Practice Expertise

  • Litigation
  • Privacy and Data Security
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Antitrust

Areas of Practice

  • Litigation
  • Privacy and Data Security
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Antitrust
  • Art and Museum Law
  • Complex Commercial Actions
  • Law Firm Defense
  • White Collar Defense and Investigations
  • View More

WSG Practice Industries

WSG Leadership

  • Emerging Leaders Group - Member
  • WSG Coronavirus Task Force Group - Member

Profile

Alejandro Cruz is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation department.  Mr. Cruz represents clients in complex commercial litigation, as well as in arbitrations, mediations, and investigations.  His practice includes representing law firms and lawyers accused of legal malpractice, companies accused of antitrust violations, and financial institutions in a broad range of litigation, as well as disputes involving transactions and ownership of fine art.  Mr. Cruz also defends clients in government investigations by federal and state agencies, as well as representing boards of directors and board committees of public companies in investigations and shareholder disputes.  In addition, as a member of the firm’s Privacy and Data Security group, Mr. Cruz advises clients on a wide array of cybersecurity and privacy issues, including incident response, ransomware, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation.  In 2020, the New York Law Journal named Mr. Cruz a “Rising Star,” a designation recognizing “the region’s most promising lawyers ages 40 and under.”  In 2024, Benchmark Litigation recognized Mr. Cruz as a “Future Star” for New York in Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC’s Guide.

Mr. Cruz also maintains an active pro bono practice, including federal civil rights litigation involving the First, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments, the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, as well as defending eviction proceedings and other housing disputes.  In 2016, Mr. Cruz received the Brooklyn Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project’s Champion of Justice Award for his commitment to pro bono service.  Mr. Cruz is a member of the board of directors of Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, a nonprofit legal services organization that provides support, advocacy, and high quality civil legal representation to poor and low-income families and individuals in New York state.  He also sits on the board of directors of White Plains Hospital and the Hudson River School of Music, as well as the board of advisors for the Dartmouth College Center for Social Impact.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cruz served as a law clerk to the Honorable Eric N. Vitaliano of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York from 2011 to 2012, and prior to that practiced at a New York law firm.

Bar Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
  • New York

Education

  • University of Virginia School of Law (J.D., 2009)
    • Editorial Board, Virginia Law Review
    • Order of the Coif
  • Dartmouth College (A.B., cum laude, 2004)

Areas of Practice

  • Litigation
  • Privacy and Data Security
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution
  • Antitrust
  • Art and Museum Law
  • Complex Commercial Actions
  • Law Firm Defense
  • White Collar Defense and Investigations

Professional Career


Professional Activities and Experience

HONORS: Listed as a “Future Star” for New York in Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC’s Benchmark Litigation’s 2023 Guide; Named as a “Rising Star” by the New York Law Journal (2020)



MEMBERSHIPS: Board of Directors, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley; Board of Directors, White Plains Hospital; Board of Advisors, Dartmouth College Center for Social Impact.



SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Presenter, "When Crisis Hits: A Step-by-Step Response to Data Privacy Breaches for Nonprofits," NYC Bar Hot Topics in Not-for-Profit Law (November 6, 2023); Panelist, "RLUIPA: Protecting Religious Land Use For Over 20 Years," DOJ Civil Rights Division Outreach Panel (October 30, 2023)




Blogs

Antitrust Update

Antitrust Update Blog is a source of insights, information and analysis on criminal and civil antitrust and competition-related issues. Patterson Belknap’s antitrust lawyers represent clients in antitrust litigation and counseling matters, including those related to pricing, marketing, distribution, franchising, and joint ventures and other strategic alliances. We have significant experience with government civil and criminal/cartel investigations, providing the unique perspectives of former...

Data Security Law Blog

DataSecurityLaw.com is the firm’s resource for the latest news, analysis, and thought leadership in the critical area of privacy and cybersecurity law. Patterson Belknap’s Privacy and Data Security practice provides public and private enterprises, their leadership teams and boards with comprehensive services in this critical area. Our team of experienced litigators, corporate advisors and former federal and state prosecutors advises on a broad range of privacy and data protection matters includi

Data Security Law Blog

DataSecurityLaw.com is the firm’s resource for the latest news, analysis, and thought leadership in the critical area of privacy and cybersecurity law. Patterson Belknap’s Privacy and Data Security practice provides public and private enterprises, their leadership teams and boards with comprehensive services in this critical area. Our team of experienced litigators, corporate advisors and former federal and state prosecutors advises on a broad range of privacy and data protection matters...

Misbranded

Misbranded is Patterson Belknap’s blog covering false advertising litigation—both consumer class actions and competitor suits—with a particular focus on FDA-regulated products (foods/beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and dietary supplements).

New York Commercial Division Decisions

The blog is a source for insights and developments related to practice in the Commercial Division of the New York State Supreme Court. This blog reviews key developments in the Commercial Division, including important decisions handed down by the Commercial Division and appellate court decisions reviewing Commercial Division decisions. The blog also covers changes and proposed changes to Commercial Division rules and practice, including revisions to the rules since January 2015. The...

NY Patent Decisions Blog

NYPatentDecisionsBlog.com is a source for the latest patent decisions from the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. The blog is authored by Patterson Belknap’s Patent Litigation practice group, whose members are highly experienced trial attorneys with extensive technical knowledge. Many have advanced scientific degrees and industry experience in fields such as communications, electrical and electro-optical technology, semiconductor technology, metallurgical...

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