Represented a public safety communications center in an action to vacate a significant arbitration award regarding a dispute with a contractor retained to implement an integrated automated public safety system. The District Court agreed with our arguments that the arbitrator exceeded his authority and vacated the arbitration award. The U.S. Circuit Court for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the District Court's opinion and order and further ordered that the parties select a new arbitrator to decide the remaining issues.

Successfully obtained summary judgment for our client in a premises liability action claiming a significant head injury and substantial monetary damages that was removed to federal court based on diversity of jurisdiction. The District Court held that the accumulation of ice and snow on the retailer's roof was an open and obvious danger under Michigan law.

Representation of owners in the design and construction of complex health care, office and manufacturing facilities throughout the United States. Represented the owner in one of the first large construction projects in Michigan utilizing an Integrated Project Delivery system.

Representation of lenders and special services in connection with the workout and foreclosure planning; post foreclosure management and positioning of assets, including leasing; and subsequent disposition of commercial real estate throughout the Midwest.

Managed large scale document collection and review in claims of fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment by package carriers against billion-dollar package-delivery company and successfully obtained partial summary judgment against multiple plaintiffs on statute of limitations grounds.

Defended broker and brokerage firm against claims of securities fraud, misrepresentation, churning investment accounts, breach of fiduciary duties and breach of contract, and obtained a judgment of no cause of action following full arbitration hearing.

Successfully obtained court order directing Financial Industry Regulatory Authority to expunge investors’ meritless claims from public records of securities brokers.

Obtained summary judgment on behalf of Indian corporation on claims of breach of contract involving purchase of large industrial presses.

Represented investors in claim for securities fraud against the manager of a limited liability company and defeated the defendants’ motion to dismiss and motion for summary judgment.

Represented Michigan corporation and successfully obtained reversal of trial court order regarding personal jurisdiction over foreign corporation in sales commission dispute.

Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of leading automotive repair shop on claims of trademark infringement.

Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of leading maker of electronic-paint-thickness gauges on claims of trademark infringement and false advertising.

Successfully defended against customer’s motion to dismiss client’s breach-of-contract claims involving supply of specially designed and manufactured tires and wheels.

Represented single mother against automobile financing company and obtained judgment of dismissal on financing company’s breach-of-contract claim and favorable monetary settlement of client’s counter-claims for fraud and unjust enrichment.

Represented credit card debtor in dispute with debt-collection company and obtained favorable settlement of dispute for less than ten percent of alleged debt.

Won dismissal of breach of contract claim on behalf of secured creditor on claims of wrongful repossession.

Won dismissal of sex and disability discrimination claims against nationwide gas station/convenience store chain.

In an ICDR arbitration we successfully defended a $300 million claim involving the largest reserve of brown coal in the world, located in New South Wales, Australia. The client was a U.S. energy company and the adverse parties were energy companies in Australia and Canada.

After a full hearing in London in an ICC arbitration, we defeated a bet-the-company-division intellectual property claim brought against a U.S. engine manufacturer by a Swiss corporation headquartered in the Isle of Jersey, UK.

We were retained to take over the defense of a German automotive interior manufacturer in a multimillion dollar sales agency dispute brought in the ICC. The client had already lost on the merits, and we successfully limited the claimant’s recovery in a week-long damages hearing in London.

We convinced the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to order a terminated distributor’s multi-million dollar claims under the Illinois Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act arbitrated in Poland, then obtained an arbitration award dismissing those claims, which was confirmed by the U.S. courts.

After a full hearing in Stockholm, Sweden we defeated a multi-million dollar intellectual property claim arbitrated under the Swedish Arbitration Act.

We currently are defending a multimillion dollar agency claim in the Singapore International Centre.

Successfully represented an Italian power producer in an ICC arbitration against its European EPC contractor in connection with the construction of a biomass power plant.

Successfully represented a Caribbean power producer in an ICC arbitration against its European EPC contractor involving the construction and operation of a fuel oil power plant.

Successfully represented the Swiss Arbitration Association and the American Arbitration Association as amici curiae in highly-publicized case, Gulf Petro Trading Co. v Nigerian National Petroleum Co., 512 F.3d 742 (5th Cir. 2008), involving a collateral attack upon on international arbitration award.

Successfully represented a real estate developer in federal court litigation and related mediation of a dispute involving the construction of a luxury Caribbean hotel and resort complex.

Won summary judgment and specific performance for the telecommunications subsidiary of a Class I Railroad in federal court litigation and related AAA arbitration and mediation of a dispute related to the construction of a fiber-optic conduit system in the railroad’s right-of-way.

