Professional Training
B.A. with honors, St. John's University, 1967; J.D., St. John's University School of Law, 1970; Law Review, Managing Editor. Admitted: New York Supreme Court, Second Department 1971; New York Court of Appeals 1980; United States District Courts, Southern District of New York 1972, and Eastern District of New York 1972; Second Circuit Court of Appeals 1988; Third Circuit Court of Appeals 1994; Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals 2008; Federal Circuit Court of Appeals 2002; Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation 1973. Pro Hac Vice Admission in various district and state courts, including California, Illinois, Florida, New Jersey, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Tennessee.
Professional Experience
Mr. DiBenedetto recently retired from Winston & Strawn LLP, where he spent 46 years as a litigation partner in its New York office. Winston is an international law firm with over 850 lawyers in 18 offices throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. Held various positions in management at Winston and its predecessor firm, Cole & Deitz, including Chair of the N.Y. Litigation Department and service on the Management, Litigation Steering, Retirement, Recruiting, and Associate Evaluation Committees. Represented both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts throughout the country. Cases spanned virtually every economic sector, with clients ranging from individuals and closely-held family businesses, to multinationals and publicly traded companies. Experience included disputes involving contract disputes, business torts, derivative, class and collective actions (e.g., securities, consumer, and wage & hour), labor (discrimination and FLSA), insurance, UCC matters, bankruptcy, professional liability, ERISA, product liability, real estate, and the securities laws (e.g., mergers, tender offers, IPO's, and fraud claims). Represented clients in many foreclosure actions in New York, as well as throughout the country, involving large commercial, mixed use, and residential apartment buildings, shopping malls, and high-end condo apartments (including sale after foreclosure of the iconic Crown Building on the steps of the S.D.N.Y. Courthouse). Regularly dealt with the appointment of receivers, the entry of deficiency judgments, enforcement of mortgage guaranties, and resolution of title issues involving construction and subordinate liens. Defended through summary judgement and trial several breach of warranty claims involving commercial mortgage-backed securities. Advised lenders making commercial and mixed use mortgage loans for sale into CMBS asset pools. More details can be found at www.jdbmediation.com.
ADR Experience
Broad experience mediating commercial disputes, as well as FLSA (wage & hour), FCRA, ERISA, discrimination, tort, and product liability cases. Mediated over 125 cases through both the Commercial Division, New York County, EDNY, and SDNY ADR Programs, as well as private retention. Participated as a litigant in more than thirty mediations while in private practice.
Other Information
Please see www.JDBMediation.com for additional information.