Hal M. Shimkoski

Hal Shimkoski handles high stakes cases at every stage of litigation, from drafting the complaint to arguing the appeal.  Experienced in trials, Hal litigates cases in courts across the country on behalf of investors, banks, and large companies.  Hal’s current practice focuses on securities litigation, ERISA, bankruptcy, and antitrust. 

Among other active matters, Hal represents two dozen medical practices in a Multi-District Litigation in Chicago against MultiPlan, Aetna, Cigna, United, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, and other health insurers.  The lawsuit alleges that MultiPlan and the insurers conspired to fix prices for out-of-network services, resulting in damages exceeding $3 Billion.

In 2025, Hal secured a trial victory in New York’s Commercial Division on behalf of junior bondholders concerning the allocation of hundreds of millions of dollars in Residential Mortgage Backed Securities (RMBS) Trusts administered by Wells Fargo—a decision with sweeping implications for billions in RMBS investments industry-wide.  Hal cross-examined a key witness at trial and was responsible for the admission of critical evidence.

Hal also obtained, as part of a group of similarly situated defendants, a complete appellate victory in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals dismissing a bankruptcy case brought by funds tied to Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme against Hal’s client, a Swiss bank, and many other large financial institutions.

Hal recently achieved another appellate victory in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals against Aetna on behalf of his client, Aramark.  The Fifth Circuit affirmed the lower court’s ruling denying Aetna’s attempt to compel arbitration, allowing Aramark’s ERISA claims to go forward.  Hal was the primary drafter of Aramark’s appellee brief. 

As part of his pro bono practice, Hal partners with Her Justice representing women in divorce proceedings and with Brooklyn Defender Services representing parents in administrative hearings.

• Aramark Services v. Aetna Life Insurance. Representing Aramark, received an appellate victory in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals against Aetna on behalf of Aramark.  The Fifth Circuit affirmed the lower court’s ruling denying Aetna’s attempt to compel arbitration, allowing Aramark’s ERISA claims to go forward. 
• In re Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Secured a pivotal trial win on behalf of junior bondholders—400 Capital Management, La Verdad Holdings, Solula LLC, and Robert Dechert—in a high-stakes residential mortgage-backed securitization (RMBS) trustee proceeding concerning 34 RMBS trusts.