Brenda Szydlo
Partner
OFFICE
New York
PRACTICE AREAS
Securities Litigation
LAW SCHOOL
St. John’s University School of Law
ADMITTED
New York; United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; United States Courts of Appeals for the Second and Ninth Circuits; United States Supreme Court
CONTACT
Brenda Szydlo joined Pomerantz in January 2016 as Of Counsel and was elevated to Partner in 2022.
She brings to the Firm extensive experience in complex civil litigation in federal and state court on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants, with a particular focus on securities and financial fraud litigation, litigation against pharmaceutical corporations, accountants’ liability, and commercial litigation. In 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, Brenda was recognized by Super Lawyers® as a “Top-Rated Securities Litigation Attorney.” Brenda was also included on the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyers list in 2022, 2023, and 2024. Additionally, Brenda was named New York Metro Top Women 2024 for Securities Litigation.
Brenda played a leading role in the Firm’s securities class action case in the Southern District of New York against Brazil’s largest oil company, Petrobras, arising from a multi-billion-dollar kickback and bribery scheme, in which the Firm, as sole Lead Counsel, achieved a precedent-setting legal ruling and a historic $3 billion settlement for the Class. This is not only the largest securities class action settlement in a decade but is the largest settlement ever in a securities class action involving a foreign issuer, the fifth-largest securities class action settlement ever achieved in the United States, the largest securities class action settlement achieved by a foreign Lead Plaintiff, and the largest securities class action settlement in history not involving a restatement of financial reports.
Brenda has represented investors in additional class and private actions that have resulted in significant recoveries, such as In re Pfizer, Inc. Securities Litigation, where the recovery was $486 million, and In re Refco, Inc. Securities Litigation, where the recovery was in excess of $407 million. She has also represented investors in opt-out securities actions, such as investors opting out of In re Bank of America Corp. Securities, Derivative & ERISA Litigation in order to pursue their own securities action.
Prior to joining Pomerantz, Brenda served as Senior Counsel in a prominent plaintiff advocacy firm, where she represented clients in securities and financial fraud litigation, and litigation against pharmaceutical corporations and accounting firms. Brenda also served as Counsel in the litigation department of one of the largest premier law firms in the world, where her practice focused on defending individuals and corporations in securities litigation and enforcement, accountants’ liability actions, and commercial litigation.
Brenda is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, where she was a St. Thomas More Scholar and member of the Law Review. She received a B.A. in economics from Binghamton University.
Brenda is admitted to practice in New York; United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second and Ninth Circuits; and the United States Supreme Court.