Benjamin K. Semel

Partner Benjamin Semel is a member of Pryor Cashman’s Litigation Group. He handles cases in federal and state courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution (ADR) cases before numerous agencies, including the American Arbitration Association (AAA) and its international affiliate ICDR, JAMS, FINRA and others.

Ben’s strong representation of clients in courtroom litigation is aided by his experience on all sides of ADR - including his work as a mediator and arbitrator for New York City courts. Where early resolution of matters cannot occur, clients can rely on Ben’s experience taking cases through jury and bench trials, such as the Stone v. C.R. Bard Inc. (S.D.N.Y.) action, in which he and Partner Jamie Brickell obtained a $58 million jury verdict in a breach of contract and fraud dispute over the sale of a medical program for the treatment of prostate cancer.

Ben’s case experience cuts through a wide variety of commercial areas. He has handled many matters involving intellectual property, including disputes over trademark and trade secret protection, copyrights in film, television, music, software, literature and architectural works, and rights of publicity and privacy, as well as allegations of idea theft. He also has an active practice in technology law, managing issues for digital media and emerging technology companies. Ben rounds out his practice with matters from numerous other commercial litigation areas, ranging from real estate and employment disputes to fraud and tort claims.

Ben has combined his legal career with extensive international travel and charitable work, spending five years on leave from his native New York City, journeying across over 100 nations, engaged in teaching, managing NGO’s, disaster relief as well as conservation and animal welfare projects.