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PROMINENT ASSIGNMENTS
Tried 32 cases to verdict or award, compiling a record of 31-1.
Represented defendants in more than 30 securities and ERISA class actions, including recent cases involving Ford Motor Company, Collins & Aikman, Hayes-Lemmerz International, Lear, Visteon, Paychex, Reddy Ice, FMF Capital and Mackinac Financial.
Represented private equity interests in litigation and arbitration stemming from the purchase or sale of portfolio companies.
Represented accounting firms for more than twenty years, including in the cases that established Michigan precedent for the proper statute of limitations and the limited standing of creditors to sue their debtor's accountants.
Defended banking, lending and investment institutions and firms against a wide range of customer contract and tort claims frequently seeking seven, eight and nine figure damages.
Represented actuarial firm in defense of putative professional negligence claims.
Represented Fortune 1000, middle market and closely held companies in a wide range of business tort matters, including theft of trade secrets and violations of covenants not to compete and covenants not to solicit customers or employees.
Represented The Coca-Cola Company and subsidiary (Energy Brands, Inc.) in termination of the exclusive distributor of VitaminWater in Southeast Michigan.
Represented a major insurance company in $100 million coverage dispute under a fidelity/employee dishonesty policy.
Spearheaded the litigation eliminating a twenty year land use restriction, clearing the way for the Star Southfield Movie Theater Complex and a Lexus car dealership.
Represented the National Hockey League in cases involving defecting Russian hockey players.
Represented Major League Baseball with respect to litigation avoidance and legal compliance matters associated with the All Star Game hosted in Detroit.
Represented Motown Music and Berry Gordy against royalty claims asserted by the famed song writing trio of Holland, Dozier & Holland.
Prevailed at arbitration for FTD Association against the acquirer of its wholesale operations in a "bet the company" case concerning ownership and control of all FTD trademarks.
REPRESENTATIVE CLIENTS
BDO Seidman, LLC
The Coca-Cola Company
Heartland Industrial Partners, L.P.
JPMorgan Chase Bank, NA
Northern Trust Corp.
Premio Foods, Inc.
Watson Wyatt & Company
Wind Point Partners, LP
Wolverine Energy, LLC
Zurich Insurance Company
AREAS OF PRACTICE EMPHASIS
Accountant Liability
Arbitration Advocates
Banking & Financial Services
Business Torts
Class Actions
Mergers & Acquisitions
Real Estate
Securities
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Listed in Chambers USA, Best in Their Field, Commercial Litigation
Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation
Listed in the Top 100 Michigan Super Lawyers, recognized in Business Litigation
PROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
ABA Litigation Section, Securities Class Action Subcommittee, Co-Chair
Federal Bar Association, Officer and Board Member
State Bar of Michigan Foundation, Fellow
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Michigan Business Torts, Pappas, McNeill & Quick, (ICLE 2003, 2007), the State's Seminal Text in the field
"Financial Litigation in Federal Court," (February, 2008), Sponsored by the Federal Bar Association (E.D.Mich.)
"Electronic Discovery: Legal and Technical Issues for Today's Trial Lawyer," (February, 2006), Sponsored by the Federal Bar Association (W.D.Mich.)
"Litigating Non-Competition Agreements," (August 2003), ICLE's Masters of Litigation Series
"Managing Pretrial Discovery of Electronic Data," (July 2001), ICLE's Masters of Litigation Series
Working with National Firms
Cahill Gordon & Reindel
Davis Polk & Wardell
DLA Piper
Groom Group
Hunton & Williams
EDUCATION
University of Notre Dame, B.A. 1981 (magna cum laude)
Phi Beta Kappa
University of Virginia, J.D. 1984
Trial Advocacy Award | 