Category: Firm News

The 32nd edition of The Best Lawyers in America® has been released today. Gibney partners Houman Afshar and Stephen Maltby are recognized in this year’s edition for New York Immigration.

About Best Lawyers:
For over 40 years, Best Lawyers has been esteemed by both legal professionals and the public as a premier benchmark for legal integrity and distinction in the United States. Being recognized by Best Lawyers is a testament to exceptional practice.

Inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® is determined through a comprehensive peer-review survey. The 32ⁿᵈ edition reached a historic milestone with over 280,000 voters having participated in our voting process since we began asking the very best: “If you are unable to take a case, how likely would you be to refer your client to this lawyer?” To create the awards over 26 million evaluations were analyzed including a record breaking 3.5 million responses from this year alone. Our commitment to our industry-driven, purely peer-based review process is central to our philosophy, as we believe that the top lawyers are best suited to identify their peers at the highest level.

View the Best Lawyers award.

Gibney is pleased to announce the promotions of attorneys to senior counsel in our employment and immigration groups. Employment attorney Desiree Jamasbi and immigration attorneys Jennifer Davis and Beaula Illingworth were promoted to senior counsel. Gibney congratulates our attorneys on their hard work, exceptional legal skills, and commitment to client service.

Jennifer Davis works with corporate clients in financial services, life sciences, technology and engineering, focusing on U.S. employment-based immigration matters. Her work also includes advising on compliance with immigration laws, Department of Labor regulations, and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policies.

Desiree Jamasbi manages business litigation and management-side labor and employment law matters. Desiree is also an experienced litigator and has handled complex matters involving insurance coverage, breach of contract, product liability and other commercial disputes.

Beaula Illingworth practices U.S. immigration and nationality law, concentrating in employment-based immigration. She assists corporate clients and executives in obtaining non-immigrant and immigrant visas across the financial services, technology and performing arts industries. She also assists individual clients with family-based immigration matters.

Immigration attorney Inez Macedonio was recognized on the JD Supra Popular Reads List. JD Supra recognized the most widely read updates published on during February 2025. Inez’s article March 2025 Visa Bulletin Released: What Employers Need to Know was included.

Gibney is very proud to share that Partner Kristen Smith has been appointed the first-ever General Counsel of Rolex Watch U.S.A., Inc. Kristen has been with Gibney for 18 years and serves as a member of the Management Committee and the head of our Corporate Group. We are incredibly grateful for Kristen’s leadership and dedication. Kristen starts her new role on April 1, and we wish her the best in this prestigious and exciting new position.

Gibney has been ranked in The Fashion Law’s Fashion Law 2025: The Top U.S. Law Firms for Retail Companies.

About the ranking:

Navigating the legal landscape of the fashion industry can be complex, with unique challenges in brand protection, international trade, supply chain management, sustainability and environmental compliance, and advertising and marketing regulations, among other critical areas of their operations. Against this background and in light of the issues that arise in connection with the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of fashion and luxury goods products and services, a growing number of law firms offer specialized expertise to help brands to both manage issues and safeguard their creative – and business – assets.

Given the consistently evolving nature of the fashion industry, a segment in which trends and the state of markets can rapidly shift, it is important for individuals and businesses in this space to work with legal professionals that understand the industry’s nuances and can provide tailored solutions.

With this in mind, TFL has compiled its inaugural list of top law firms specializing in fashion law, luxury goods, and consumer products more broadly.

In compiling the list of top fashion law firms, TFL assessed some of the largest U.S. law firms with fashion law practices. TFL considered various factors in selecting these firms, including but not limited to the size and scope of their practices, the breadth of fashion law services offered, their notable client base, and their active involvement in the fashion law community.

TFL notes that “Gibney, Anthony & Flaherty, LLP is a New York-based law firm with a dedicated intellectual property group, which encompasses the luxury goods, apparel, and fashion industries. The firm provides strategic legal counsel on trademark prosecution and enforcement, copyright protection, brand management, anti-counterfeiting measures, and licensing agreements. With extensive experience in protecting fashion brands’ creative assets, Gibney assists clients in navigating complex IP disputes, international trademark registrations, and emerging challenges in e-commerce and digital branding. The firm’s extensive work in intellectual property and active participation in related conferences highlight its prominence in the fashion law sector.​”

Read More.

Gibney IP Partner Brian Brokate was recognized in the 2025 World Trademark Review 1000 for enforcement and litigation work.

Brian assists companies in investigation and enforcement procedures to combat trademark and copyright infringement. With a niche focus on anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy, he handles all stages of civil anti-counterfeiting and infringement litigation as well as acting as support on behalf of clients for state and federal criminal actions.

About WTR 1000
WTR 1000 – the World’s Leading Trademark Professionals – a unique guide that identifies the top trademark professionals in key jurisdictions around the globe. The WTR 1000 focuses exclusively on trademark practice and has firmly established itself as the definitive ‘go-to’ resource for those seeking world-class legal trademark expertise.