Draft:Devin Freedman
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Devin "Velvel" Freedman is an American lawyer and founding partner of Freedman Normand Friedland LLP, a Miami-based litigation firm. Recognized as a leading trial attorney, he has gained prominence for innovative strategies and representing clients in high-profile cases, including a landmark defamation lawsuit against CNN, the cryptocurrency dispute *Kleiman v. Wright*, and Holocaust-era art restitution in *Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation*.[1]
Early Life and Education
[edit]Freedman was born in the United States and pursued a non-traditional educational path before entering the legal profession. Prior to law school, he was ordained as a rabbi.[2] In preparation for law school, Freedman achieved a perfect score of 180 on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).[3] According to data from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), a 180 LSAT score placed him in the 99.9th percentile of test-takers.[4] This score facilitated his admission to Columbia Law School, where he graduated with a Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 2012, earning honors as a James Kent Scholar, one of the institution’s highest academic distinctions.[5] [6]
In 2012, Freedman took the Florida Bar Exam and achieved the highest score in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties; he was honored for the score by Florida's Third District Court of Appeal.[3]
Legal Career
[edit]Freedman began his career at Boies Schiller Flexner LLP.[7] In 2019, he co-founded Roche Freedman LLP with Kyle Roche.[8] The firm was later renamed Freedman Normand Friedland LLP.[9] The firm is headquartered in Miami with offices in New York and Boston.[10] It focuses on plaintiff-side litigation in complex fields like class actions, antitrust, defamation, cryptocurrency, and cannabis law.[11]
Freedman serves on the Southern District of Florida’s Local Rules Committee, contributing to the development of legal standards in the region.[1]
Notable Cases
[edit]Freedman has been involved in several high-profile cases that have shaped his reputation as a formidable litigator:
- Defamation Lawsuit Against CNN (2025): Freedman was lead trial counsel to Navy veteran Zachary Young in a defamation suit against CNN, stemming from a 2021 segment on "The Lead with Jake Tapper." The segment allegedly implied Young engaged in illegal "black market" activities during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. In January 2025, after a widely publicized trial streamed online, a Florida jury awarded Young $5 million in compensatory damages and further finding that CNN was liable for punitive damages too.[12] CNN settled the case for an undisclosed amount before the jury could award a punitive damages amount.[13] In a post-verdict interview, the juror foreperson said the jury would have awarded punitive damages of up to $100 million had a settlement not been reached.[14] Freedman emphasized the case’s significance in holding media accountable, noting it as a rare instance of an individual prevailing against a major network with punitive damages awarded.[2][15]
- Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation (2005–2022): Freedman represented the Cassirer family in a decades-long legal battle against the Thyssen-Bornemisza Foundation, an instrumentality of Spain, to recover "Rue Saint-Honore, Apres-Midi, Effet de Pluie," a Camille Pissarro painting stolen by the Nazis in 1939. This Holocaust-era restitution case, the only one of its kind to proceed to trial, went to trial in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Despite a ruling in favor of the Foundation under Spanish law, the case reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022, setting a precedent on choice-of-law issues in international art disputes. Freedman’s involvement highlighted his expertise in complex international litigation and cultural heritage law.[16][17]
- Kleiman v. Wright (2021): Freedman was lead trial counsel in a landmark cryptocurrency case representing W&K Info Defense Research LLC against Craig Wright, who claimed to be Bitcoin’s creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. The lawsuit, centered on the ownership of significant Bitcoin assets, resulted in a $140 million judgment for W&K in December 2021. The case, heard in the Southern District of Florida, was notable for its scale and its implications for cryptocurrency law.[18][19]
- Antitrust Litigation Against U.S. Universities (2022–present): Freedman helps lead ongoing antitrust litigation against multiple elite U.S. universities, alleging collusion in financial aid practices that violated federal law. As of early 2025, the lawsuits have secured preliminary settlements exceeding $284 million, with institutions like Columbia and Yale implicated. The case has drawn attention for its impact on higher education funding policies.[20]
- Tilray Cannabis Dispute (2021): Freedman represented Bill’s Nursery, a Florida-based cannabis grower, in a contract dispute against Tilray Inc., a $4.3 billion publicly traded company. The lawsuit, filed in Washington state court, alleged Tilray engaged in a “bait and switch” scheme, breaching agreements with smaller firms in the emerging cannabis industry. Freedman described the case as a cautionary tale for small businesses partnering with large cannabis corporations.[21]
- Lowry v. RTI Surgical Holdings (2021–2022): Freedman served as co-lead counsel in a securities class action against RTI Surgical Holdings in Illinois. The case, which alleged financial misrepresentation, reached a $10.5 million settlement, pending final court approval in 2022. Freedman highlighted the result as “extraordinary” for the class, showcasing his firm’s growing securities litigation practice.[22]
Personal Life
[edit]Freedman maintains a strong connection to his Jewish heritage. During the CNN defamation trial in January 2025, he notably left the courtroom early on a Friday to observe Shabbat, a decision that underscored his commitment to faith and earned public recognition.[15] He is married to Chyena Freedman and resides in the Miami area, where he is an active member of The Shul of Bal Harbour in Surfside, Florida.
