Pomerantz Associate Jennifer Banner Sobers Recognized as a 2020 Law360 Rising Star

This week, Law360 named Pomerantz attorney Jennifer Banner as one of the top attorneys in the United States under 40 years of age. A team of editors a Law360 carefully reviewed more than 1,300 nominations in order to find those attorneys whose “legal accomplishments transcend their age.”

This year, Jennifer has also been recognized by the New York Law Journal as one of the New York Metro area’s most promising lawyers, ages 40 and younger, with their Rising Stars award. In the highly competitive race, Jennifer was the only associate to receive this honor this year, joining a field of exceptional partners who also earned this distinction.

At Pomerantz, where she focuses her practice on securities fraud litigation, Jennifer played an integral role on the team litigating In re Petrobras Securities Litigation in the Southern District of New York, a securities class action that arose from a multi-billion-dollar kickback and bribery scheme involving Brazil’s largest oil company, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras. The Firm, as sole Lead Counsel, achieved a historic $3 billion settlement on behalf of investors in Petrobras securities.

Jennifer played a leading role in In re Toronto-Dominion Bank Securities Litigation, an action in the District of New Jersey alleging a multi-year fraud arising from underlying retail banking misconduct by one of Canada’s largest banks that was revealed by investigative news reports. Jennifer undertook significant work drafting the briefing to oppose Defendants’ motion to dismiss the claims, which the Court denied.

U.S. District Judge Noel L. Hillman, in approving the Toronto-Dominion Bank settlement, stated, “I commend counsel on both sides for their hard work, their very comprehensive and thoughtful submissions during the motion practice aspect of this case.  I paused on it because it was a hard case.  I paused on it because the lawyering was so good.  So, I appreciate from both sides your efforts.”  He added, “It’s clear to me that this was comprehensive, extensive, thoughtful, meaningful litigation leading up to the settlement.”  Singling out Pomerantz’s role as lead counsel, the judge also said, “This settlement appears to have been obtained through the hard work of the Pomerantz firm… It was through their efforts and not piggybacking on any other work that resulted in this settlement.” 

Jennifer is a key member of the litigation teams of other nationwide securities class action cases, including: In re BP p.l.c Securities Litigation, the MDL pending in the Southern District of Texas, which are securities fraud lawsuits on behalf of institutional investors in BP p.l.c. to recover losses in BP’s common stock (which trades on the London Stock Exchange), arising from BP’s 2010 Gulf oil spill and for which the team has successfully opposed several motions to dismiss the claims; In re KaloBios Pharmaceuticals Inc. Securities Litigation, an action in the Northern District of California, which successfully secured settlements from the bankrupt company and its jailed CEO worth over $3.25 million for the Class that were approved by the Court as well as the bankruptcy court; Perez v. Higher One Holdings, Inc., an action in the District of Connecticut, for which Jennifer was one of the principal drafters of the successful opposition to Defendants’ motion to dismiss, and which secured a court-approved $7.5 million class-wide settlement for the Class; Edwards v. McDermott Int’l, Inc. pending in the Southern District of Texas; and Chun v. Fluor Corp., pending in the Northern District of Texas.

Prior to joining Pomerantz, Jennifer was an associate with a prominent law firm in New York where her practice focused on complex commercial litigation, including securities law and accountants’ liability. An advocate of pro bono representation, Jennifer earned the Empire State Counsel honorary designation from the New York State Bar Association and received an award from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest for her pro bono work.

As a successful woman of color, Jennifer mentors and supports other women and minorities. An engaged member of the community, she takes the time to speak to young people about the trajectory of her life, from growing up in the projects of Harlem, to attending Harvard and UVA Law, to practicing law at a highly respected firm.  In 2019, after a rigorous vetting process, Jennifer was honored as a member of the National Black Lawyers Top 100, an elite network of the top 100 African American attorneys from each state.

Jennifer received her B.A. from Harvard University (with honors), where she was on the Dean’s List, a Ron Brown Scholar, and a recipient of the Harvard College Scholarship. She received her J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law, where she was a participant in the Lile Moot Court Competition and was recognized for her pro bono service.

She is a member of the Securities Litigation Committee of the Federal Bar Council, the New York City Bar Association, and the Association of Arbitrators.

Jennifer is admitted to practice in New York, the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second and Ninth Circuits.