Eva M. Thomas is Counsel at A.Y. Strauss in the firm’s Litigation Group. Her experience includes matters involving breach of contract claims, products liability class actions, business torts, securities derivative actions, dissolution of LLCs, landlord tenant disputes, estate litigation, and labor and employment disputes. She also supports the Real Estate Group with legal research, due diligence, and litigation services. Her experience includes hundreds of court appearances before judges in both civil and criminal matters.

Before joining A.Y. Strauss, Eva served as a public defender in Nassau County, New York . She was a member of the Civil Rights Clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law wherein she handled several federal litigation matters.

Eva has been recognized by New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars® (2025-2026) for Litigation and New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars® (2026) for Business Litigation.

Representative Matters

• Secured a substantial judgment after a bench trial in New Jersey state court in a commercial landlord tenant matter.
• Successfully moved for dismissal of all claims on summary judgment on behalf of a third-party defendant in a trade secret misappropriation matter in New York state court.
• Obtained a favorable settlement in a bankruptcy adversary proceeding on behalf of a creditor seeking a finding that debt was non-dischargeable.
• Represented a New York landlord in a prevailing motion for summary judgment in New York Supreme Court.
• Obtained a favorable settlement in a securities derivative action on behalf of an ousted shareholder.
• Obtained a favorable settlement in a landlord tenant matter on behalf of a tenant.
• Drafted and co-drafted briefs in dispositive and interlocutory motions before state and federal courts in matters involving complex contract issues, labor and employment disputes, and injunctive relief.
• Drafted discovery responses and objections in a products liability class action and a chancery action for lease rescission.
• Represented and advised a research faculty member during an internal institutional investigation at a prominent university in New York City.
• Analyzed and revised employee handbooks for compliance with applicable state and federal laws
• Secured a pre-trial voluntary dismissal of an estate action.
• Managed and led e-discovery and document review projects concerning several hundred thousand documents in connection with complex commercial litigations.
• Led document review projects concerning several hundred thousand documents in connection with international, complex commercial litigations.
• Taken and defended depositions of individuals, experts and corporate representatives.
• Appeared and argued in court on motion hearings, conferences, and pre- and post-trial proceedings
• Negotiated pre-answer voluntary dismissal of actions.

Honors and Accolades

• New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars® (2025-2026)
• New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars® (2026)
• Paris Baldacci Scholarship, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
• Dean’s Scholarship, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
• Overall Winner and Best Brief, August A. Rendigs National Products Liability Moot Court Competition (as coach), 2019
• Semifinalist, National Latino/a Law Student Association Moot Court Competition, 2018
• Octofinalist and Third Best Oralist, Federal Bar Association Thurgood Marshall Moot Court Competition, 2018

Professional and Civic Affiliations

• New York State Bar Association