Jef Klazen
Lawyer
Jef Klazen focuses on international enforcement of judgments and arbitration awards, as well as related cross-border asset tracing and recovery. Described by the publishers of Global Arbitration Review as "a lawyer who thinks like an investigator," he advises companies and individuals on how to enforce and otherwise monetize judgments and has particular experience with enforcements arising out of investor-state disputes that may involve state immunity.
With degrees in both U.S. and international law, Mr. Klazen is able to help clients develop and execute a global asset-tracing and recovery strategy, which may include the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa and offshore jurisdictions.
Mr. Klazen also litigates commercial disputes in New York courts and across the United States and is an aggressive advocate for clients in matters involving complex financial products, such as commercial and residential mortgage-backed securities and other structured products, at both the trial and appeal levels.
Before joining Kobre & Kim, Mr. Klazen worked at the International Court of Justice and at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, Netherlands. He also practiced with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York. Mr. Klazen served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Betty B. Fletcher of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Admissions
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Education
- Leiden University (Netherlands), LLM (Public International Law)
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, JD (Cardozo Law Review, Articles Editor)
- University of Chicago, BA
Languages
- Dutch
Clerkships
- Honorable Betty B. Fletcher, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Accolades
- Who's Who Legal, Asset Recovery
Select Engagements
International Judgment Enforcement & Offshore Asset Recovery
Financial Products & Services Litigation
- Rebecca Hume and Jef Klazen Attend Exclusive Cambridge Forum as Steering Committee Members
- Kobre & Kim to Host Virtual Panel on Battle-Tested Techniques to Enforce Judgments and Awards Against Sovereigns
- Nineteen Kobre & Kim Lawyers Recognized as Leaders by Who’s Who Legal
- Clashing with Titans: Maximizing Returns on Sovereign Judgment Enforcement
- When Sovereign Judgment Debtors Fight Back: Clashing with Titans
- An Opportunity across the Pond: U.S. Discovery Developments can Drive UK Proceedings
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Fourteen Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- Jef Klazen on the Challenges and Opportunities of Global Asset Recovery in 2020
- Kobre & Kim Secures $233 Million Freezing Order in a Dutch court against India-based MNC
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Twelve Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- Jef Klazen, Marcus Green and Chris Cogburn Discuss the Current State of Arbitration Award Enforcement in the U.S.
- Kobre & Kim Lawyers Discuss Cross-Border Judgment Enforcement and Asset Recovery in U.S.-Israel Legal Review
- Kobre & Kim Attorneys Detail Strategies for Enforcing Judgments against Sovereign Entities in Mealey’s
- Recovering Stolen Funds from Business Email Fraudsters
- Clashing With Titans: Effective Judgment Enforcement Against Sovereign Entities
- Jef Klazen to Discuss Breaking Trusts and Recovering Assets in Fraud Cases
- The New Art Fraud: Galleries, Dealers are Next Global Hacking Targets
- The New Art Fraud: Galleries and Dealers Are the Next Global Hacking Targets
- Looking to Enforce a Judgment in the U.S.?
- Jef Klazen Examines Asset Tracing Techniques at the International Enforcement of Judgments & Awards Forum
- Global Judgment Enforcement Team Offers Strategies for Freezing Debtor Assets Across the EU
- Global Asset Recovery Team Offers Insight on Recovering and Protecting Assets Across Jurisdictions
- International Judgment Enforcement Lawyers Explore Strategies for Enforcing Foreign Judgments in the U.S.
