Manhattan litigator Roberta Kaplan is strengthening her new litigation boutique, Kaplan Martin, by adding former colleagues from her previous firm. The firm announced Thursday that Christopher Le Coney and D. Brandon Trice have joined as partners. Both lawyers transitioned from Kaplan Hecker & Fink, where they were involved in complex litigation in counsel roles.
Roberta Kaplan, who garnered attention on June 26 after leaving her former firm due to internal disagreements, is making notable moves in the legal community. She stated, “I am thrilled to welcome these super talented professionals, all of whom I had the privilege to work alongside at our former firm.”
The new additions come just weeks after the founding of Kaplan Martin. Kaplan expressed that her clients have decided to move with her to the new firm. Known for handling high-profile cases, Kaplan’s resume includes winning an $83 million defamation suit for advice columnist E. Jean Carroll against ex-President Donald Trump, achieving a Supreme Court victory for same-sex couples in 2013, and successfully prosecuting the organizers of the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
In 2021, Kaplan faced criticism following revelations of her involvement in helping New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo address sexual harassment allegations. However, she [launched](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/roberta-kaplan-to-launch-new-boutique-with-former-prosecutors) the new firm in June with partners Tim Martin, Steven M. Cohen, and Mitra Hormozi, who also have connections to Cuomo.
Adding Le Coney and Trice, both Yale Law School graduates, will enhance Kaplan Martin’s capabilities in commercial litigation, internal investigations, and strategic advisory services. Le Coney remarked, “The founding partners of Kaplan Martin saw a unique opportunity to create a bespoke boutique firm, and I am incredibly excited to join this group of longtime mentors and distinguished lawyers in guiding our clients through their most challenging legal matters.”
For further details, visit the [original article](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/business-and-practice/roberta-kaplan-adds-pair-of-lawyers-from-ex-firm-for-new-rival) on Bloomberg Law.