Represented a school district in ongoing litigation against the joint venture hired to manage the district’s $1 billion construction program.

Obtained preliminary injunction on behalf of founding member of LLC who alleged oppression under the Illinois LLC Act and breach of contract; that preliminary injunction was ultimately confirmed by a judgment in favor of the founding member.

Obtained verdict on behalf of nationally known cookware manufacturer in a case involving the trade dress misappropriation of the client’s successful line of cookware by a retail store which received samples of the cookware and later began selling identical cookware. The retailer appealed and the verdict was upheld on appeal by the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Obtained summary judgment, which was affirmed by the Seventh Circuit, on behalf of client against claims of national origin discrimination. 

In a complicated and innovative transaction, led an interdisciplinary team to create a new medical school in Michigan. The project involved forming a not for profit corporation involving a university, two hospitals, and a privately funded donation of $100 million.

Conducted patentability, validity, infringement, trademark clearance and state of the art searches and opinions for vehicle component manufacturer. 

Challenged and resolved U.S. and European trademark infringement of consumer product.

Managed patent and trademark portfolios for large international manufacturing and service company.

Secured and enforced patent rights for vehicle component manufacturer.

Represented a Tier I supplier in dispositions of business divisions spanning over 20 countries and ranging in size from $15 million to over $300 million.

Implemented a multiple-year international restructuring of over 50 related companies including management of local counsel in over 25 countries.

Represented a European buyer in negotiations to acquire a US division of a global automotive supplier.

Represented lender in over 15 dispositions of REO property across eastern and central portions of the U.S. involving properties such as a mixed-use development, manufactured housing, condominium, office building, student housing, apartment building and vacant land.  

Represented real estate fund in various acquisitions for a nationwide off-airport parking portfolio company, including implementation of a $25 million nationwide capital improvement plan.  

Represented lender in over 10 REO bulk sales of units in fractured condominium buildings in Florida, Arizona, California and Las Vegas totaling over $200 million, including some with seller financing.   

Represented REIT in acquisition of eight industrial buildings near the Chicago O’Hare airport.  

Represented railroad company in acquisition of an intermodal facility in Illinois and long-term industrial lease adjacent to the intermodal facility. 

Represented developer in acquisition and financing of Block 37 development in Chicago. 

Represented REIT in originating and working out various mortgage and mezzanine loans ranging from $20 million to $100 million involving properties such as a casino, hotel, timeshare, resort and apartment building.  

Represented developer in obtaining $35 million loan secured by an Iowa mall and $10.5 million loan secured by an Ohio shopping center.   

Represented lender in originating construction loans for new condominium buildings in Chicago and Los Angeles totaling over $310 million. 

Represented lender in $281 million loan to a public REIT secured by over 200 branch banks located throughout the southeastern U.S.  

Represented hedge fund in $325 million mezzanine loan to a west coast developer secured by equity interests in 20 development properties.

Represented hedge fund in joint venture formed in connection with a sale leaseback of 12 gas stations in Virginia and $20 million mortgage loan.   

Represented developer in joint venture with co-lender upon anticipated foreclosure of mezzanine loan secured by equity interests in mixed-use building on Michigan Avenue in Chicago.   

Represented hedge fund as equity partner in joint venture formed to acquire 55,000 acres of vacant land in southwestern U.S. and to obtain $212 million mortgage loan.    

Represented insurance company as equity partner in joint ventures formed to acquire over 20 industrial and office buildings and vacant land in Illinois and Wisconsin with financing up to $350 million, and over 85 warehouses throughout the U.S. with financing up to $100 million.  

Represented private equity fund as equity partner in joint venture involving a portfolio of five hotels. 

Representing a Chinese pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for the treatment of cancers and related diseases by developing and managing a robust patent portfolio and entering into a worldwide patent licensing and joint development agreement with a global pharmaceutical company.

Advised the client during on-going expansion of supermarket chain for the market leader in Poland. Legal advice on more than 50 development projects, including land acquisition, leasing, permitting, construction and commissioning.

Represented a foreign industrial manufacturer in the acquisition, negotiation and realization of its heavy crane manufacturing facility. Negotiated and procured all governmental permits, local government tax incentives and planning permissions in Special Economic Zone (the biggest foreign direct investment in Poland in 2009).

Represented a foreign investor in the performance of a contract to design Poland’s first liquefied natural gas terminal.

Represented a foreign automotive manufacturer in negotiations involving a construction contract for industrial investment.

