Stephen P. Younger

Stephen Younger, Past President of the New York State Bar Association, is a leading commercial litigator who is also well-known for his alternative dispute resolution work. Having been with Patterson Belknap since 1985, Mr. Younger has more than 30 years of experience as a commercial litigator. As a seasoned trial lawyer, he has tried many cases in federal and state court and before arbitration panels. He also frequently argues appeals, particularly in the appellate courts of New York. Based on his significant ADR experience, he is often called on to serve as an arbitrator or mediator in high-stake matters.

Mr. Younger’s clients include financial institutions, mutual funds, hedge funds, pension funds and venture capital firms involved in commercial, securities and real estate disputes. He has also developed an extensive practice representing Latin American companies in U.S.-related matters.

In addition to his previous role as State Bar President, Mr. Younger has sat on numerous New York State Bar Association committees. He is Past Chair of the New York State Bar Association's Commercial and Federal Litigation Section, having previously served as Chair of its Securities Litigation Committee and of its ADR Committee. Mr. Younger also served as Chair of the New York State Bar Association's Task Force on Nonlawyer Ownership of Law Firms. He is a member of the ABA’s House of Delegates, and chairs the ABA’s International Mediation Committee. He serves as the ABA’s representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a member of its Standing Committee on the American Judicial System and was Chair of the ABA Task Force on International Trade in Legal Services.

Mr. Younger was appointed to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's Transition Committee and was also the Transition Director for Mr. Cuomo when he was the New York State Attorney General. He was also appointed to the Transition Committee for Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Mr. Younger was a member of the Transition Committee for New York County District Attorney, Cyrus Vance. Mr. Younger was counsel to the New York State Commission on Judicial Nominations which nominates New York’s Court of Appeals Judges, and is a member of the First Department Judicial Screening Committee.

Mr. Younger serves on the Board of Directors for the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution, and previously served as the Chair of its Executive Advisory Committee for seven years. He is also a founding board member of the New York International Arbitration Center. He is on the Board of Directors of the Fund for Modern Courts and received the Fund’s John J. McCloy Award. He served on the Chief Judge's Task Force on Commercial Litigation in the 21st Century, and currently serves on both the Chief Judge’s Commercial Division Advisory Council and the Advisory Committee to the New York County Commercial Division. He was formerly a member of the Chief Judge’s Advisory Committee on New York State Pro Bono Bar Admission Requirements. A long time Trustee of Albany Law School, Mr. Younger is Past President of its National Alumni Council.

Mr. Younger has spoken at more than 200 seminars and written over 30 articles in the fields of securities litigation, commercial arbitration and international dispute resolution.

Prior to joining Patterson Belknap, Mr. Younger served as Law Clerk to the Hon. Hugh R. Jones, Associate Judge for the New York Court of Appeals.