Diana Conner is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation department. Her practice focuses on complex commercial litigation in both state and federal courts. Ms. Conner represents clients on a variety of high-stakes commercial disputes, including matters involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, financial services, manufacturing, and media companies. Ms. Conner also has a robust pro bono practice, including civil rights and criminal cases. Prior to joining Patterson Belknap, Ms. Conner served as a law clerk to the Hon. Colleen McMahon of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Representative Matters

Representation of financial guaranty insurers in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis in suits against banks that sponsored residential mortgage-backed securities, including on appeal to the New York Appellate Division and the New York Court of Appeals. One such matter resulted in a $1.8 billion settlement in favor of our client midway through trial.

Representation of a major medical device company in a multibillion-dollar earnout dispute concerning surgical robots, including at a multi-week trial in Delaware Chancery Court.

Representation of a major pharmaceutical company in a multimillion-dollar arbitration concerning alleged breaches of a vaccine manufacturing agreement.

Representation of a major medical device company in an earnout dispute relating to an orthopedic surgical device.

Representation of a major medical device company in a New York federal court action concerning a contractual dispute relating to medical imaging technology.

Representation of investors in New York state court trust instructional proceedings concerning the proper distribution of funds to holders of residential mortgage-backed securities.

Representation of a major media company in a New York state court action concerning the alleged breach of a production services agreement relating to a reality television show.

Representation of a large auto parts manufacturer in a contractual dispute relating to electric vehicles.

Representation of a non-profit foundation in a civil asset forfeiture case concerning over $500 million in assets, including at a five-week trial in federal district court and on multiple appeals to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Pro Bono

Representation of Muslim communities in New York and New Jersey in federal civil rights actions concerning local authorities’ discriminatory denials of permits to construct mosques. One such case resulted in a landmark ruling under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act. Patterson Belknap’s work on the matter was recognized with the Legal Leadership Award from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, the Champions of Justice award from the Muslim Bar Association of New York, the Landmark Award from the New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association, and the Trailblazer Award from the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey.

Representation of client in appeal of burglary conviction to the New York Appellate Division and the New York Court of Appeals.

Representation of indigent youthful offenders seeking to avoid payment of court fees on the basis of severe financial hardship.

Bar Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York 
• New York
• District of Columbia

Education

• Stanford Law School (J.D., 2012)
  • Gerald Gunther Prize
• Georgia Institute of Technology (B.S., 2008)

Professional Activities and Experience

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS: Presenter, "Annual Post-Conviction Capital Defense Training Program," New York City Bar Association CLE Program (July 25, 2017)