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TheArtofContrac.ngToolsandTipsforIden/fyingandAvoidingCommon
TrapsinCommercialContracts
April12,2017
Crowell&MoringLLP590MadisonAvenue,20thFloor
NewYork,NY10022-2544www.crowell.com
©2017Crowell&MoringLLP
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• Howarevariouseffortsstandardsinterpreted?Efforts
• Whatismaterial?Materiality
• Whatclaimsarecovered?AretherelimitaPons?
IndemnificaPonandLimitaPonofLiability
OverviewofToday’sWorkshop
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STANDARDSOFEFFORT
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Phrase #ofContractsUsing
#ofContractsDefining
bestefforts 627 1
commerciallyreasonableefforts 425 1
reasonablebestefforts 345 0
reasonableefforts 307 0
good-faithefforts 58 0
commerciallyreasonablebestefforts 46 0
diligentefforts 23 0
good-faithbestefforts 8 0
everyeffort 5 0
commerciallyreasonableanddiligentefforts 3 1
WhatStandardsofEffortAreUsed
“Understanding ‘Best Efforts’ And Its Variants,” Kenneth A. Adams, The Practical Lawyer, 2004 4
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OpeningThoughts
• Languagemaydriveconductevenifitsenforceabilityisques.onable.
• Nego.a.nghistorymaymaMer.• Striveforconsistencyandclarity.
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» Heavilynego.ated– ContractlawyersoYenusemorethanonestandardinanygivencontract.
– AvoidsnakedobligaPonsandisespeciallyusefulwhenperformanceoftheobligaPonisnotenPrelywithintheperformingparty’scontrol.
» Frequentlyli.gated…
» …tounpredictableresults.
WhytheFocusonEffortsClauses?
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» Obligatesperformingpartytousesomelevelofdiligencetoaccomplishacontractuallyassignedduty.
• Example:Contractobligatesdistributortouse“bestefforts”topromoteandsellmanufacturer’sproducts.
WhatDoesBestEffortsMean?
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» Delaware:Promisormust“undertakeitscontractualobligaPonsdiligentlyandwithreasonableeffort.”
» California:“Besteffortsdoesnotmeaneveryconceivableeffort.Itdoesnotrequirethepromisortoignoreitsowninterests,spenditselfintobankruptcy,orincursubstanPallossestoperformitscontractualobligaPons.”
SeeCal.PinesProp.OwnersAss’nv.Pedo5,206Cal.App.4th384,387(2012);Crum&CrumEnters.,Inc.v.NDCofCal.,L.P.,2010WL4668456,*5(D.Del.Nov.3,2010)
Interpre.ngBestEffortsClauses
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“I can’t agree to use best efforts! That would
require me to bankrupt my company!”
DebunkingtheNewYorkMyth
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Levelofeffortrequiredis“murky”:» “duediligence”
– VanValkenburgh,Nooger&Nevillev.HaydenPubl.Co.,30N.Y.2d34,45(N.Y.1972)
» “allreasonablemethods”– TownofRoxburyv.Rodrigues,716N.Y.S.2d814,815(N.Y.App.Div.2000)
» “reasonableefforts”– TimberlineDev.LLCv.Kronman,702N.Y.S.2d237,239(N.Y.App.Div.2000)
» “genuineeffort”– FosterWheelerBroomeCnty.,Inc.v.CountyofBroome,713N.Y.S.2d92,94(N.Y.App.Div.2000)
SeealsoAshokanWaterServs.,Inc.v.NewStart,LLC,807N.Y.S.2d550,553(N.Y.Civ.Ct.2006)(summarizingpriorinterpretaPonsof“bestefforts”standards)
So,WhatDoesNYCaseLawActuallySay?
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» NocaseidenPfiedrequiringaperformingpartyto“spenditselfintobankruptcy.”
» TheSecondCircuithasheldthatNewYorklawdoesnotrequireapartyperformingundera“bestefforts”standardto“spenditselfintobankruptcy.”
Bloorv.FalstaffBrewingCorp.,601F.2d609,614(2ndCir.1979)
Bankrup.ngtheCompany
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» “PracPPoners...tendtoviewalltheotherphrases,whileperhapsnotbeingtoodifferentfromeachother,asbeingdefinitelydifferentfrom“bestefforts.”
LouR.Kling&EileenT.Simon,NegoPatedAcquisiPonsofCompanies,SubsidiariesandDivisions,§13.06n.3.2(2003)
BestEffortsvsTheRest
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Becauserecentcaselawsuggeststhatbesteffortsincorporatestheconceptofreasonableness,
unlessacontractdefiniPonprovidesotherwise,“reasonablebestefforts,”“reasonableefforts”and“commerciallyreasonableefforts”arelikelytobeinterpretedtomeanthesameas“best
efforts.”
