City skyline
New York  •  Est. 1991

Counsel for Consequential Matters

We represent institutions, executives, and enterprises in high-stakes litigation, complex business disputes, and matters where precision and outcome define everything.

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The Firm

There are firms that handle legal work. Then there are firms that change outcomes.

Blackthorne & Vale was founded on a single conviction: that the quality of legal representation determines the course of careers, enterprises, and legacies.

We are a litigation-first firm — one that prepares every matter as if it will be tried, whether it ultimately goes to court or not. This approach, combined with deep industry knowledge and an uncompromising standard of preparation, has made us the counsel of choice for clients who cannot afford to be wrong.

About the Firm
Expertise

Practice Areas

01

Corporate Litigation

Representing companies and executives in complex commercial disputes, shareholder actions, and regulatory proceedings at trial and appellate levels.

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02

Business Disputes

Resolving high-value commercial conflicts through litigation, arbitration, and negotiated resolution — protecting client interests with strategic precision.

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03

Private Counsel

Serving as personal legal counsel to founders, executives, and families navigating transactions, disputes, and sensitive legal matters requiring absolute discretion.

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04

Strategic Advisory

Providing ongoing counsel on risk architecture, contract strategy, and legal positioning — anticipating disputes before they arise.

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Leadership

Attorneys of
Distinction

Meet All Attorneys
William Blackthorne
William Blackthorne
Founding Partner
Corporate Litigation · Business Disputes
Cecelia Vale
Cecelia Vale
Managing Partner
Private Counsel · Complex Arbitration
Marcus Elliot
Marcus Elliot
Senior Partner
Risk Management · Contract Disputes
Track Record

Results That
Define Us

Our case results speak not to what we attempted, but to what we delivered. Every representation reflects the same standard: thorough preparation, strategic clarity, and unwavering commitment to outcome.

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Corporate
Secured dismissal of all claims in a $340 million breach of fiduciary duty action brought against a publicly traded company's board of directors.
Arbitration
Obtained a favorable arbitration award in a cross-border commercial dispute involving a complex licensing arrangement, preserving $180 million in future revenue.
Litigation
Successfully defended a financial services firm in an eleven-week trial, resulting in a defense verdict on all counts following allegations of securities fraud.
Advisory
Restructured a major acquisition agreement mid-transaction, resolving a critical regulatory concern and enabling a $620 million deal to close on schedule.
"We do not measure ourselves by the cases we accept.
We measure ourselves by the outcomes we produce."
William Blackthorne  •  Founding Partner
Thought Leadership

Firm Insights

All Articles
Corporate Governance

The Evolving Standard of Care: What Directors Need to Know About Fiduciary Duty in 2024

Recent appellate decisions have meaningfully shifted the landscape for corporate directors facing derivative actions. Understanding these changes is essential to board-level risk management.

November 2024 Read
Litigation

Navigating the Discovery Phase of Complex Commercial Disputes

October 2024
 Arbitration

Selecting the Optimal Dispute Resolution Forum for High-Value Commercial Claims

September 2024
 Business Law

MAC Clauses in an Uncertain Market: Drafting Considerations for Acquisition Counsel

August 2024
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