Aryeh S. Portnoy
Overview
Reliability, rigor, responsiveness, and results are why clients have entrusted their legal needs to Aryeh Portnoy. Aryeh’s robust litigation and counseling practice spans industries and continents. He heads Crowell & Moring’s Hospitality Practice and co-chairs its Terrorism Litigation Practice. He also represents companies and higher education institutions in all forms of commercial disputes, and he counsels domestic and non-United States clients in litigation and business matters raising complex questions of sovereign immunity. Companies, sovereign entities, and individuals come to Aryeh with their most complex legal matters, and they rely on him as their outside general counsel to address or channel legal issues as they arise.
Career & Education
- Columbia University, magna cum laude, 1995
- New York University School of Law, 1998
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Professional Activities and Memberships
- Law360 Hospitality Editorial Advisory Board Member, 2015-2016
- French
- Hebrew
Being an attorney is about service and trust. Clients need someone who they know will take the call, thoughtfully consider the issue and identify creative solutions, assemble the right team, and deliver the best result. I treat my clients’ legal needs as if they were my own. When ownership and duty meet creativity and experience, that is the path to success.
Aryeh's Insights
Press Coverage | 09.18.25
October 7 Massacre Lawsuit Filed For 140 People Against Terrorist Groups And State Sponsors
Firm News | 5 min read | 07.01.24
Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.23.23
Speaking Engagement | 03.03.23
“Arbitration in Times of Conflict,” Tel Aviv Arbitration Week, Tel Aviv, Israel
Representative Matters
- Representation of major hotel management company in dispute with Owner over termination of management agreement for Caribbean resort.
- Representation of a South American Central Bank in litigation with global bank over alleged violations of investment guidelines for securities lending program.
- Representation of major U.S. energy company in multi-million-dollar tax dispute.
- Representation of victims of terrorism in FSIA litigation arising from attacks on U.S. embassy and U.S. embassy annex in Beirut, Lebanon.
- Representation of victims of terrorism in FSIA litigation arising from attack on U.S. embassy in Nairobi, Kenya.
- Successful representation of CFO in securities fraud class action brought pursuant to the PSLRA.
- Successful representation of major hotel management company in multi-million dollar dispute over applicability of performance standard in hotel management agreement.
- Successful representation of major hotel management company in dispute over development of 1,200 room luxury convention-center hotel.
- Pugh v. Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, et al. (D.D.C.) ($6.1 billion judgment arising from terrorist bombing of UTA 772 in September 1989).
- Smith v. Hope Village, Inc. , 481 F. Supp.2d 172 (defeating summary judgment motion by DC Halfway House in litigation arising from murder of 9-year old girl by previously released resident).
- In re Iraq and Afghanistan Detainees Litig. , 479 F. Supp.2d 85 (dismissal of all claims against former Army Brigadier General in litigation arising from war in Iraq).
- Carney v. United States , 182 Fed. Appx. 295 (affirmance of dismissal of all claims against current and former agents of Office of Thrift Supervision).
Aryeh's Insights
Press Coverage | 09.18.25
October 7 Massacre Lawsuit Filed For 140 People Against Terrorist Groups And State Sponsors
Firm News | 5 min read | 07.01.24
Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.23.23
Speaking Engagement | 03.03.23
“Arbitration in Times of Conflict,” Tel Aviv Arbitration Week, Tel Aviv, Israel
Recognition
- Law360 Hospitality: Editorial Advisory Board Member, 2015-2016
- Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia: Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence, April 2011
- Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County: Kavod Award for Distinguished Service, May 2009
- City Year Idealist of the Year Award, May 2008
- Crowell & Moring Pro Bono Award, 2005
Aryeh's Insights
Press Coverage | 09.18.25
October 7 Massacre Lawsuit Filed For 140 People Against Terrorist Groups And State Sponsors
Firm News | 5 min read | 07.01.24
Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.23.23
Speaking Engagement | 03.03.23
“Arbitration in Times of Conflict,” Tel Aviv Arbitration Week, Tel Aviv, Israel
Insights
Arbitration – Unlocking the Promise of Arbitration
|01.09.18
Crowell & Moring's Litigation Forecast 2018
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act: 2014 Year in Review
|07.01.16
Law and Business Review of the Americas
The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act: 2013 Year in Review
|01.05.16
Law and Business Review of the Americas
Forum Selection and Forum Non Conveniens: A Plaintiff's Perspective
|11.04.09
ABA International Law Section Fall Meeting
Holding terrorist states accountable using civil litigation
|05.01.09
Justice, No. 46 - The International Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
October 7 Massacre Lawsuit Filed For 140 People Against Terrorist Groups And State Sponsors
|09.18.25
The Jerusalem Post
Apollo Global Management Obtains Temporary Injunction Against Insurance Lawsuit
|07.16.19
Insurance Business America
Crowell & Moring Helps Inspirational Dad Retain Custody of His Children
|12.23.14
Making Justice Real
Attorneys Welcome the Opportunity to Volunteer Their Time for the Greater Good
|06.09.08
Washington Business Journal
Aryeh's Insights
Press Coverage | 09.18.25
October 7 Massacre Lawsuit Filed For 140 People Against Terrorist Groups And State Sponsors
Firm News | 5 min read | 07.01.24
Client Alert | 4 min read | 10.23.23
Speaking Engagement | 03.03.23
“Arbitration in Times of Conflict,” Tel Aviv Arbitration Week, Tel Aviv, Israel