Interpre.ngtheVariants
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“Thestandardimposedbya‘reasonableefforts’clausesuchasthatcontainedinsecPon7.01oftheAgreementisindisputablylessstringent
thanthatimposedbythe‘bestefforts’clausescontainedelsewhereintheAgreement.”
InreChateaugayCorp.,198B.R.848,854(S.D.N.Y.1996),aff’d108F.3d1369(2dCir.1997)
Inconsistency
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» Fact-specificinquirywithunpredictableresults–otherthanexpensiveliPgaPon
» CourtswilllooktopromisesorprojecPonsmadeinnegoPaPon,industrystandards,priorconduct,etc.
TheAXermath–Li.ga.ngDisputes
SeeSamicaEnters.,LLCv.MailBoxesEtc.,637F.Supp.2d712,717(C.D.Cal.2008):“whetheradefendantusedbesteffortsunderthecircumstancesisa
factualquesPonusuallyreservedforthejury.”
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ü AtleastoneNYcourtrefusedtoenforceanundefined“bestefforts”standard. SeeTimberlineDev.LLCv.Kronman,702N.Y.S.2d237,239(N.Y.App.Div.2000)
ü Consideryouraudience:– AformerD.A.,nowjudge,mayhavenoideawhat“commerciallyreasonablebestefforts”are.
ü Describetheapplicablestandardofconduct:– “levelofeffortcustomarilyemployedbyareasonableventurecapitalist”– “levelofeffortusedtosellyourownproducts”– setminimumthresholds
ü ProvideillustraPveexamples.
DraXingConsidera.ons
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WHATDOES“MATERIAL”REALLYMEAN?
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“obtain all material consents” “Assigned Assets include
all material assets used in the business”
“terminated only in the event of material
breach”
“Vendor may use subcontractors only to perform non-material
obligations.” “in the event of a material delay”
Howis“material”reallyused?
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“Isofsuchanaturethatknowledgeoftheitemwouldaffectaperson’sdecision-makingprocess”(Delaware;BlacksLawDicPonary)
“GoestotherootoftheagreementbetweentheparPes” (NewYork)
“Affectsaparty’sdecisionastowhetherornottoenterintothecontract”(California)
CommonDefini.ons
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» ManyjurisdicPonsusethe“deal-breaker”definiPon:
– QuesPon:Wouldtheinnocentpartyhaveagreedtoenterthecontractwithouttheinclusionofthedisputedclause?
MostCommonDefini.on
“Material”=sosubstan.alastodefeatthepurposeoftheen.retransac.on.
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– (a)theextenttowhichtheinjuredpartywillbedeprivedofthebenefitwhichhereasonablyexpected;
– (b)theextenttowhichtheinjuredpartycanbeadequatelycompensatedforthepartofthatbenefitofwhichhewillbedeprived;
– (c)theextenttowhichthepartyfailingtoperformortooffertoperformwillsufferforfeiture;
– (d)thelikelihoodthatthepartyfailingtoperformortooffertoperformwillcurehisfailure,takingaccountofallthecircumstancesincludinganyreasonableassurances;
– (e)theextenttowhichthebehaviorofthepartyfailingtoperformortooffertoperformcomportswithstandardsofgoodfaithandfairdealing.
NewYorkCourts–RestatementofContracts§241Factors
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ü Usematerialityconsistentlythroughoutthecontract.
ü Evaluatethepurposeofusingmateriality.ü Usedollarthresholdsinsteadofmateriality.ü SpecificallyidenPfywhichprovisionsorobligaPonsarematerial.
ü Usetermsotherthanmaterialitywhereothertermsmightprovideamoreclearmeaning.
Prac.ceTips
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RISKALLOCATION
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Reps/WarranPes
Indemnity
LimitaPonofLiability
SPpulatedDamages
ElementsofRiskAlloca.on
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LIMITATIONOFLIABILITY
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» LimitaPonofliabilityprovisionslimitaparty’sexposureintheeventofadispute.
» ParPesmaylimit:
» Totalamountofdamages
» Typesofdamages(e.g.,consequenPalorpuniPvedamages)
» Nonmonetaryrelief
Preven.ngExcessiveExposure
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LimitaPonofLiability.
Eachparty’sliability,whetherincontract,tort,otherwise,arisingoutoforinconnecPonwiththisAgreement…shallnotexceedtheamountoftheLicenseFee.