Recognition
[edit]Freedman was named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2025, an accolade reflecting peer recognition and professional achievement, awarded to only a small fraction of attorneys.[5] He has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2022 for his expertise in litigation.[23] He was also a recipient of the Daily Business Review’s “Florida Trailblazers” award in 2020, recognizing his innovative contributions to the legal field.[24] In 2021, Freedman was named a “Legal Elite Up & Comer” by Florida Trend, highlighting his rising prominence among young attorneys.[25] He received the National Law Journal’s 2020 “Trailblazers” award in Cannabis Law for his pioneering work in that emerging industry.[26] Additionally, Freedman was honored with the Daily Business Review’s 2019 Professional Excellence award as an attorney “On the Rise,” acknowledging his early career achievements.[27] His work has also been featured in legal and mainstream media for its impact on emerging legal fields.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Devin "Velvel" Freedman - Freedman Normand Friedland LLP". fnf.law. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "Devin (Velvel) Freedman Wins Defamation Case Against CNN On Behalf Of Navy Veteran". JewishPress.com. 23 January 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "Lubavitcher Honored for High Scores in Bar Exam". CrownHeights.info. October 25, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "LSAT – Scoring a Perfect 180". Law School Numbers. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "Top Rated Miami, FL Civil Litigation Attorney | Devin "Velvel" Freedman". Super Lawyers. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Academic Honors and Prizes". Columbia Law School. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Velvel (Devin) Freedman on LinkedIn: Roche Freedman LLP". LinkedIn. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Roche Freedman LLP Firm Announcement". rcfllp.com. February 19, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Freedman Normand Friedland LLP - Firm Overview". fnf.law. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Contact Us". Freedman Normand Friedland LLP. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Former Boies Schiller Lawyers Form New Litigation Boutique". Bloomberg Law. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Navy Vet Defeats CNN in Defamation Trial". Law.com. January 24, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "CNN faces potential $1 billion payout after defamation trial verdict". CNN. January 17, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "CNN defamation juror 'would have awarded' Navy veteran up to $100 million before settlement reached". Fox News. January 30, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ a b "Frum Attorney Leaves Courtroom to Make it in Time for Shabbos". COLlive.com. 14 January 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Supreme Court Rules in Nazi-Looted Art Case". The New York Times. April 21, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Cassirer v. Thyssen-Bornemisza: A Long Fight for Justice". Art Law Gallery. December 15, 2022. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Velvel (Devin) Freedman on LinkedIn: We are incredibly gratified the jury found Craig Wright has to pay our client". LinkedIn. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "SLIDESHOW: Meet the Miami Heavy Hitters Handling $11B Bitcoin Case". Yahoo Finance. July 24, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Velvel (Devin) Freedman on LinkedIn: More institutions settle financial aid antitrust lawsuit". LinkedIn. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "News — Roche Freedman LLP". rcfllp.com. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "'We Just Took Notice': How a Miami Law Firm is Growing Its Class-Action Practice". fnf.law. October 11, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Vel Freedman - Lawyer Profile". Best Lawyers. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Florida Trailblazers 2020". Daily Business Review. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Legal Elite Up & Comers". Florida Trend. July 1, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "Trailblazers: Cannabis Law 2020". National Law Journal. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ "DBR Announces 2019 Professional Excellence Awards". Daily Business Review. March 15, 2019. Retrieved February 19, 2025.