- Publishers of Global Arbitration Review Recognize Kobre & Kim’s Global Asset Recovery Team
- Jef Klazen Examines Enforceability at the Forum on International Enforcement of Judgments & Awards
- Global Asset Tracing and Recovery Team Examines Whether the EU Has Made Cross-Border Asset Preservation Easier
- Transatlantic Legal Awards Shortlist Kobre & Kim for Transatlantic Litigation Team of the Year
- Simon Cullingworth and Jef Klazen Tackle Asset Tracing and Enforcement Strategies at CLAN Seminar
- Lawyers Jef Klazen, Marcus Green, and Matthew Kokot Discuss the Enforcement of Arbitral Agreements
- Jef Klazen Discussed Navigating Corporate Scandals at the Annual Conference of the International Bar Association
- Tim Prudhoe and Jef Klazen to discuss Navigating Treacherous Onshore and Offshore Jurisdictional Terrain
- Jef Klazen and Randall Arthur Tackle Investors’ Next Steps Following Massive Bitfinex Hack
- Jef Klazen Explores Fund-Recovery Options for Bitfinex Hack Victims
- Enforcing an Arbitral Award? Kobre & Kim Lawyers Discuss Strategies for Success
- Kobre & Kim Lawyers Discuss Cross-Border Insolvency and International Judgment Enforcement at the International Litigation, Arbitration, and Transactions Conference
- Michael S. Kim and Jef Klazen Co-Author Article on Defensive Techniques for Global Liquidation
- Jef Klazen, Randall Arthur, and Gabrielle Liu Discuss Singapore’s Newest Debut to Its Dispute Resolution Forums in the Global Arbitration Review
- How Do You Recover the U.S. Assets of a Foreign Judgment Debtor? Chapter 15 Proceedings Might Help
Professional & Community Involvement
- International Bar Association, Litigation Committee, Member
- New York City Bar Association, Member
- District of Columbia Bar Litigation Section, Member
Publications & Presentations
- Speaker, "Recent Trends in Sovereign Immunity" (UK/U.S. Cross-Border Litigation Summit, London, June 2018)
- Panelist, "Preliminary Assessment of Enforceability" (Forum on International Enforcement of Judgements & Awards, Surrey, June 2018)
- Panelist, "Recognition and Enforceability: Challenges with Converting Judgements and Awards into Actual Recovery under the Law in Different Jurisdictions" (International Disputes & Asset Recovery Involving Russian & CIS parties, London, January 2018)
- Co-author, "Has EU Really Made Cross-Border Asset Preservation Easier?" (Law360, June 2017)
- Panelist, "Tracing and Timing" (Commercial Litigation Association’s Asset Tracing & Judgment Enforcement, London, March 2017)
- Co-author, "Execution and Judgment Enforcement in the United States" (ABA International Aspects of U.S. Litigation, February 2017)
- Speaker, "How to Navigate Corporate Scandals: The Need for 'Super Lawyers' with Criminal and Commercial Litigation Skills" (IBA Annual Conference, Washington DC, September 2016)
- Co-author, "Enforcing Arbitral Awards: Success Lies In The Strategy" (Law360, April 2016)
- Speaker, "International Judgment/Arbitration Award Enforcements" (International Litigation, Arbitration & Transactions Conference, Miami, February 2016)
- Co-author, "Execution and Judgment in the United States" (International Aspects of U.S. Litigation, American Bar Association, 2016)
- Contributing author, "Developing International Business Relationships: Why it Pays to Plan for Asset Tracing and Recovery from the Outset" (Who’s Who Legal, August 2015)
- Co-author, "Singapore: Resurgent Litigation" (Global Arbitration Review, July 2015)
- Co-author, "A Novel Strategy for Clawing Back Fund Distributions in Cayman" (Westlaw Journal, March 2015)
- Co-author, "Using Chapter 15 to Recover Domestic Assets Of A Foreign Judgment Debtor" (Inside Counsel, February 2015)
- Speaker, "Monetizing Large Judgments and Arbitration Awards" (Association of Corporate Counsel, Webinar, April 2014)
Credentials
Admissions
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Education
- Leiden University (Netherlands), LLM (Public International Law)
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, JD (Cardozo Law Review, Articles Editor)
- University of Chicago, BA
Languages
- Dutch
Clerkships
- Honorable Betty B. Fletcher, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Accolades
- Who's Who Legal, Asset Recovery
Engagements
International Judgment Enforcement & Offshore Asset Recovery
Financial Products & Services Litigation
News
- Rebecca Hume and Jef Klazen Attend Exclusive Cambridge Forum as Steering Committee Members
- Kobre & Kim to Host Virtual Panel on Battle-Tested Techniques to Enforce Judgments and Awards Against Sovereigns
- Nineteen Kobre & Kim Lawyers Recognized as Leaders by Who’s Who Legal
- Clashing with Titans: Maximizing Returns on Sovereign Judgment Enforcement
- When Sovereign Judgment Debtors Fight Back: Clashing with Titans
- An Opportunity across the Pond: U.S. Discovery Developments can Drive UK Proceedings
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Fourteen Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- Jef Klazen on the Challenges and Opportunities of Global Asset Recovery in 2020
- Kobre & Kim Secures $233 Million Freezing Order in a Dutch court against India-based MNC
- Who’s Who Legal Recognizes Twelve Kobre & Kim Lawyers as Leading Practitioners in Asset Recovery
- Jef Klazen, Marcus Green and Chris Cogburn Discuss the Current State of Arbitration Award Enforcement in the U.S.
- Kobre & Kim Lawyers Discuss Cross-Border Judgment Enforcement and Asset Recovery in U.S.-Israel Legal Review
- Kobre & Kim Attorneys Detail Strategies for Enforcing Judgments against Sovereign Entities in Mealey’s
- Recovering Stolen Funds from Business Email Fraudsters
- Clashing With Titans: Effective Judgment Enforcement Against Sovereign Entities
- Jef Klazen to Discuss Breaking Trusts and Recovering Assets in Fraud Cases
- The New Art Fraud: Galleries, Dealers are Next Global Hacking Targets
- The New Art Fraud: Galleries and Dealers Are the Next Global Hacking Targets
- Looking to Enforce a Judgment in the U.S.?