INNOEVENTSHALLEITHERPARTYBELIABLEFORANYSPECIAL,INCIDENTAL,PUNITIVE,CONSEQUENTIAL(INCLUDINGLOSTPROFITS)ORTORTDAMAGESARISINGOUTOFORINCONNECTIONWITHTHISAGREEMENT...
Example
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» CourtsgenerallyenforceliabilitylimitaPonsinclaimsforbreachofcontractandnegligence.
– MaynotbeenforcedforintenPonaltorts– LimitaPonsfor“grossnegligence”subjecttochallengeCompareCityofSantaBarbarav.SuperiorCourt,41Cal.4th747,758(2007)andABRYPartnersV,L.P.v.F&WAcquisiPonLLC,891A.2d1032(Del.Ch.2006).
– NYcourtsdefinegrossnegligencemorelikeintenPonalmisconduct.
» ThelanguageofthelimitaPonis“strictlyconstrued.”
» LiPgaPonoYenresultsoverthelanguageused.
Enforceability
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» ThereareessenPallyfourtypesofdamages:– Direct– ConsequenPal/Special– Incidental– PuniPve
» Allfourtypescanbelimited.
PrimaryTypesofDamages
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» Directdamages“followfromthetypeofwrongcomplainedof.”
– Black’sLawDicPonary446(9thed.2009).
» Courtsgenerallyupholdcapsondirectdamagestotheamountpaidunderthecontract.
– Markboroughv.SuperiorCourt,227Cal.App.3d705(1991)(limiPngrecoverytotheamountoftheconsulPngfeepaidtothedefendant).
» Capsoflessthantheamountpaidunderthecontractmayalsobeupheld.
– See,e.g.,Sch.Dist.oftheCityofNiagaraFallsv.CrossPointe,LLC,2011U.S.Dist.LEXIS143739(W.D.N.Y.2011)(limitaPonondamagestoannualservicefeepresumedvalid);Rob-Win,Inc.v.LydiaSec.Monitoring,Inc.,2007Del.Super.LEXIS421,*20-21(Del.Super.Ct.2007)(upholdingcapof$250forsecurityalarmmonitoring).
Limi.ngDirectDamages
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» LimitaPonondirectdamagesupheldforintenPonalbreachofcontract.– Example:inaservicesagreement,thelimitaPonofliabilityis$100,000.The
costtoperformincreasesbymorethan$100,000.Thevendorstopsperforming.
– Result:Customer’sdirectdamageslimitedto$100,000.
– CauPon:Thecontractmayalsoincludeaspecificperformanceclause,whichcouldalsobeinvoked.
Inten.onalBreach
An“economicallymoPvateddecisioncannot,asamaweroflaw,risetothelevelofmaliceorintenPonalwrongdoingnecessarytoinvalidate”alimitaPonofliabilityprovision.SeeNet2GlobeInt’l,Inc.v.TimeWarnerTelecom,273F.Supp.2d436,451(S.D.N.Y.2003).
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» ConsequenPaldamagesare“[l]ossesthatdonotflowdirectlyandimmediatelyfromaninjuriousactbutthatresultindirectlyfromtheact.”
– Black’sLawDicPonary446(9thed.2009).
» CourtsgenerallyupholdlimitaPonsonconsequenPaldamages.
» ConsiderwhethertodefinedirectorconsequenPaldamages.
Consequen.alDamages
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» ThelinebetweenwhatisadirectdamageandwhatisaconsequenPaldamageisblurry,atbest.
» Onewaytoavoidambiguityistoclearlydefinedirectdamages:
– Fortheavoidanceofdoubt,thefollowingshallbeconsidereddirectdamagesandVendorshallnotassertthattheyareindirect,incidental,consequenPalorspecialdamagestotheextenttheyresultfromVendor’sfailuretoperforminaccordancewiththisAgreement:(a)commerciallyreasonablecostsandexpensesofrestoringorreloadinganyClientDatathatislost,stolenordamagedduetoVendor’sfailuretosafeguardtheClientDataand(b)reasonableexpensesincurredbyClient,includingoverheadallocaPonsforemployees,wagesandsalariesofemployees,travelexpenses,overPmeexpensesandsimilarcharges,duetoafailureofVendortoprovidealloraporPonoftheServices.
AvoidingAmbiguity
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Are“lostprofits”consequenPalordirectdamages?
KeyQues.on
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» LostprofitsmaybecategorizedaseitherconsequenPaldamagesordirectdamages,orboth.
» AcontractthatdoesnotcapdirectdamagesbutexcludesconsequenPaldamagesinvitesliPgaPonovertheavailabilityoflostprofitdamages.
– SeeCoremetrics,Inc.v.AtomicPark.com,LLC,2005U.S.Dist.LEXIS40484,*8(N.D.Cal.2005)(lostprofitsrecoverabledespiteexclusionofconsequenPaldamages).
LostProfits
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LimitaPonofLiability.Vendor’sliabilityforalldamages,whetherincontract,tortorotherwisearisingoutoforinconnecPonwiththisAgreement,includingfromanyandallclaimsrelatedtothebreachofthisAgreementornonperformancebyVendor...shallnotexceedtheamountoftheLicenseFee.WithoutlimiPngtheforegoing,innoeventwillVendorbeliableforanylostorprospecPveprofits,indirect,incidental,consequenPal,special,exemplaryorpuniPvedamages,arisingoutoforinconnecPonwiththisAgreement...
RevisedContractLanguage
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ü Considerwhethertoincludeadirectdamagecap.ü Chooseareasonableamountforthecap.ü DefinelostprofitsaseitherdirectorconsequenPaldamages.
ü EnsurethatthelimitaPonofliabilitycoversallavailableformsofpotenPalliability.
ü Considerwhetherthereareanyclaims(suchasindemnifiablethirdpartyclaimsorbreachesofconfidenPality)thatshouldbeoutsidethelimitaPonofliability.
DraXingConsidera.ons
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INDEMNIFICATION
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Apromisebytheindemnitortosafeguardorholdtheindemniteeharmlessagainstexis.ngor
futurelossorliability,orboth.
Defini.on
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Isonepartylikelytocreateriskorliabilityfortheotherparty?
Whatwouldbetheresultintheabsenceofanindemnity?
Ifnot,theriskshouldbeshiYedtotheliability-creaPngparty.
Isthatthe“fair”result?
DecisionPath
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» Thirdpartyclaimsonlyoralllosses?» Whatlossesarecovered?» Indemnifyv.defend» IndemnificaPonprocedures» EffectofindemnificaPononotherprovisions» Isindemnityanexclusiveremedy?» LiabilitycapsandotherlimitaPons
CommonNego.a.onPoints
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» Indemnify–– toreimbursesomeoneforalosssufferedandpaidbythatperson– acer-the-fact
» Defend–– totakeacPonstoprotectsomeoneagainstaloss– ongoingobligaPon
» HoldHarmless–– Acourtmayconstruea“holdharmless”obligaPontobemore
broadlydefinedthanintended.
Indemnifyv.Defend
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» NoPceandremediesforunPmelynoPce» Conflictsofinterest» CooperaPonandassistance
– Internalcosts/out-of-pocketcosts» ReporPngto(andparPcipaPonof)theotherparty
– ApprovalrightsornoPceonly?» Approvalofsewlements
– IndemnifiedPartyshouldhaverighttoapproveanysewlementthatinvolvesanythingotherthanapaymentofmoneybytheIndemnifyingParty.
Indemnifica.onProcedures
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ControlofDefense
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» Firstpartyclaimsv.thirdpartyclaimsonly– Doestheindemnitycoverlossesincurredbythecounterparty?
– ConsiderlimiPngindemnificaPonobligaPonstothirdpartyclaimsonly.
– CounterpartymaysPllbeabletosueforbreachofcontract–ifthereisarepresentaPonorcovenantbreached.» PracPceTip:IncludebotharepresentaPonANDanindemnityobligaPon.
» CauPon:BreachofrepresentaPonmaynotbeavailableifitisqualifiedbyknowledgeorifindemnityistheexclusiveremedy.
WhatisaClaim?
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» Whatlossesarecovered?– CostsofinternalinvesPgaPons?– Taxesorsimilarcharges,interestorpenalPes?– Costsofaworneys’feesandexpertwitnesses?– Lossesincurredbycustomersorendusers?– ArbitraPonfees?Courtcosts?
» PracPceTip:IndemnifyingPartymaywanttotrytolimitlossestofinallyadjudicatedorsewledamountspayabletothirdparPesonly:
– indemnifytheIndemnifiedPartyagainstanyLossesfinallyawardedagainstsuchpartytoathirdpartymakingsuchClaim,byacourtofcompetentjurisdicPonoragreedtoinsewlementandactuallypaidtosuchthirdparty.
ScopeofLosses
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» TimeLimitaPons– ConsiderincludingPmelimitaPonsfortheindemniteetobringaclaim.
» Cap– Considerincludinganoveralllimitofliability.– Considerexcludingcertaintypesofdamages.
» Considermakingindemnitythesoleandexclusiveremedy.