Advised the client during performance of construction contract regarding a motorway in Poland.

Advised a commercial developer in connection with a dispute with a general contractor and subcontractors as well as against its insurance company.

Advised a residential developer concerning a dispute with a designer over design defects.

Representing client during its expansion of supermarket chain in Poland. Services inclcuded due diligence, representation in site acquisitions and leases, advised on zoning issues, administrative proceedings, construction and design contracts.

Advised client on site acquisitions and leases in its expansion of auto service stations chain in Poland.

Advised client on several office building acquisitions in Warsaw, including due diligence, drafting, and negotiations.

Represented client regarding several distressed property acquisitions (including resuming of abandoned construction or site redevelopment), plus due diligence, structuring of transactions and negotiations.

Represented client during several shopping center commercialization projects—drafted lease documentation and negotiated contracts with many international and local leading retail tenants.

Negotiated the largest build-to-suit distribution center lease in Poland for international supermarket operator.

Negotiated the largest distribution center lease renewal in Poland for international wholesaler with parallel lease negotiations with several alternative landlords.

Represented the seller of one of the largest office building development projects in Warsaw.

Counseled client regarding complex legal issues and finance investments related to the conversion of existing buildings during the development and commercialization of a shopping mall.

Advised client on numerous development projects, including securing and subsequent purchase of land or lease of land and buildings in connection with the construction and expansion of supermarket chain in Poland.

Negotiated the largest countrywide leases of the logistic distribution centre located in Mazovia and Silesiaregions.

Conducted due diligence and assisted with the purchase of a large real estate with development of historical value in Kraków.

Provided legal advice on more than 30 development projects, including securing and subsequent purchase of the land, permitting, general contractor, architect and other associated contracts, and construction process during expansion of supermarket chains in Poland.

Provided comprehensive legal advice on development projects, including purchase of land, permitting, general contractor, and other associated contracts, and construction process.

Represented one of France’s leading infrastructure construction companies in execution of contract to modernize a portion of the A-2 Motor Highway, including negotiations with subcontractors.

Represented company during its expansion of supermarket chains in Poland by providing legal advice, directly or through supervision, on more than 200 development projects, including securing and subsequent purchase of the land, permitting, general contractor, architect and other associated contracts, and construction process.

Represented the company in the 150-bed hospital tender; provided legal advice to the bidder for construction, financing and operation of the hospital in a public private partnership.

Assisted in purchasing and selling of office buildings in Warsaw.

Negotiated the largest countrywide lease of the logistic distribution center located in Silesia region.

Assisted one of the leading banks in Poland in connection with granting construction/investment loans to an Office Building Operator.

Assisted the company in connection with obtaining a number of construction/investment loans.

Coordinated legal advice on commercialization of a number of commercial centers.

Provided legal advice to foreign developer in financing the purchase of real estate in Warsaw worth 12,500,000 EUR.

Advised a consortium of banks concerning financing the development of real estate in Wrocław with office buildings worth 43,000,000 EUR.

Assisted a bank in financing the purchase of shares in a company worth 16,500,000 EUR.

Provided legal advice to a foreign supermarket chain operator in respect of 10,000 sq.m. lease agreement in a trade center.

Advised the client during on-going expansion of supermarket chain for the market leader in Poland. Legal advice on more than 200 development projects, including land acquisition, leasing, permitting, construction and commissioning.

Provided legal advice to the general contractor acting under the EPC contract during construction of 460MW power plant.

Provided legal advice to the bidder for construction, financing and operation of the hospital under the PPP arrangement during 150-bed hospital tender.

Represented a foreign industrial manufacturer in the acquisition, negotiation and realization of its heavy crane manufacturing facility. Negotiated and procured all governmental permits, local government tax incentives and planning permissions in Special Economic Zone (the biggest foreign direct investment in Poland in 2009).

Represented a foreign investor in the execution of a contract to design Poland’s first liquefied natural gas terminal.

Provided legal advice on numerous development projects, including securing and subsequent purchase of land or lease of land and buildings; assistance during the construction process of expansion of supermarket chain in Poland.

Provided legal advice, including securing and subsequent purchase of land and buildings; assistance during the construction process of expansion of petrol station chain in Poland.

Provided legal advice, including securing and subsequent purchase of land and buildings; assistance during the construction process of expansion of fast food chain in Poland.

Assisted borrowers and lenders in connection with granting construction and investment loans and transfer of receivables.

Represented international investor in competing for a public tender to create a public-private partnership with a local government to design, construct and operate a geothermal center.