Samuel (“Sam”) Abernethy is both a litigator and corporate lawyer, who concentrates on the financial services industry, particularly commodities, derivatives and securities. He's advised registrants in compliance matters and represents litigants in private litigations (as well as arbitrations and mediations) and regulatory disciplinary matters, including investigations. He also advised clients in corporate governance matters, shareholder/member rights and employment issues.
Sam’s practice has involved him in an in-depth way with markets and trading, especially in the futures and derivatives markets. He has served as a receiver, arbitrator and expert in commodities and derivatives related matters and disputes. He began his legal career with Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, and later became Vice-President and General Counsel of Comex, Inc. and then Senior Vice-President and General Counsel of the Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange, Inc. (now ICE, Inc.).
Sam frequently speaks on relevant topics and has served as a panelist in several New York City Bar Association programs on futures and derivatives law, including “Hot Topics” program on Exchange-Traded and OTC derivatives, and in several Futures Industry Association Law & Compliance Division programs at annual conferences. He has also spoken on various New York State Bar Association programs.
- (A.B.)
- Fordham University School of Law (J.D.)
- New York
- Executive Committee, New York State Bar Association, Member
- House of Delegates, New York State Bar Association, Delegate
- Electronic Communications Committee, New York State Bar Association, Member and Chair
- Special Committee on Pleading Standards in Federal Litigation, New York State Bar Association, Chair
- Special Committee on Electronic Discovery and Case Management in Federal Litigation, New York State Bar Association, Chair
- Business Law Section, New York State Bar Association, Member
- Derivatives & Structured Products Law Committee, New York State Bar Association, Member and Chair
- Diversity and Leadership Development Committee, New York State Bar Association, Member and Chair
- Youth Outreach Committee, New York State Bar Association, Member
- Task Force on Gun Violence, New York State Bar Association, Member
- Futures and Derivatives Committee, New York City Bar Association, Member
- Futures and Derivatives Committee of the Business Law Section, American Bar Association, Member
- New York City Committee of the Law Firm Access to Justice Campaign Committee of Legal Services of Hudson Valley, Inc., Member
- St. Andrew’s Society of the State of New York, President and Board Member
- Burns Society of the City of New York, Board Member
- AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell
