Michael Jones

• Represented a New York-based financial services provider and its affiliates, defending claims asserted by more than a dozen privatized military housing development projects seeking to recover approximately $1 billion in allegedly inflated interest rates and fees associated with a series of loan agreements. All claims were dismissed at the summary judgment stage.
• Represented a New York-based asset manager in a dispute with a hedge fund and the hedge fund’s founder over a $100 million debt owed to the asset manager. Obtained summary judgment against the founder, personally, on 100% of the claimed amount, along with pre- and post-judgment interest, which was affirmed by the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Represented the same asset manager in a $250 million defamation claim based on statements relating to the hedge fund founder’s use of corporate assets. All claims were dismissed at the pleadings stage, and the court awarded the client attorneys’ fees as well. 
• Represented an Australian software developer in a dispute over the breakup of its American joint venture project. All claims asserted by the former joint venture interest holder were dismissed at the pleadings stage.
• Represented a creditor to a defunct hedge fund in litigation seeking to claw back more than $20 million in pre-petition payments made concerning earlier debt payments. Claims for monetary recovery were dismissed in their entirety at the pleadings stage.
• Represented an investment bank in shareholder class action litigation alleging claims arising from the $1.1 billion sale of a national grocery store business. All claims were dismissed at the pleadings stage.
• Represented a New York-based financial institution and its London-based affiliate, defending claims arising from purportedly improper margin calls issued in the spring of 2020. All claims were dismissed with prejudice at the pleadings stage.
• Represented a Swiss bank in a trial in Thailand regarding payments owed under a 1990s-era credit facility, governed by New York law, that had defaulted during the Asian financial crisis. All claims asserted against the client were dismissed.
• Represented an international bank in intercreditor litigation concerning a defaulted mortgage and the early termination of a hotel management agreement. Following briefing on a motion to dismiss, all claims asserted against the bank were withdrawn.
• Represented an international bank in a commercial foreclosure action. Obtained summary judgment in the client’s favor without the need for any discovery.
• Represented a placement agent, defending securities and common law claims asserted by investors in a now-defunct biotechnology company. All claims were dismissed at the pleadings stage.
• Represented two individuals named as defendants in the Democratic National Committee’s lawsuit concerning an alleged illegal conspiracy to disrupt the 2016 U.S. presidential election. All claims were dismissed at the pleadings stage.
• Represented a broker-dealer in multi-forum litigation initiated by a Luxembourg-based liquidator seeking over $500 million for fraud, gross negligence and breach of contract. A FINRA arbitration panel ultimately dismissed all claims against the client and awarded attorneys’ fees.*
• Represented a Singapore-based shipping company in litigation concerning the confirmation of an international arbitral award and issues of maritime law. Obtained the vacatur of a maritime lien issued against the client on jurisdictional grounds.
• Represented an international commodities trading company in a portfolio of litigation concerning the sale of purportedly contaminated fuel oils. In several publicly reported decisions, the claims against the client were dismissed either entirely or with de minimis exceptions.
• Represented a Big 4 accounting firm in an accounting malpractice action. Obtained dismissal of all claims at the pleadings stage.*
• Represented a publicly traded software company against an international entertainment company’s claims for fraud, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty. Successfully moved the trial court to dismiss the tort claims and cap the permissible damages, after which the remaining claims were favorably settled.*
• Represented debtors and creditors in disputes concerning secured lenders’ rights to recover post-petition interest and whether a debtor’s proposed issuance of replacement notes satisfied the requirements of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.*

*Indicates experience acquired at a previous firm.