Benesch is pleased to announce that Lauren Zimmerman has joined the firm as a partner in its Litigation Practice Group in New York, further strengthening the firm’s growing presence in the market. Lauren joins Benesch from Selendy Gay PLLC and brings significant experience representing clients in complex, high-stakes litigation in federal and state courts and before arbitral panels nationwide. Her practice spans sophisticated commercial litigation, white collar defense, and corporate crisis management and investigations.
Lauren’s arrival follows that of Litigation Partner Eileen DeLucia, who joined the firm from Holwell Shuster & Goldberg LLP—marking two new additions to Benesch’s New York office from boutique litigation firms in the past month.
“Lauren is a proven trial attorney whose experience and instincts make her a strong fit for our litigation practice,” said J. Erik Connolly, managing chair of Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group. “She shares our commitment to thoughtful advocacy, collaboration and delivering meaningful results for our clients. Moreover, as just the 12th associate to start at her previous firm, she played a meaningful role in its growth in the market. We’re excited to have her contribute to the continued expansion of our litigation team in New York.”
“Benesch stands out for its ability to deliver top-tier legal counsel while remaining deeply attuned to clients’ economic realities and business objectives,” said Lauren. “Just as important, the firm’s culture—marked by ingenuity, entrepreneurship and a genuine commitment to kindness and collaboration—made it a place I wanted to build my practice.”
Benesch’s New York office has experienced rapid and sustained growth since opening in 2023 and now includes nearly 50 attorneys. This expansion has been driven by a strategic focus on lateral growth and the recruitment of attorneys from elite boutique firms—most recently Lauren and Eileen—and leading Am Law 100 firms. As a key pillar of Benesch’s national growth strategy, the New York office continues to gain significant traction in the market, particularly in litigation. The office has adopted the proven playbook that fueled Benesch’s explosive growth in Chicago, which now exceeds 150 attorneys, and is executing that strategy with similar momentum in New York.
Lauren has represented clients in complex contractual disputes, bankruptcy and defamation litigations, and regularly counsels high-net-worth individuals and corporate leadership on sensitive business and family law issues at critical inflection points. In her investigations and corporate defense practice, Lauren represents individuals, special committees and companies in significant internal and government investigations, including matters involving the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Lauren is valued by clients for her ability to develop case strategies that extend through trial, as well as her tenacious courtroom presence and ability to think quickly on her feet. She considers every angle of a case, focusing on how to most effectively tell her clients’ stories to every relevant stakeholder and arbiter.
Lauren has received numerous accolades for her work, including being selected as one of Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” in 2026 and being named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under Guide” in 2024 and 2025, among others. She earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and her B.A. from Columbia University