David Lacher

Bringing large-firm experience and sophistication within reach of every business and individual

For over 30 years, we have been providing our business and individual clients with discerning legal services which have enabled them to achieve their varied objectives. Our clients receive the benefits of highly competent, diverse professional experience, careful and thorough personal attention, delivered with integrity, discretion, and attention to detail.

The firm offers essential legal services in the following primary areas:

Commercial & Residential Real Estate
Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning & Estate Administration

Publications  

Co‑authored for the New York City Bar Association Committee on Antitrust and Trade Regulation:

Comments on Proposed Revisions of FTC Guides On Promotional Allowances and Services (submitted to Federal Trade Commission January 1990 on behalf of the City Bar Association)

Co‑authored for the New York City Bar Association Committee on Federal Legislation (all published in The Record of The Association of the Bar of the City of New York):

Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1983 (Vol. 38, No. 5, July 1983)

Gun Control Legislation in the 97th Congress (Vol. 37, No. 4, May 1982)

The Response to Snepp v. United States : A Proposal for the 97th Congress (Vol. 36, No. 4, May/ June 1981)

The Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1974: An Analysis, 26 Syracuse L. Rev. 951 (1975)

"Averting the Flood:" Henry J. Friendly and the Jurisdiction of the Federal Courts Part I, 27  Syracuse L. Rev. 1071 (1976) [assisted principal author Thomas J. Maroney]

Prior Professional Experience  

Covista Communications, Inc. -- Paramus, NJ (2000-May 2003) [telecommunications & data services]

Vice President & Counsel In-house General Counsel for public (NASDAQ: CVST) telecommunications and data services provider; additional direct reports included corporate Human Resources Director. Responsibility for full range of commercial transactions, including acquisitions, business development, carrier and agent agreements; real estate agreements; marketing materials and press releases; review of financial reporting MD&A; regulatory affairs; intellectual property management; supervision of outside counsel. Position eliminated May 2003 in connection with headquarters relocation.

Viatel, Inc. -- New York, NY (1999-2000) [international telecommunications services]

Senior Counsel Retained originally in 1996 as outside general counsel to post-start-up Econophone, Inc., working directly with CEO and COO; company went public May 1999 under the name Destia Communications, Inc.; merged with Viatel December 1999; Viatel filed Chapter 11 May 2001 (NASDAQ: VYTL prior to bankruptcy). Responsibilities included all forms of network and carrier agreements, equipment procurement and financing agreements, commercial operating agreements, real estate and facilities agreements in both the U.S. and Europe, human resources administration and EEO compliance, business development (including Econophone's acquisition of VoiceNet Corp.), review of promotional and marketing materials; intellectual property management, credit and collections compliance, and litigation supervision. Assisted outside counsel in IPO and two major debt transactions. Corporate Secretary of Econophone, Inc. 1997-99.

Merck & Co., Inc. -- Whitehouse Station, NJ (1991-99) [international pharmaceuticals manufacturer & marketer]

Special Counsel [non-employee long-term retainer basis] Produced numerous international licensing agreements (encompassing trademark, patent and know-how), distribution, supply, toll-manufacturing and joint venture agreements in virtually every region of the world; confidentiality agreements, research collaboration and materials transfer agreements; business restructurings; real estate agreements; supervised outside counsel in Latin America, Middle East/Africa, Australia/New Zealand and Far East. Sent by Merck to Paris and Moscow to negotiate deals; assisted Merck inside counsel on compliance with Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and Anti-Boycott regulations; supervised project on transborder data flow of personnel information, including legal restrictions on such transfers; conducted regular reviews of marketing and promotional materials to be used outside U.S. Twice offered in-house positions; relationship suspended when full-time in-house position was accepted at Viatel.

Lacher & Fox (and predecessor firms) New York, NY (1986-99) [private law practice]

International pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and retail boutique practice. Representative clients included Merck & Co., Inc. (see above); Econophone/Destia (see above); KBC Bank [ Belgium ].

Areas of practice included (in addition to those described above) commercial workouts (retail sector), litigation (including federal trial experience), EEO defense, and commercial and residential real estate. Other business travel to China, Hong Kong and Rome . Correspondent relationships with foreign counsel in most regions of the world.

Saks Fifth Avenue New York, NY (1980-86)

Associate Counsel Number two position in legal department; interim department head for 10 months, reporting directly to CEO. Responsibilities included business service and operating agreements; equipment procurement contracts; antitrust compliance; labor relations and EEO defense work; FTC and other regulatory compliance, including screening of all promotional materials; trademark enforcement; immigration; legal compliance training and supervision of outside counsel.

Fulbright & Jaworski (formerly Reavis & McGrath) New York, New York (1979-80)

                                                                              Associate in litigation department.  Usual large-firm experience in discovery and motion practice; member of successful trial team in federal antitrust case.

Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon New York, New York (1977-79)

Associate in litigation department.  Usual large-firm experience in discovery and motion practice; member of successful trial teams in two federal jury cases.