NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - February 24, 2010) -  Becker & Poliakoff, a diversified commercial law firm with more than 130 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City, New Jersey, Nassau (Bahamas) and Prague, today announced that commercial litigation attorney Helen Davis Chaitman has joined the firm as a partner in its Commercial Litigation Practice Group in New York City. Ms. Chaitman comes to Becker & Poliakoff from Phillips Nizer LLP in New York.

Ms. Chaitman is a nationally recognized litigator with a diverse trial practice in the areas of lender liability, bankruptcy, bank fraud, RICO, professional malpractice, trusts and estates. and white collar defense. She is the author of The Law of Lender Liability (Warren, Gorham & Lamont) the leading treatise on lender liability in which she coined the term "lender liability," and, since 1987, has authored the monthly newsletter, The Lender Liability Law Report. In 1995, she was named one of the nation's top ten litigators by the National Law Journal for a jury verdict she obtained in an accountants' malpractice case.

Since early 2009, Ms. Chaitman has been an outspoken advocate for investors in Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC and has led a lobbying effort in Congress advocating protections for Madoff investors. Her blog, chaitmanonmadoff.com, includes her congressional testimony, related court decisions and other key documents.

"I am thrilled to be joining Becker & Poliakoff," said Ms. Chaitman. "As one of the largest Florida based law firms, with offices in New York and New Jersey, they have the resources and capabilities I need to support the work I am doing for my Madoff and other clients."

"Helen Chaitman has a tremendous record of accomplishment both inside and outside the courtroom," said Alan Becker, managing partner, Becker & Poliakoff. ""Her depth of knowledge and vast experience will further strengthen our ability to service clients in all of our offices."

"Helen is a tremendous addition to our New York office and will support the strategic growth of the Firm's Litigation Practice in New York, Florida, and nationally," said Victor J. DiGioia, Managing Partner of the New York Office.

A Madoff victim herself, Ms. Chaitman has devoted the 2009 year working, largely on a pro bono basis, for hundreds of Madoff investors. In late 2009, she met with 55 Senators, Representatives, and/or the aides, advocating both tax relief and anti-clawback legislation to protect Madoff investors.

On December 9, 2009, Ms. Chaitman testified concerning the plight of Madoff investors before the House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government-Sponsored Enterprises. She is litigating against Irving H. Picard, Trustee, on several different issues and represents numerous victims of Madoff's scheme who are subject to "clawback" claims asserted by Picard.

Ms. Chaitman practices in New York and New Jersey and has been admitted to practice pro haec vice in numerous jurisdictions throughout the United States. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and received her J.D. degree from Rutgers University.

About Becker & Poliakoff

Becker & Poliakoff is a diverse commercial law firm with more than 130 attorneys in 13 Florida offices, New York City, New Jersey, Nassau, Bahamas, Prague and affiliated international offices. Celebrating its thirty-seventh (37th) year of serving clients, the firm has seven primary areas of practice: Real Estate, Construction, Community Association, Customs & International Trade, Commercial Litigation, Corporate & Securities, and Government Law & Lobbying. For more information, visit: www.becker-poliakoff.com.

Contact Information:

Media Contact:
Alan Penchansky
The Pen Group Communications
Tel: (305) 529-1944
email:alan@thepengroup.com