- Jef Klazen Examines Asset Tracing Techniques at the International Enforcement of Judgments & Awards Forum
- Global Judgment Enforcement Team Offers Strategies for Freezing Debtor Assets Across the EU
- Global Asset Recovery Team Offers Insight on Recovering and Protecting Assets Across Jurisdictions
- International Judgment Enforcement Lawyers Explore Strategies for Enforcing Foreign Judgments in the U.S.
- Publishers of Global Arbitration Review Recognize Kobre & Kim’s Global Asset Recovery Team
- Jef Klazen Examines Enforceability at the Forum on International Enforcement of Judgments & Awards
- Global Asset Tracing and Recovery Team Examines Whether the EU Has Made Cross-Border Asset Preservation Easier
- Transatlantic Legal Awards Shortlist Kobre & Kim for Transatlantic Litigation Team of the Year
- Simon Cullingworth and Jef Klazen Tackle Asset Tracing and Enforcement Strategies at CLAN Seminar
- Lawyers Jef Klazen, Marcus Green, and Matthew Kokot Discuss the Enforcement of Arbitral Agreements
- Jef Klazen Discussed Navigating Corporate Scandals at the Annual Conference of the International Bar Association
- Tim Prudhoe and Jef Klazen to discuss Navigating Treacherous Onshore and Offshore Jurisdictional Terrain
- Jef Klazen and Randall Arthur Tackle Investors’ Next Steps Following Massive Bitfinex Hack
- Jef Klazen Explores Fund-Recovery Options for Bitfinex Hack Victims
- Enforcing an Arbitral Award? Kobre & Kim Lawyers Discuss Strategies for Success
- Kobre & Kim Lawyers Discuss Cross-Border Insolvency and International Judgment Enforcement at the International Litigation, Arbitration, and Transactions Conference
- Michael S. Kim and Jef Klazen Co-Author Article on Defensive Techniques for Global Liquidation
- Jef Klazen, Randall Arthur, and Gabrielle Liu Discuss Singapore’s Newest Debut to Its Dispute Resolution Forums in the Global Arbitration Review
- How Do You Recover the U.S. Assets of a Foreign Judgment Debtor? Chapter 15 Proceedings Might Help
Professional & Community Involvement
- International Bar Association, Litigation Committee, Member
- New York City Bar Association, Member
- District of Columbia Bar Litigation Section, Member
Publications & Presentations
- Speaker, "Recent Trends in Sovereign Immunity" (UK/U.S. Cross-Border Litigation Summit, London, June 2018)
- Panelist, "Preliminary Assessment of Enforceability" (Forum on International Enforcement of Judgements & Awards, Surrey, June 2018)
- Panelist, "Recognition and Enforceability: Challenges with Converting Judgements and Awards into Actual Recovery under the Law in Different Jurisdictions" (International Disputes & Asset Recovery Involving Russian & CIS parties, London, January 2018)
- Co-author, "Has EU Really Made Cross-Border Asset Preservation Easier?" (Law360, June 2017)
- Panelist, "Tracing and Timing" (Commercial Litigation Association’s Asset Tracing & Judgment Enforcement, London, March 2017)
- Co-author, "Execution and Judgment Enforcement in the United States" (ABA International Aspects of U.S. Litigation, February 2017)
- Speaker, "How to Navigate Corporate Scandals: The Need for 'Super Lawyers' with Criminal and Commercial Litigation Skills" (IBA Annual Conference, Washington DC, September 2016)
- Co-author, "Enforcing Arbitral Awards: Success Lies In The Strategy" (Law360, April 2016)
- Speaker, "International Judgment/Arbitration Award Enforcements" (International Litigation, Arbitration & Transactions Conference, Miami, February 2016)
- Co-author, "Execution and Judgment in the United States" (International Aspects of U.S. Litigation, American Bar Association, 2016)
- Contributing author, "Developing International Business Relationships: Why it Pays to Plan for Asset Tracing and Recovery from the Outset" (Who’s Who Legal, August 2015)
- Co-author, "Singapore: Resurgent Litigation" (Global Arbitration Review, July 2015)
- Co-author, "A Novel Strategy for Clawing Back Fund Distributions in Cayman" (Westlaw Journal, March 2015)
- Co-author, "Using Chapter 15 to Recover Domestic Assets Of A Foreign Judgment Debtor" (Inside Counsel, February 2015)
- Speaker, "Monetizing Large Judgments and Arbitration Awards" (Association of Corporate Counsel, Webinar, April 2014)