Wollmuth Maher & Deutsch LLP

Danielle D’Aquila

johnlazar — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:54:36 +0000

Associate

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group

Admitted to bar: 2013, New York. Education: Hofstra University (B.B.A., Legal Studies in Business, magna cum laude, 2009); St. John’s University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2012).

Genavieve Shingle

johnlazar — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 22:49:20 +0000

Associate

Corporate

Born Philadelphia, PA; admitted to bar, 2013, New York. Education: Pennsylvania State University (B.A., With Distinction, 2007); Pace University School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2012). Captain, William C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Team (2010-2012). Recipient: Daniel F. Austin Memorial Scholarship for Achievement in Corporate Law (2011-2012). Recipient: Dean’s Student of the Year Award (2011-2012). Recipient: Excellence in Clinical Education (2011-2012). Publication: The Land of Litigation Make Believe: Janus Capital Group, Inc., et al. v. First Derivative Traders, 19 No. 1 PIABA B.J. 1 (2012) (w. Edward Pekarek, Esq).

Michael C. Ward

johnlazar — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:54:54 +0000

Associate

Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group

Admitted to bar, 2011, New Jersey; 2013, New York; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. Education: Duke University (B.A. 2007); St. John’s University School of Law (J.D. 2011).

Firm Wins Dismissal of a Purported Class Action Complaint Seeking Hundreds of Millions in Damages

johnlazar — Sun, 30 Sep 2012 22:31:38 +0000

In September 2009, plaintiffs filed a 240-page purported class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against numerous defendants arising out of the sale of a large number of dollar-denominated bearer bonds by Germany and others to finance war reparation payments for World War I. The Complaint alleged, among other things, that Germany and various financial institutions had improperly prevented holders of the bonds from collecting on their bonds by failing to cooperate in their redemption. The Firm was retained to represent Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. (“Mizuho”) as a defendant in that purported class action lawsuit. Mizuho joined all defendants’ joint motion to dismiss the Second Amended Complaint on issues common to all defendants, and filed its own separate motion to dismiss on individual grounds. On September 30, 2012, the Court issued a 27-page decision and order dismissing all claims in the Second Amended Complaint against all defendants, with prejudice. The decision and order thus represents a complete victory for all defendants, including Mizuho.

A copy of the Second Amended Complaint is available here.

A copy of the Court’s Decision and Order is available here.

FIRM SUCCESSFULLY NEGOTIATES A SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THREE FORMER EMPLOYEES OF THOMSON REUTERS (HEALTHCARE) INC. OVER ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS

johnlazar — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 15:46:39 +0000

The Firm successfully defended a lawsuit that Thomson Reuters (Healthcare) Inc. instituted against three of its former employees seeking, among other things, a declaratory judgment that (i) the three former employees violated certain non-solicitation covenants contained in their employment agreements with Thomson and (ii) the non-solicitation covenants were enforceable. If Thomson succeeded, it could have prevented the three defendants from both working for their new employer, Remedy Analytics, and soliciting clients on behalf of Remedy Analytics. Efforts to demonstrate to Thomson that it should not proceed with the lawsuit after it filed its complaint ultimately proved successful. As a result, Thomson reached a settlement agreement with the defendants and Remedy Analytics (which was not named in the lawsuit). The settlement agreement allows the employees at issue to continue to work for Remedy Analytics and allows them and Remedy Analytics to continue to service Remedy Analytics’ current customers, as well as solicit prospective customers with the exception of a handful of Thomson’s current clients. Thomson Reuters (Healthcare) Inc. v. Caldwell et al., 12-CV-149 (U.S.D.C. E.D. Wis.).

