Mr. Hecht has successfully tried civil and criminal cases to verdict and award and argued appeals in a wide range of venues. He has represented clients in construction, complex commercial, products liability, employment, personal injury and criminal cases.
News & Publications
- Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA
- Schnader Attorneys Named to NY Super Lawyers
- Schnader Attorneys Named to The Best Lawyers in America 2019
- Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA
- Schnader Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers 2017
- 40 Schnader Attorneys Named to The Best Lawyers in America 2018
- Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA – Ten Schnader Partners Also Recognized
- Many Schnader Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers 2016
- Thirty-Seven Schnader Attorneys Selected for The Best Lawyers in America 2017
- Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA – Ten Schnader Partners Also Recognized
- Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA – Nine Schnader Partners Also Recognized
- The “Separate Entity Rule” Remains Alive and Well in New York State
- Super Lawyers Recognizes Many Schnader Attorneys in 2014
- Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA – Nine Schnader Partners Also Recognized
Community & Pro Bono
- Town of Mamaroneck Fire Department, firefighter (Ret.), honorary chief, and department counsel
- Town of Mamaroneck, Board of Ethics, member
Education
- New York Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1979
- University of Wisconsin, B.A., with distinction, 1976
Bar Admissions
- New York, 1980
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
- U.S. Claims Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Professional Affiliations
- The Association of the Bar of the City of New York, Member
- New York State Bar Association, Member
Other Distinctions
- Ranked by Chambers USA – America’s Leading Business Lawyers Guide for construction law, 2012-present
- Rated AV® Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell®
- New York Law School Law Review, notes, and comment editor
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Construction Law and Litigation-Construction, 2017-2019
- Noted as a “New York Super Lawyer,” 2014-2018
Representative Matters
- Tried case before a federal jury, obtaining a multimillion-dollar verdict, representing construction demolition firm in breach of contract action against national construction management company, concerning tower office building damaged on 9/11.
- Tried case before a federal jury, representing hospital in action against a manufacturer of defective heating and air conditioning system, obtaining $1.7 million judgment.
- Represented ground transportation companies in putative class action, winning judgment dismissing federal and state labor law claims.
- Represented surety against material supplier’s claim under construction payment bond, obtaining defense verdict in state court jury trial concerning the construction of a municipal cruise ship terminal.
- Represented plaintiff curtain wall contractor, obtaining multimillion-dollar judgment against well-known developer; in an unprecedented appellate ruling, the court increased statutory interest to twelve percent per annum.
- Won defense verdict representing municipality in a state court jury trial in a suit brought by general contractor for the renovation of a city hospital.
- Represented surety at trial in state court against steel fabricator’s claim in action arising from the repair of bridges on Interstate Highway 95, resulting in no liability for client.
- Co-tried landmark case concerning enforcement of “no-damage for delay” provisions in construction contracts.
- Represented national restaurant chain before federal jury, winning defense verdict in premises liability action.
- Represented defendant entrepreneur in state jury trial, achieving defense verdict against claims arising from the development of co-generation energy projects.
- Represented estate in wrongful death action, resulting in multimillion dollar settlement in case concerning fire in high rise residential building.
- Negotiated high profile public works contracts in connection with the Mario Cuomo Bridge and Kosciuszko Bridge projects.
- Won acquittals in criminal trials and related proceedings.
- Successfully argued many appeals in federal and state court.
