Ilann M. Maazel is nationally recognized for helping the most vulnerable: survivors of sexual abuse, disability abuse, bullying, police abuse, prison abuse, wrongful convictions, and all forms of discrimination. Mr. Maazel helped save the High Line in New York City, led the 2016 presidential recount effort in Pennsylvania, and has brought class actions to end the tampon tax, end delays in Bronx Criminal Court, provide services to disabled preschool children, reduce violence in New York City prisons, and defend millions of Americans surveilled by the National Security Agency.
As a commercial litigator, Mr. Maazel defeated Donald Trump and has represented Martha Stewart, the Apollo Theater, Everytown for Gun Safety, the NAACP, Newegg, the Children’s Aid Society, The New York Foundling, the New York City Council, and executives and employees in financial services, health care, fashion, advertising, academia, and the non-profit sector.
Mr. Maazel has been published in USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and The National Law Journal. He blogs for Law.com, writes the civil rights litigation column for the New York Law Journal and is a frequent commentator on civil rights issues in the national media. His work has been featured in The New York Times’ The Weekly, NPR, The Brian Lehrer Show, and the Oscar-winning documentary Citizenfour. He has guest lectured at Columbia Law School and The Cooper Union.
Mr. Maazel joined the firm after clerking for the Hon. John M. Walker, Jr. on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Mr. Maazel is also a writer, pianist, and composer.
Education
University of Michigan, J.D., magna cum laude, 1997
Order of the Coif
Harvard University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1993
Harvard National Scholar (in recognition of “unusual academic, extracurricular and personal distinction”)
Harvard Scholarship for “academic work of high distinction”
Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
New York
Memberships
The Federal Bar Council
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Civil Rights Committee, Federal Legislation Committee)
NationSwell
The New York County Lawyers’ Association (Federal Courts Committee)
Honors
City and State Law Power 100 (2023)
Super Lawyer (2012 – 2024)
Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Civil Rights Lawyers” (2021 – 2024)
Legal Services Pro Bono Leader
Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Publico award winner
Coro Leadership Fellow
former Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of American
Echoing Green Public Service Fellowship awarded to “outstanding individuals who are committed to public service work.”
Attorney News
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$10 million Settlement in Federal Case for Developmentally Disabled Woman Who Died in New York State Care
December 19, 2024
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FOX5 featured ECBAWM client to discuss abuse faced at the Anderson Center for Autism
December 3, 2024
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Ilann M. Maazel Speaks at 2024 PILnet Global Forum in Bangkok
November 26, 2024
Representative Cases
#MeToo: represent survivors of sexual abuse, discrimination, and harassment, including in Breest v. Haggis ($10 million jury verdict), and the Ohio State University sex abuse scandal. Member of the Legal Network for Gender Equity.
Disability Rights: cases include Doe v. Bedford Central School District ($10 million settlement after openings); the “Bronx Zoo” case ($6 million settlement and reform), Jonathan Carey ($5 million settlement), J.H. ($3 million settlement), B.W. ($2.25 million settlement mid-trial), Eddie Velasquez ($2.25 million settlement), K.C. ($2.25 million settlement), M.F. ($1.25 million settlement), G.B. ($1.25 million settlement), and Ricky Weisenberg.
Children’s Rights: represent victims of bullying and harassment (T.E., $4.48 million settlement), school misconduct (including the P.S. 186 case), and foster care abuse. Also represent students in academic and non-academic disciplinary matters throughout the country in universities, and public and private elementary and high schools.
Wrongful Conviction and Prisoners’ Rights: Represent wrongfully convicted prisoners (including Kareem Bellamy, $8 million settlement; Martin Nnodimele, $2 million settlement). Helped free Christopher Ellis, Anthony Sims, and Amaury Bonilla.Co-counsel in Ingles v. Toro, resulting in one of the most sweeping injunctive settlements in the history of the New York City prison system and $2.2 million in damages for the named plaintiffs.
Publications
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"What Do Civil Rights Lawyers Do?"
November 14, 2023 —
New York Law Journal and ALM Litigation Daily -
“How to Win a #MeToo Case”
May 17, 2023 —
New York Law Journal and ALM Litigation Daily -
“The Adult Survivors Act: A Window of Opportunity”
July 14, 2022 —
New York Law Journal
Education
University of Michigan, J.D., magna cum laude, 1997
Order of the Coif
Harvard University, B.A., magna cum laude, 1993
Harvard National Scholar (in recognition of “unusual academic, extracurricular and personal distinction”)
Harvard Scholarship for “academic work of high distinction”
Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
New York
Memberships
The Federal Bar Council
The Association of the Bar of the City of New York (Civil Rights Committee, Federal Legislation Committee)
NationSwell
The New York County Lawyers’ Association (Federal Courts Committee)
Honors
City and State Law Power 100 (2023)
Super Lawyer (2012 – 2024)
Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Civil Rights Lawyers” (2021 – 2024)
Legal Services Pro Bono Leader
Legal Aid Society Pro Bono Publico award winner
Coro Leadership Fellow
former Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of American
Echoing Green Public Service Fellowship awarded to “outstanding individuals who are committed to public service work.”