Need a lawyer for something like this?
Tell us what happened and we’ll connect you with a law firm that handles cases like yours, fast. Free, no obligation.
Tell us what happened →Our chat is not a message to the firm profiled here. Awesome Attorneys is independent and not a law firm; we pass your details on only with your permission.
Attorney Advertising. This profile is independent editorial content produced by Awesome Attorneys and is not a paid placement. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship. See our Methodology and Publisher Disclosure below.
At a Glance
| Founded by | Founded in 1963 (per the firm) |
| Focus | Broad-based commercial litigation, with a nationally recognized shareholder activism practice (per the firm) |
| Office | 1325 Avenue of the Americas, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10019 (Manhattan) |
| Signature results | No published itemized verdict table identified |
| Distinctive edge | Chambers USA ranks Olshan’s Corporate/M&A Shareholder Activism practice, General Commercial Litigation practice, and Real Estate practice all as leading New York practices in the same guide |
| Fee model | Not published on the firm’s site; the firm states it emphasizes “cost-effective” service and realistic budgeting for clients |
| Known for | Shareholder activism litigation, general commercial and contract disputes, real estate litigation, and securities fraud litigation for public companies, funds, and entrepreneurs (per the firm) |
Origin and Background
Founded in 1963, Olshan Frome Wolosky has grown into an approximately 89-attorney firm representing “major businesses and entrepreneurs in their most significant transactions, problems and opportunities,” per its own Chambers-provided firm overview. The Manhattan office at 1325 Avenue of the Americas was confirmed against the firm’s own site and multiple independent business listings.
What Makes This Firm Structurally Different
Olshan’s litigation practice is built around a specific structural pairing: general commercial litigators handling “a wide array of business and contract disputes” work alongside the firm’s Shareholder Activism Practice Group, which the firm describes as “the nation’s premier practice representing activist investors.” The group also includes former prosecutors maintaining a white-collar defense and whistleblower practice, giving the litigation department regulatory-side experience alongside conventional commercial work.
Practice Areas
- General commercial litigation
- Shareholder activism litigation
- Securities litigation and enforcement
- Real estate litigation
- Corporate governance and directors/officers litigation
- White-collar defense and investigations
Track Record
Awesome Attorneys did not identify a published, itemized table of verdicts or settlements on the firm’s site; the firm instead highlights institutional recognitions across its practice areas. Past results in any matter do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future matter.
Client Voice
An independently posted Martindale.com peer review of firm attorney Steven Wolosky states, “Steve is extraordinarily competent – a real gentleman. We need more lawyers like him,” while a separate review calls him “outstanding” and “one of the best in his field in the country.” These reviews concern the firm’s corporate/securities practice specifically rather than litigation. Awesome Attorneys did not identify a broader set of litigation-specific attributed client reviews as of this profile’s research date.
Beyond the Courtroom
Awesome Attorneys did not identify specific published community or pro bono activity for this firm as of the research date.
Recognition
Chambers USA’s 2025 guide recognized Olshan as a leading firm in three practice areas simultaneously: Corporate/M&A Shareholder Activism, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate, naming ten Olshan lawyers as Leading Lawyers. Legal 500 US 2025 ranked Olshan as a Top Tier 1 firm in Shareholder Activism. Nine Olshan lawyers were selected for The Best Lawyers in America 2026, and the firm was separately named a Best Law Firm by Best Lawyers for Commercial Litigation. These are independent, research-based rankings distinct from purchased marketing placements. New York does not maintain a board-certification system for business litigation comparable to Texas’s TBLS, so Awesome Attorneys does not apply “specialist” language to any New York business litigation attorney on that basis.
New York Legal Backdrop
Commercial contract disputes in New York generally carry a six-year statute of limitations under CPLR § 213(2). Shareholder activism and proxy contests are governed by a mix of federal securities law (including SEC proxy rules) and New York’s Business Corporation Law, and securities fraud claims may implicate both New York’s Martin Act and federal securities regulations. None of this is legal advice; a specific commercial or securities dispute should be evaluated by a licensed attorney based on the actual facts involved.
Awesome Attorneys Assessment
Olshan Frome Wolosky’s clearest differentiator is a rare combination of independently verified excellence across three distinct practice areas in the same Chambers guide cycle, anchored by a shareholder activism practice the firm describes as the nation’s premier group representing activist investors. The honest trade-off is that Awesome Attorneys could not locate a published, itemized outcomes record or a litigation-specific client review set to weigh against the firm’s institutional recognitions, and a firm of this caliber and size may carry pricing considerations smaller businesses should confirm upfront. For an institutional investor, public company, or business facing high-stakes commercial litigation, shareholder activism, or securities matters who wants a firm with genuinely multi-practice, independently verified elite recognition, that combination is a reasonable basis for a shortlist.
Methodology and Sourcing
This profile was researched from Olshan Frome Wolosky’s own website, including its contact and recognitions page, its Chambers USA firm and department profiles, and independent business directory listings (Martindale.com, Legal 500, Yelp) confirming office address and attorney recognitions.
Publisher Disclosure and Independence Notice
Awesome Attorneys is an independent legal directory and editorial publication. This profile was not paid for, commissioned, or reviewed by Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP prior to publication. Awesome Attorneys does not endorse, recommend, or warrant any profiled firm, and inclusion in this directory is not a paid placement. “Awesome Attorneys” is a brand name only and does not constitute a rating or ranking claim. Facts stated are current only as of this profile’s research date.