Roger Juan Maldonado is a partner at Smith Gambrell Russell LLP. For nearly 40 years, Mr. Maldonado has represented, counseled and advised businesspeople, in-house counsel, governmental entities and others in the resolution of complex matters that are important to them. In so doing, Mr. Maldonado gives his clients his best judgment – based on his experience in litigations, trials, appeals, arbitrations, mediations and negotiated settlements – on how to arrive at the best possible result.

Commercial Litigation
Mr. Maldonado represents institutions and individuals in complex civil litigations and appeals, including litigations involving commercial torts and professional liability, and claims and investigations regarding officers’ and directors’ liability. These matters have involved actual or potential claims of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Copyright and Intellectual Property Litigation
Mr. Maldonado represents artists, independent record labels, and publishers in copyright infringement disputes and in contractual disputes regarding royalty payments due to the artists. He also represents companies in litigations involving software implementations and license disputes, and art galleries and artists in litigations and investigations.

Real Estate Litigation
Mr. Maldonado represents entities and institutions (including private banks and developers) in matters involving disputes over real estate. These matters have been brought in federal and state courts, and have involved bankruptcy, foreclosure, and eviction proceedings, claims of breach of contract and fraud, appeals and requests for various types of equitable relief, including rescission, specific performance, and restraining orders.

Mr. Maldonado represents cooperative corporations in litigations with sponsors, shareholders, banks, and other entities. The litigations have involved millions of dollars in claims regarding construction defects, tax benefits, foreclosure proceedings, and competing creditors’ liens. The litigations have entailed numerous motions, hearings and appeals, and have required coordination with regulatory agencies.

Employment Law
Mr. Maldonado represents employers in various employment and labor related actions before municipal, state and federal administrative agencies, private mediators and arbitrators, and federal and state courts. He also represents employers in pre-litigation investigations and settlements involving discrimination claims, employment contracts, and restrictive covenants.

Education Law
Mr. Maldonado serves as the lead attorney representing the class of students who require special education services in New York City. In this role, he negotiates and coordinates with the New York City Department of Education, the New York State Education Department, colleges and universities, outside consultants and his co-counsel on (a) the development and implementation of a data management and reporting system that can accurately and efficiently track the defendants’ compliance with the judgment and orders requiring the timely provision of appropriate mandated special education services and (b) the training, recruitment and retention of the teachers and professionals needed to provide these mandated services.