Faoro, Dennis L.

Joe Colao is an experienced litigator and trial attorney with significant experience in both state and federal courts. He has tried cases in the New York trial courts and has supervised trials across the country. He also has vast appellate experience and has argued cases in several departments of New York's Appellate Division as well as in New York's highest appellate court, the Court of Appeals. Joe has been a "go to" lawyer for major clients for many years and is known for his commitment to success and achievement of his client's goals, even in the most difficult of circumstances. His calm demeanor, and ability to handle pressure, have made him a favorite of General Counsels around the country.

Product liability/ toxic tort:

Joe acts as national coordinating counsel for an equipment manufacturer in the asbestos litigation. In this role, Joe supervises lawyers across the country, devising and implementing a global approach to the defense of the cases that includes coordinated discovery, fact and expert witness development, trials, and appellate review of leading issues throughout the country. This assignment was the outgrowth of representation of various companies for the past fifteen years in the New York Asbestos Litigation. He also has substantial experience representing major companies in product liability and toxic tort matters.

Commercial Litigation:

Joe has successfully represented high profile companies as well as corporate executives, in a myriad of commercial matters involving complex contract and securities issues, trade secrets, the duties of corporate fiduciaries, covenants not to compete, construction disputes, and enforcement of creditors' rights. In the creditors' rights area, displaying his trademark ability to achieve a client's goals even under the most pressured of circumstances, within 24 hours of being retained by the nation's largest jet fuel supplier, Joe obtained emergency restraining orders and orders of attachment against foreign airlines, prevented their planes from leaving New York, and obtained payment of their outstanding balances for his client. He has also represented Wal-Mart in a complex case of contract interpretation which involved an appeal and argument before New York's Court of Appeals.

Bankruptcy:

Joe has represented secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy proceedings both in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. In addition, he has been involved in numerous high profile adversary proceedings and has represented companies in connection with acquiring assets from bankrupt entities.

AWARDS:

New York Super Lawyers 2007-2011