Meet our Team
Richard A. D’Amura
Richard A. D’Amura concentrates his practice on complex business, corporate and commercial matters, with his primary focus on securities litigation and arbitration, and professional liability defense. His securities practice focuses on the defense of broker/dealers, registered investment advisors and financial advisors. He litigates these claims in state and federal court, and before FINRA Dispute Resolution. His matters include customer, industry, director and officer liability, and employment disputes, as well as the defense of companies and individuals in enforcement matters prosecuted by SROs, and state and federal regulators, including FINRA and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
In addition, Mr. D’Amura has extensive experience defending insurance agents and insurance agencies in litigation, as well as defending directors and officers in shareholder disputes. He has also represented some of the country’s largest insurance companies in litigation and investigations, including defense of fraudulent claims, insurance fraud investigations and the prosecution of civil claims against insurance fraud rings.
During completion of his LLM degree, Mr. D’Amura interned in the U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement, Washington D.C., participating in the investigation and prosecution of many of the high-profile SEC investigations of 2002. He has also spent time on Capitol Hill working at a prominent Washington, D.C. think tank, with direct contact and dealings with senate, congressional and corporate leaders, has tried several cases with the Dade County State Attorney’s Office and has worked for several major brokerage and investment banking firms.
Bar Admissions:
California
New York
Florida
Texas
Michigan
Federal Bar Admissions:
California Southern District
California Central District
California Northern District
Florida Southern District
Florida Western District
Michigan Eastern District
North Dakota District Court
Texas Western District
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Professional Community Involvement:
SIFMA Compliance & Legal
Lydia R. Zaidman
Lydia R. Zaidman concentrates her practice on complex business, corporate and commercial matters, with her primary focus on securities litigation and arbitration. Her securities practice focuses on the defense of broker/dealers in industry disputes. She also advises licensed financial advisors and insurance agents in investigations by securities regulatory agencies.
Ms. Zaidman has served as Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Retail Litigation Trial Group where she defended numerous retail and institutional claims. She has served as General Counsel for a broker/dealer and investment advisory firm, as well as Vice President, Associate General Counsel for an independent broker/dealer where she has advised the firm, as well as hundreds of financial advisors, compliance personnel and executives on risk avoidance and mitigation, litigation and regulatory matters. She previously held her Series 7 and 24 licenses.
Ms. Zaidman started her career at a top 20 AmLaw firm in their New York City offices where she handled complex commercial litigation. Among other matters, she assisted in representing a major U.S. car company defend several state and federal class action claims, as well as handled various insurance, real estate and intellectual property disputes. During her time there, she was involved with preparing witnesses to testify before Congress on matters related to an inquiry into safety conditions in a client’s vehicles. Additionally, Ms. Zaidman held the prestigious position of law clerk to the Honorable Judge Carl. E. Stewart on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Ms. Zaidman also co-founded the nationally recognized charity, Love-A-Bull where she volunteered for eight years.
Bar admissions:
New York
Texas
Pennsylvania
Federal Bar Admissions:
Southern District of NY
Texas Western District
