Complex Commercial Litigation

Represented a multinational media, services and education company in Delaware Chancery Court alleging fraud in the inducement claims in connection with its $325 million acquisition of a private equity-owned portfolio company due to fraudulent representations and warranties in a stock purchase agreement concerning the target’s tax liabilities. Made important Delaware law regarding the validity of contractual limitations on liability where there were fraudulent representations and warranties.

Represented a major defense subcontractor against a prime contractor in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in an $80 million action resulting from an alleged bid-rigging scheme in connection with the yearslong procurement of numerous government contracts (Task Orders under an IDIQ) relating to critical facility testing equipment for the U.S. Air Force.

Represented a project finance company in an arbitration against an international mining corporation for breach of contract and other claims causing the destruction of the project.

Defended a domestic shipbuilding company and defense contractor in sexual harassment and gender bias litigation in federal court.

Represented a large national defense contractor against its subcontractor in an action brought in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia concerning the misappropriation of trade secrets and related claims involving emerging wireless communications technologies in the underground mining industry.

Represented a major domestic coal producer in multiple related commercial disputes with a customer in two separate federal district courts and state court proceedings, and in two separate arbitrations.

Represented a major domestic and international producer of automotive and industrial batteries in multiple complex litigation proceedings spanning an eight-year period in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Defended numerous individual redeeming investors in multiple bankruptcy adversary proceedings brought in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York involving the bankruptcy of a massive Ponzi enterprise.

Represented in federal court a domestic shipbuilding company in bet-the-company litigation involving a government contract for the production of coastal patrol craft under the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Foreign Military Sales program.

Represented the consul general of a foreign government in numerous civil matters brought by former employees of the foreign government.

Administrative and Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement

Represented a foreign investment fund in a Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review of a non-notified, closed transaction involving a major investment in a U.S. critical technology business.

Represented a large U.S. manufacturer in an investigation and enforcement proceeding before the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) involving apparent violations of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.

Represented a foreign-owned U.S. railcar system manufacturer in a CFIUS review regarding its participation in a public-private partnership for a major metropolitan mass transit system.

Represented a foreign bank on the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List in a delisting matter before OFAC.

Represented a large U.S. manufacturer, a fintech in the financial messaging industry and a multinational online gaming platform in developing an OFAC compliance program.

Financial Services Litigation

Defended tribal-owned short-term consumer lenders in an investigation and enforcement action brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Represented short-term consumer lenders in multiple actions asserting Telephone Consumer Protection Act, California (Rosenthal) Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and other consumer claims in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California and California Superior courts.

Represented a merchant point-of-sale systems provider in civil litigation against a payment processor regarding the EMV liability shift, payment card industry (PCI) compliance and contract issues in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Represented in state court a payment processor in civil litigation against a merchant group regarding the alleged breaches of several merchant account agreements involving PCI compliance, reserve account determinations and related accounting matters.

Defended a large bank compliance manager in formal enforcement proceedings brought by the OCC concerning alleged Bank Secrecy Act violations relating to the adequacy of the institution’s anti-money laundering compliance program.

Represented an international prepaid card program management company in a civil action brought by the SEC and a court-appointed receiver against individuals involved in an alleged Ponzi scheme.

White Collar/Corporate Internal Investigations

Defended an investment advisor and his company in formal enforcement proceedings brought by the SEC for alleged violations of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Represented a former Internet digital currency exchange in legal proceedings to wind down the exchange pursuant to a court-authorized liquidation plan in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.

Defended a multinational energy resources corporation in a formal investigation brought by the SEC concerning alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act involving the corporation’s Central American operations.

Represented a large national defense contractor in an internal corporate investigation, a DoD Inspector General investigation and a False Claims Act lawsuit alleging accounting and bookkeeping fraud.

Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Represented a startup unmanned aircraft systems technology company based in Southern California developing fully integrated, end-to-end systems for the delivery of medical assets and consumer goods.

Served as an adjunct instructor for Drone Launch Academy () and advisor for the legal and regulatory component of its Remote Pilot Airman Certificate training program.

Counseled a large telecommunications company on filing a Section 333 grant of exemption with the FAA for a social media advertising campaign involving the use of unmanned aircraft.

Advised a social media networking site on the potential acquisition of a former military airfield for the operation of unmanned aircraft systems to broadcast Internet access globally.

Provided regulatory compliance counseling to a solar energy company seeking to operate a small commercial unmanned aircraft in support of its mainline business.