Grais & Ellsworth LLP is a litigation firm in New York City. It was founded in early 2007 by David Grais and Kay Ellsworth, until then partners in a national firm. They started the firm to practice a style of complex litigation that is extinct in large firms: streamlined; leanly staffed; as speedy as the court will permit; planned to culminate not in motion practice but in trials; and, whenever possible, rewarded by success in litigation itself, rather than in the sale of billable hours to clients.

Nearly five years later, the firm has grown to two dozen lawyers, of whom four are partners; a staff of financial analysts, paralegals, and others; and a corps of 30 long-term contract attorneys for discovery projects. The firm has also made alliances with other law firms, consulting firms, and providers of the best litigation-support technology, all of which enables it to handle cases much larger than its size would normally permit.

The firm’s approach to litigation – combined with its expertise in structured-finance securities (described nearby) and its billing practices – has been well received by many prominent institutional investors and other valued clients. They have entrusted to us litigation of tremendous stakes and complexity. Our securities cases alone, for example, involve claims against 19 investment banks to rescind their sales to our clients of nearly $30 billion of certificates in more than 200 trusts of more than 750,000 mortgage loans.

Our style of work appeals to clients who value speed and focus on the essential, rather than delay and the turning over of foreseeably unimportant stones. If you are among those, we would be honored to represent you.