Lanier Saperstein

He is recognized by leading legal publications for his work in international banking law and is widely regarded for his ability to handle highly contentious, high-profile litigations – a distinction echoed by his global banking clients.

Lanier made precedent-setting history as the first lawyer in the United States to require a litigant to use the Hague Evidence Convention when seeking confidential bank records from China. 

His practice spans a wide array of banking matters, including the Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering (AML), Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions programs, the Anti-Terrorism Act, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), the bank examination privilege, suspicious activity reports, the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), and international wire transfers. He also handles claims of alleged fraud under federal and New York law.

Lanier routinely handles cross-border subpoenas, asset restraints, and judgment and arbitral enforcement actions. He has litigated key subjects relating to personal and subject matter jurisdiction, international comity, and the separate entity rule. He also advises banks on litigation and regulatory issues relating to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.

In addition to his banking experience, Lanier litigates commercial matters on behalf of foreign companies and individuals, including contract disputes, fraud claims, breach of fiduciary duty matters, and post-closing adjustment disputes.

Lanier Co-Leads Dorsey’s award-winning U.S.-China Practice Group, recognized by the Legal 500 Greater China, China Business Law Journal, and Benchmark Litigation Asia-Pacific for its expertise in cross-border litigation. Legal 500 Greater China recently highlighted the group’s "wealth of practical experience" in "complex China-related … cross-border litigation matters," where its “meticulousness” and "a strong degree of collaboration" across the firm’s U.S. and China offices "allows it to handle a spectrum of China-related U.S. litigation." 

Lanier is a member of the NYCBA’s Compliance Committee and the Council on Judicial Administration. He sits on the China General Chamber of Commerce–USA’s Legal Counsel Committee and is an adjunct professor at Fordham Law School. He writes on matters impacting financial institutions, and his writings have been cited in dozens of law journals.