David Kleban is a Partner in Patterson Belknap’s Litigation department and serves as Co-General Counsel to the firm. Mr. Kleban represents sophisticated clients from diverse industries in complex disputes.  He has over a decade of experience advising and advocating for plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of commercial contexts—at trial and on appeal. Mr. Kleban’s work for plaintiffs has led to significant and favorable recoveries, while his representation of defendants has led to dismissals at the pleading stage and at summary judgment.

Representative Matters

• Defense of global investment firm against defamation and breach-of-contract claims, resulting in denial of all claims following eight-day arbitration hearing.
• Prosecution of claims by monoline insurers against sponsors of residential mortgage-backed securities, resulting in recoveries of over $2 billion from Bank of America, Credit Suisse, and Nomura; ongoing representation of multiple investment firms in connection with legacy RMBS.
• Defense of prepaid gift card provider in class actions, resulting in dismissal and, in one case, six-figure sanctions award against plaintiffs’ counsel.
• Successful defense and prosecution of copyright claims on behalf of major media entities.
• Defense of major midwestern law firm in New York lawsuit, resulting in dismissal at pleading stage.
• Defense of claims against major distributor of electronics components, resulting in dismissal at pleading stage.
• Defense of claims against a non-profit organization relating to U.S. government-sponsored medical experiments in the 1940s, resulting in dismissal at summary judgment.
• Representation in private arbitration of major medical device manufacturer in supply-chain disputes.
• Pro bono representation of the estate of an individual killed by the Rochester Police Department.
• Pro bono prosecution of negligence claims on behalf of tenants affected by a seven-alarm fire in New York’s Chinatown.

Bar Admissions

• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
• New York

Education

• Harvard Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2012)
• Duke University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2007)
  • Phi Beta Kappa

• MEMBERSHIPS: Board Member, Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A (2024-present)
• RECOGNITIONS: Named to Best Lawyers: One to Watch 2025 in the areas of Litigation: Antitrust and Litigation: Intellectual Property

• Co-Author, "Navigating Class Certification Challenges in the Antitrust Context," GCR's Americas Antitrust Review (August 12, 2024)
• Co-Author, "Trends in Class Certification," GCR's US Courts Annual Review, Fourth Edition (July 28, 2023)
• Co-Author, "Trends in Class Certification," GCR’s US Courts Annual Review, Third Edition (June 24, 2022)
• Contributor to www.AntitrustUpdateBlog.com
• Co-Author, "Trends in Class Certification," GCR's US Courts Annual Review, Second Edition (July 19, 2021)