him several honors, including the Attorney General’s John Marshall Award and the Chief U.S. Postal Inspector’s Award.

In the private sector, Shapiro spent over a decade in senior in-house counsel roles at three Fortune 500 companies, The Bank of New York Mellon, Cablevision Systems Corporation (now Altice USA), and DXC Technology, Inc., where he was in charge of managing litigation, internal investigations and compliance policy development. At Cablevision, he was Head of Litigation and Compliance Policy; at DXC, he served as Global Head of Litigation and Investigations.

Prior to joining Rosenberg & Estis, Shapiro was a Partner at the litigation boutique Ford O’Brien Landy LLP.

A frequent speaker and writer on litigation, compliance, and case management, Shapiro has presented at industry conferences such as the Marcus Evans Chief Litigation Officer Summit, LegalTech, and CLE programs hosted by the NYC Bar Association, the ABA, and the National Business Institute. He also has contributed articles to The New York Law Journal.
Notable Work

Won motion to dismiss on behalf of all defendants in Rule 10b-5 action filed by institutional investor in federal district court in San Jose, California, against a private media company and two of its officers.

Successfully defeated motion by global law firm to quash subpoena seeking discovery in aid of foreign litigation (28 U.S.C. § 1782) in federal district court in New York.

Won emergency motion for TRO and preliminary injunction on behalf of construction factoring firm in lawsuit against construction subcontractor raising claims of breach of contract and conversion pending in the Commercial Division of New York State Supreme Court, New York County.

Successfully defended Mexican national in a criminal money laundering investigation brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York laying the groundwork for dismissal of the indictment and release of millions of dollars in assets seized for forfeiture.

Achieved favorable settlement on behalf of CEO/founder of tech startup in corporate governance dispute with other founders in Delaware Chancery Court, securing exclusive control of company for client, and robust IP, non-compete and non-solicitation protections.

Achieved favorable settlement on behalf of international art curator in breach of contract dispute relating to Banksy art exhibition in Los Angeles after filing for emergency injunctive relief in California State Superior Court.

Achieved favorable settlement on behalf of Greek national seeking recovery of funds loaned to a New York company in lawsuit pending in the Commercial Division of New York State Supreme Court, New York County.

Achieved favorable settlement on behalf of a domestic manufacturing company in breach of contract dispute with major Hungarian manufacturer and retailer.

Represented global asset management firm in breach of contract dispute with a national banking institution.

Managed litigation and played key role in reaching settlement of high-stakes multi-billion dollar RICO lawsuit brought by Russian Government against a New York banking institution in commercial court in Moscow.

Led complex historical research project on behalf of a New York banking institution leading to resolution of inquiry by City Council of Chicago, thereby avoiding significant adverse publicity and loss of municipal contracts.

Honors & Awards

U.S. Attorney General’s John Marshall Award

The Chief U.S. Postal Inspector’s Award

Published Works

“Judicial Cross-Currents in Debtor and Creditor Law § 278,” The New York Law Journal, July 9, 2021

“Second Circuit Stands its Ground in Construing 28 U.S.C. §1728,” The New York Law Journal, November 10, 2020

“Diversity Jurisdiction in the Second Circuit: The ‘Tagger’ Decision,” The New York Law Journal, August 19, 2020

“Political Theory and the Growth of Defensive Safeguards in Criminal Procedure: The Origins of the Treason Trials Act of 1696.” Law and History Review, Volume 11, No. 2 (Fall 1993).

Cited in John H. Langbein, The Origins of Adversary Criminal Trial (2003); John H. Langbein, History of the Common Law: The Development of Anglo-American Legal Institutions (2009)

Non-legal:

Book: The Consolations of History: Themes of Progress and Potential in Richard Wagner’s Götterdämmerung (New York, NY: Routledge