Lauren Dayton litigates complex disputes in state and federal courts from the filing of a complaint through appeal. Dayton has particular expertise in contract disputes and business torts, particularly under New York law. She also litigates antitrust, bankruptcy, and intellectual property matters.
Dayton is a skilled advocate. She develops creative strategies and compelling narratives for her clients, always keeping their goals in focus. She has taken or defended dozens of depositions, argued motions, worked with experts, and coordinated in large defense groups to drive a successful outcome for her clients. Dayton is particularly good at managing complex cases efficiently. She draws on her experience in private practice and in clerking for both trial and appellate courts to develop an effective and efficient case strategy.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation | 2026 | Commercial Litigation, Antitrust |
Dayton is also an experienced appellate lawyer. She has briefed appeals before federal courts in the Second, Third, Fifth, Ninth, and Federal Circuits, and before the Supreme Court of the United States. She has an active practice before New York appellate courts.
Dayton speaks frequently on business torts and trial practice issues, including at the ABA’s Litigation Section Annual Conference and before the Chicago Bar Association. Ms. Dayton is co-chair of the ABA’s Business Torts & Unfair Competition Committee and is also active in Women in Funds, an organization for investment professionals and attorneys.
Before joining MoloLamken, Dayton clerked for the Honorable Steven M. Colloton of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and for the Honorable Brian M. Cogan of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
Dayton is fluent in French and has represented francophone clients.
Representative Matters
- Represents investment adviser and its affiliated entity in suits against Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and PDVSA to reduce to judgment and then enforce more than $800 million in defaulted debt, including representing investment fund as stalking horse to purchase holding company of CITGO in judicial auction
- Represents consumer class as part of nationwide class leadership in a multidistrict antitrust case against a major tech company
- Represents plaintiff in §1983 deliberate-indifference suit against private prison healthcare provider in N.D. Illinois (pro bono)
- Represented private equity firm in First Department appeal of fraudulent-transfer and related business tort claims
- Represented world-renowned museum in trademark and copyright dispute in N.D. Illinois
- Represented international asset manager and direct lender, and indenture trustee, in trial over fraudulent-conveyance and tort claims and breaches of intercreditor agreement in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, as well as parallel litigation in New York Supreme Court
- Represented global retailer in appeal to the First Department of breach-of-contract suit relating to COVID-19
- Represented telecommunications company in Fifth Circuit appeal of dismissal of antitrust suit
- Represented biopharmaceutical company in Federal Circuit appeal and U.S. Supreme Court cert petition involving patent invalidity (enablement) issues
- Represented university patent holder in Federal Circuit appeal of patent invalidity ruling based on indefiniteness
- Represented software and technology company in patent appeal before the Federal Circuit
- Represented plaintiff in §1983 excessive-force suit against Rikers corrections officers in SDNY (pro bono)