BIO

Nafiz Cekirge is a partner in the New York office of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. He is nationally recognized for defending mortgage originators and servicers in consumer mass actions, having served as lead counsel in more than 200 cases in state and federal courts nationwide.

Mr. Cekirge pioneered the strategic use of the Class Action Fairness Act (“CAFA”) to remove mass actions to federal court, briefing numerous issues of first impression that have shaped favorable precedent for the lending industry. With over a decade of experience in financial services law — including through the 2008 financial crisis — he advises clients on virtually every legal and regulatory challenge faced by financial institutions.

Beyond financial services, Mr. Cekirge represents clients in complex products liability, tort, and white-collar matters.

Most recently, he worked as a Principal at Offit Kurman. Prior to that, he was a partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, where he managed his practice from both coasts in the firm's New York and Los Angeles offices. During his career, Mr. Cekirge also worked as an associate in Brewer’s New York office.

A Turkish-American attorney, Mr. Cekirge is a native speaker of both Turkish and English and is adept at navigating the cultural and commercial nuances of cross-border matters involving Turkish clients. He was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Princeton Medical Center Foundation.

He earned his J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Order of the Coif) and his B.A. in philosophy from Columbia University.

Education

J.D., Cardozo School of Law, 1999

B.A. in Philosophy, Columbia University, 1997

Bar Admissions

New York

California 

New Jersey

United States Supreme Court

United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

United States District Court for the Central District of California

United States District Court for the Eastern District of California

United States District Court for the Northern District of California

United States District Court for the Southern District of California