Firm Files Multi-Billion Dollar Second Amended Complaint on behalf of Lehman Brothers Against Dozens of Financial Entities

admin — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:13:47 +0000

The Firm filed a second amended lawsuit on behalf of Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. (“LBSF”) against dozens of financial entities, in their capacities as Trustees, Issuers and Noteholders. LBSF is a party to numerous credit default swap agreements (the “Swap Agreements”) pursuant to which it purchased credit protection from the Issuers in connection with 47 collateralized debt obligation transactions (“CDOs”). Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“LBHI”) is LBSF’s credit support provider and guarantor under the Swap Agreements. LBSF filed the second amended complaint (i) to prevent certain unenforceable ipso facto clauses from improperly modifying LBSF’s right to priority of payment of more than three billion dollars under certain transaction documents related to credit default swap agreements based solely upon LBSF and its ultimate parent, LBHI, filing for bankruptcy, and (ii) to recover funds that were improperly paid to the Noteholders. [Lehman Brothers Special Financing Inc. v. Bank of America, N.A., et al., Chapter 11 Case No. 08-13555 (JMP); Adversary Proceeding No. 10-03547 (JMP)]

A copy of the Second Amended Complaint is available here.

Firm Recognized by 2012 Chambers USA as a Leading Law Firm in New York for Business

admin — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 14:10:23 +0000

For the fifth year in a row, the Firm was recognized by Chambers USA as a leading law firm in New York for business. The Firm specifically was recognized for its litigation capability, particularly in the field of insurance and reinsurance dispute resolution. In its independent review of the Firm, Chambers USA noted that “clients admire [the firm's] ability to achieve positive results on their behalf.” Previously, in 2011, Chambers USA noted that “Litigation is a cornerstone of this New York firm’s practice and the insurance and reinsurance disputes division a key component of the litigation department.” In 2012, Chambers USA ranked the Firm in Band 2 in its category, with only two law firms in New York being ranked higher, in Band 1. In addition to law firm rankings, Chambers USA recognized certain individual attorneys as leading practitioners in their areas. For 2012, Chambers USA recognized William A. Maher in Band 2 and stated that “clients praise practice head William Maher as a ‘confident, smart and tough but friendly’ lawyer.”

A copy of the 2012 Chambers USA review of the Firm is available here.

A copy of the 2011 Chambers USA review of the Firm is available here.

Firm Files Second Amended Lawsuit on behalf of Lehman Brothers Against Affiliates of Bank of America and Barclays relating to a Multi-Billion Real Estate Group known as Archstone

Ken Miles — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:15:44 +0000

On December 15, 2011, the Firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and certain of its affiliates, including Archstone LB Syndicated Partner LLC, for an injunction, specific performance and a declaratory judgment, among other relief, against affiliates of Bank of America and Barclays, relating to a multi-billion dollar real estate group of companies known as Archstone. Archstone holds one of the largest residential real estate portfolios in the nation. The parties to the lawsuit, and certain other parties, acquired Archstone in 2007 for a purchase price of approximately $22 billion. Since the acquisition, the parties’ interests in Archstone have been restructured on several occasions. The initial lawsuit related to Bank of America’s and Barclay’s effort to sell their combined approximately 53% interests in Archstone to Archstone’s largest competitor – Equity Residential. On January 20, 2012, Lehman acquired one-half of the Banks’ Archstone interests pursuant to Lehman’s “right of first offer” under the governing documents of Archstone. Following that transaction, Lehman owned approximately 73.5% of Archstone and the Banks continued to hold approximately 26.5%. On May 7, 2012, Lehman filed its Second Amended Complaint against the Banks and Equity Residential.

A copy of the Second Amended Complaint is available here.

Melissa Finkelstein

johnlazar — Fri, 04 May 2012 00:17:13 +0000

Associate

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group; Corporate and Securities Group

Admitted to bar, 2011, New Jersey; 2012 New York; U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, District of New Jersey. Education: University of Maryland (B.A. 2007); Fordham University School of Law (J.D. 2011). Member, New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, New Jersey Bar Association.

Firm represents Soundview Paper Mills LLC, an Affiliate of Atlas Holdings LLC, In Connection With Its Acquisition of Marcal Paper Mills, LLC, a Tissue and Paper Products Manufacturer and Distributor

johnlazar — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:33:52 +0000

The Firm represented Soundview Paper Mills LLC (“Soundview”), an affiliate of Atlas Holdings LLC, in connection with its acquisition of the Elmwood Park, New Jersey based Marcal Paper Mills, LLC (“Marcal”), a tissue and paper products manufacturer and distributor. With the acquisition of Marcal, Soundview is positioned to be a leading world class manufacturer and distributor of finished paper products including tissue, towel and napkin products to retailers, distributors and other customers. The transaction closed on April 21, 2012.