We regularly handle cases in federal and state courts and before state and local regulatory bodies in Connecticut, New York, and other regions, and in mediation and arbitration. We strive to counsel clients on litigation avoidance, both generally and with regard to specific matters; but, when necessary, we are prepared to act quickly and decisively, including seeking orders to show cause, injunctive relief and prejudgment attachments. At all times, we exercise careful case management and efficient staffing to keep our clients informed about their cases and avoid unpleasant and costly surprises.

Our litigation practice includes a wide range of matters affecting business clients, both small and large. Some of the areas where we have particularly strong experience include the following.

Business litigation frequently involves contracts, and we have extensive experience in all types of contract disputes, including requirements contracts with vendors, distributor terminations, employment and non-competition agreements, licenses, etc. A contractual relationship can sometimes be repaired, or an amicable settlement can be negotiated, to avoid or shorten litigation, and we typically explore these options as a first step for our litigation clients.

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Disputes among the owners of a business - whether members of a small LLC, or shareholders in a publicly traded company - can be among the most contentious of all commercial matters. We have handled many such disputes, including cases seeking dissolution of companies, proxy battles, and claims of improper conduct or breach of fiduciary duties by corporate officers and directors.

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Our white-collar defense and government investigations practice provides representation to individuals and organizations faced with investigation, prosecution and enforcement actions by federal and state criminal and regulatory authorities. In matters ranging from all varieties of corporate fraud to tax evasion to racketeering offenses to environmental enforcement matters, to name just a few, the firm represents defendants in criminal investigations, trial and appeals; assists witnesses subpoenaed to appear before grand juries; and appears before administrative agencies.

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While much of our employment law practice involves reducing the risk of litigation through careful drafting of contracts and employee manuals, we frequently defend claims of wrongful discharge, sex, race and age discrimination and regulatory violations in federal and state courts and before the EEOC and other administrative agencies. We also have handled many cases involving confidentiality and non-competition agreements with employees.

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We often are called upon to represent the firm's health care clients in civil actions as well as proceedings before administrative tribunals and regulatory agencies. These actions frequently arise from disciplinary proceedings against physicians or from appeals by hospitals from adverse certification and licensing determinations. We have also successfully represented health care providers in civil litigation and arbitrations to resolve reimbursement disputes with managed care organizations and other third party payors. Intimate knowledge of health law in a wide variety of contexts, coupled with our extensive litigation capabilities, makes us uniquely qualified to defend health care providers in malpractice cases.

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We are experienced in policing and protecting intellectual property rights, including obtaining ex parte seizure orders against sellers of counterfeit goods, as well as more traditional litigation involving claims of copyright, trademark, patent and trade secret infringement or misappropriation.

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Our commercial real estate litigation practice covers everything from landlord-tenant disputes to zoning. Through our representation of major regional shopping center owners we have developed particular capability in the complex field of landlord rights in tenant bankruptcies, including cases involving the Kmart, Caldor, Bradlees, and Ames retail chains. Significant zoning disputes have involved obtaining permission for expansion or modernization of medical facilities and location of supermarket chain stores.

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Termination of distributors or sales representatives often gives rise to antitrust claims, and we have handled disputes of this type for manufacturers in many industries and jurisdictions. We also have experience defending claims of false or deceptive advertising before the FTC, in court, and before self-regulatory bodies such as the NAD.

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Mediation and arbitration sometimes provide a cost-effective way to resolve disputes, and our litigators frequently participates in these proceedings, both as advocates and as neutrals.

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	Assisted in the successful defense of a global packaging and paper products producer in a class action alleging an international conspiracy to fix prices; plaintiffs withdrew all of their claims against our client.
	Favorable settlement of a claim under the Clean Water Act with the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection on behalf of a multinational specialty metals company; the settlement precluded a threatened citizen suit against our client.
	Obtained a substantial settlement on behalf of the seller of an interest in a Chinese consumer products company in litigation against the buyer in New York Supreme Court concerning sums due under the purchase and sale agreement. The Court's decision on cross-motions for summary judgment is reported at 814 N.Y.S. 2d 893.
	Thorough internal investigation of potential federal anti-money laundering violations for a Fortune 100 multinational corporation; conducted dozens of interviews and reviewed thousands of documents on a timely basis to meet the client's needs.
	On behalf of a foreign shipping company, conducted an internal investigation regarding a fatal collision in U.S. waters.
	Defeated a claim of admiralty jurisdiction in the United States District Court in Connecticut by a shipping broker against a tanker charterer for a commission for placing certain tankers into a vessel pool. Once the Connecticut action was dismissed, the broker, faced with litigating its claims in Texas, settled on terms very favorable to our client. The decision is reported at 428 F.Supp. 2d 93.
	Successfully pierced the defendants' corporate veil and won the right to attach $21 million of the defendants' assets in an action for the breach of charter agreements for super-tankers. The decision is reported at 760 F.Supp. 976.
	Obtained substantial settlements for a title insurance company in a case involving a forged power of attorney in a $1 million mortgage loan transaction; recovery was from the closing attorney/title agent, the banks that had allowed checks with forged signatures to be negotiated, and an alleged participant in the fraudulent scheme.
	Assisted in the representation of an international reinsurer in a challenge to an arbitration award reforming a number of reinsurance treaties. Our efforts on behalf of the reinsurer contributed to its ability to reach a favorable settlement.
	Won a contested evidentiary hearing before the ethics committee of the Connecticut Psychiatric Society on behalf of a psychiatrist charged with ethical violations.
	Conducted an internal investigation for an institutional health care provider regarding concerns about the misuse of confidential electronically stored information.
	Recovered a substantial award for an institutional investor in a New York Stock Exchange arbitration involving a claim against a brokerage firm for colluding in the sale of shares owned by our client to a party with material favorable inside information.
	Persuaded federal authorities to decline prosecution of the target of a federal criminal investigation concerning alleged unlawful currency transactions.
	Successfully defended a national consumer-products coupon publisher against a claim by a printer seeking over $180 million for termination of a requirements contract. The court's decision on summary judgment motions is reported at 759 F. Supp. 1004. The case was subsequently settled for a nominal amount.
	Defended an international retailer in class action litigation involving claimed improper charges for sales tax on exempt items in internet sales; negotiated a reasonable settlement promptly and efficiently.
	Represented an airline defendant seeking to enforce a settlement agreement with a former employee. The decision on appeal upholding a decision in favor of our airline client is reported at 1997 U.S. App. LEXIS 22979.
	Obtained numerous seizure orders in anti-counterfeiting actions on behalf of major motion picture studios.

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