Blair R. Albom

Blair Albom's practice focuses on complex commercial litigation. She represents banks, major public and private companies, and individuals in connection with contract, creditor, insurance, and other disputes. Blair also represents individual and corporate clients in connection with white collar matters and internal investigations, including with respect to allegations of healthcare fraud, insider trading and other securities law violations, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, and tax evasion, among others.

Representative Matters

• Representation of a group of lenders holding over $600 million of first-lien debt in Serta Simmons Bedding in closely watched lawsuits in New York state and federal courts and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas challenging the validity and legality of the company’s uptier transaction with another group of lenders.
• Representation of the State of New Jersey and its governor in defense of a purported whistleblower and defamation suit brought by a former state employee who claims he was fired for complaining about prioritizing procurement of COVID-19 tests for a high-ranking official's family.
• Representation of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority in connection with a major multi-year investigation conducted by a task force appointed by Governor Phil Murphy pertaining to the EDA’s internal administration of certain state tax incentive programs, including whether $11 billion worth of tax credits awarded to corporations doing business in New Jersey resulted in true value to the state and its residents. In a related matter, Blair and the firm represent the EDA in litigation against a company that received approximately $260 million in tax credits.

• Representation of U.S. Bank National Association in its capacity as indenture trustee of certain notes issued by Windstream Services, LLC in connection with litigation concerning an alleged default under the indenture.  Blair and the firm litigated the matter through trial, with the court ultimately ruling in favor of U.S. Bank on all points, and finding that Windstream had in fact breached the indenture.

• Representation of a major bank and brokerage firm in a dispute over purported termination of a distribution agreement by Goldman Sachs.
• Representation of a blood testing laboratory in defense of litigation brought by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey alleging improper billing for testing services. The matter included a claim alleging violation of New Jersey's insurance fraud statute.
• Representation of plaintiffs pursuing Section 1983 civil rights claims against the New York State Department of Corrections that resulted in a noteworthy summary judgment decision, which was affirmed on appeal, finding that the plaintiffs' constitutional rights had been violated.

Prior to joining Friedman Kaplan, Blair was an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, where she represented a wide variety of clients in commercial litigations, international arbitrations (including in ICC, ICSID, and SIAC proceedings), internal investigations, and government investigations. She also advised clients on compliance and due diligence matters with a focus on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance.

Outside the Office

Blair is actively involved with the Federal Bar Council and the UJA-Federation of New York and is a former member of the Criminal Law Committee and the Mass Incarceration Task Force of the New York City Bar Association. She was a founding board member, and remains involved with, Tribe, an organization which connects and fosters a sense of community among young Jewish New Yorkers.