James J. Regan
Partner
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Phone: +1 212 404 8735
- Duane Morris LLP
22 Vanderbilt
335 Madison Avenue, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10017-4669
USA
Mr. Regan is a partner in Duane Morris’s Trial Practice Group, serves as co-managing partner of the New York office and a member of the firm's governing Partners Board. He is a tireless advocate and trusted advisor for his clients. He handles high-stakes commercial litigation across industries, with a focus on banks and financial institutions, private credit lenders, media and technology companies. He has concentrated experience in securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, partnership disputes, insurance liability and defamation.
Mr. Regan manages the full lifecycle of complex disputes—from pre-filing case assessment and multi-jurisdictional coordination through trial or arbitration—and routinely works with experts, accountants, and jury consultants to develop and present compelling cases.
Mr. Regan also advises and represents clients across the payments ecosystem on disputes involving data security breaches, chargeback liability, merchant risk management, Regulation Z compliance, and card-brand rules—consistently delivering favorable outcomes for acquiring banks and financial services companies.
Mr. Regan began his career as a Skadden Fellow with the Legal Aid Society, where he appeared in court daily and conducted numerous trials—an experience that cemented his commitment to trial practice. He continues that public interest commitment through an active pro bono practice representing low-income tenants in eviction proceedings in Housing Court.
Areas of Practice
- Banking and Finance
- Litigation and Dispute Resolution
- Insurance and Professional Liability
- Intellectual Property and Media Law
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Education
- Fordham University School of Law, J.D. cum laude, 2002
- Writing and Research Editor, Fordham Law Review
- Crowley Scholar in International Human Rights
- Stein Scholar in Public Interest Law and Ethics
- Order of the Coif - Georgetown University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1994
Experience
- Duane Morris LLP
- Partner, 2020-present - Satterlee Stephens LLP
- Partner, 2011-2020
- Associate, 2007-2010 - U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- Law Clerk to the Hon. Victor Marrero, 2006-2007 - Sidley Austin LLP
- Associate, 2005-2006 - Community Law Office, Legal Aid Society
- Skadden Fellow, 2002-2004
Professional Activities
- Association of the Bar of the City of New York
- Federal Courts Committee
Selected Speaking Engagements
- Speaker, "AI in Legal Practice: A Guided Discussion on Practical Applications, Risk Management and Ethical Issues," Association of Corporate Counsel - Westchester and Southern Connecticut, June 17, 2026
- Panelist, "Bankruptcy Benefits with the Honorable Robert E. Grossman, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge (Ret.)," Duane Morris LLP, October 28, 2025
- Presenter, "Mitigating Securities Litigation Risks in the COVID Era: Understanding the Latest Regulatory Guidance and Trends in Shareholder Class Actions, SEC Enforcement Proceedings," Duane Morris COVID-19: Navigating Forward Webinar Series, May 12, 2021
Representative Matters
Represented investment fund in multi-plaintiff, coordinated actions in SDNY asserting breach of fiduciary duty and related ERISA claims stemming from fund collapse.
Represented former CFO in securities fraud class actions in multiple jurisdictions asserting Ponzi scheme against former employer, securing dismissal of all claims.
- Represented co-owner in shareholder agreement dispute and parallel dissolution action through bench trial in NY State Court, Commercial Division.
Represented minority owner in AAA arbitration and post-arbitration litigation in state and federal court involving fiduciary-duty and breach-of-contract claims, obtaining an approximately $30 million award, including recovery of attorneys’ fees and pre- and post-judgment interest for client.
Represented credit rating agency in securities litigation in connection with its ratings of structured finance products, including RMBS and CDO securitizations.
Represented investment bank in connection with FIRREA claims brought by DOJ over the sale of securities, responsible for managing third party discovery.
Obtained a jury verdict in New York State court in favor of defendant securities trader in multi-million dollar dispute over contractual liability for trading losses.
Represented credit card acquiring bank in recovering losses stemming from chargebacks due to merchant bankruptcy and merchant fraud.
Obtained a jury verdict in favor of plaintiff bank in insurance litigation relating to credit card loss coverage liability in S.D.N.Y.
Represented asset-based lender in JAMS Arbitration, securing award as prevailing party in connection with financing of professional boxing match
Represented bank in multi-party consolidated litigation stemming from data processor security breach of credit cardholder information.
Represented insurance company in MDL class action litigation, including proceedings before the JPML panel, resulting in successful dismissal of all claims in a decision affirmed by the Ninth Circuit.
Represented bank in contractual dispute over proper calculation of credit card transaction fees.
Represented and successfully argued appeal on behalf of CDO indenture trustee before the New York Appellate Division, First Department.
Represented medical publisher against Lanham Act claims brought by drug manufacturer in District of New Jersey.
Represented bank in defamation action brought by terminated merchant.
Represented and favorably resolved claims against reality TV show producer and distributor in trademark infringement action.
Represented and successfully argued appeal on behalf of newspaper and reporter in defamation action before New York Appellate Division, First Department.
Counseled virtual learning environment developer on intellectual property transactions in foreign jurisdictions.
Represented private equity fund in litigation with former chief investment officer in business separation dispute.
Represented portfolio companies and acquiring private equity entity in $60 million ERISA withdrawal liability action in Northern District of Illinois.
Represented private equity entity in dispute with seller over terms of stock purchase agreement.
Counseled private equity company in analyzing litigation liabilities in connection with contemplated take over.