Limita.ons
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ü TimelimitaPons(e.g.,duraPonofrepandwarrantysurvival)
ü DollarlimitaPons(caps,basketsandoffsets)ü Effectsonotherremediesü Shouldtheliabilitycapcoverindemnifiableclaims?ü Howlongshouldtheindemnityclaimssurvive?ü ControlandabilityofindemnifyingpartytoparPcipateindefenseofclaims
ü Choiceoflaw/forum
DraXingConsidera.ons
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EdBaumPartner-Li.ga.onCrowell&MoringLLP
PaulPollockPartner-CorporateCrowell&MoringLLP
AlanHowardPartner-Li.ga.onCrowell&MoringLLP
IlanaLubinCounsel-CorporateCrowell&MoringLLP
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[email protected]+1212.803.4033
[email protected]+1212.895.4216
[email protected]+1212.803.4021
[email protected]+1212.895.4224
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EdBaumPartner-LiPgaPonCrowell&[email protected]
EdBaumisapartnerinCrowell&Moring'sNewYorkofficeandamemberofthefirm'sLiPgaPonGroup(includingleadingtheliPgaPonpracPcesintheNewYorkoffice).Ed'spracPceisconcentratedonrepresenPngpublicandprivately-heldenPPesandtheirprincipalsinmulP-facetedbusiness-relatedliPgaPons.Edrepresentspreeminentmembersofthefinancialservices,entertainment,informaPontechnology,pharmaceuPcal,automoPve,legal,andinsuranceindustries.Heoffersclientsthecombinedbenefitsofextensiveexperienceintheartsoftrialandappellateadvocacy,aswellasin-depthpracPcalknowledgeofmulPplesubstanPvedisciplinesthatareoYeninvolvedintoday'scomplexbusinessdisputes.HiscasesfrequentlyinvolvetheinterplaybetweenthecompePngandatPmesinconsistentlawsgoverningfinancialservices,securiPes,anPtrust,bankruptcy,productandconsumerliability,andthediscriminaPon,compensaPon-related,andunfaircompePPon/tradesecretslawsthatshaperelaPonsbetweenbusinessenPPesandtheirseniorpersonnel.EdregularlyservesasnaPonalorcoordinaPngcounselforclientsfacingclassacPons,governmentalinvesPgaPonsandliPgaPons,orotherpotenPallysignificantmawersrequiringexperienceinmulPpledisciplines.HealsofrequentlycounselsclientsintransacPonalmawersandbusinessplanning,onassessingpotenPalliabiliPes,andindevelopingacPonplanstopreventorminimizeliPgaPonrisks.OtherlawyersandlawfirmsfrequentlyretainEdtocounselandrepresenttheminissuesinvolvingprofessionalresponsibilityandethics,aswellastorepresentthelawfirms—orthechiefexecuPvesandotherseniorofficersofthoseotherlawfirms'clients—inemploymentanddisciplinarymawers.InaddiPon,drawingonhisextensiveformaltrainingandexperienceindisputeresoluPon,EdoYenserves,bothasadvocateandasaneutral,inmediaPons,arbitraPons,andotheralternaPvedisputeresoluPonproceedings.Educa.on• CornellUniversity,B.S.industrial&laborrelaPons,withhonors• ColumbiaLawSchool,J.D.;HarlanFiskeStoneScholar
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PaulPollockisapartnerintheNewYorkofficeofCrowell&MoringandconcentrateshispracPceonmergersandacquisiPonsandcorporatefinance.Heservesasamemberonthefirm'sCorporateGroupSteeringCommiwee.PaulalsoprovidesongoingrepresentaPontomiddlemarketprivateequitysponsorsandtheirpor�oliocompanies,aswellaspublicandprivatecompaniesthatarenotprivateequitybacked.Paul'sindustryexperienceincludesrepresenPngclientsinfinancialservices,manufacturing,telecommunicaPons,soYwareproducts,publishingandentertainment.
Paulrepresentsprivateequitysponsorsandgrowth-orientedcompaniesinexecuPngtheiracquisiPonobjecPves.Heworksonboththebuyandsell-sideofmiddle-marketbusinessesseekingtorealizevaluethroughthesaleoftheirbusinesses,andwithnon-U.S.basedcompanieswhoareseekingtoentertheU.S.marketplace,accesstheU.S.securiPesmarketsortoengageintransacPonswithU.S.companies.
InaddiPon,PaulhasextensivedistresseddebtexperienceincludingworkrepresenPnglenders,buyersandsellersinacquisiPonsbothinandoutsideofbankruptcy,aswellasworkoutsandrefinancingsoftroubledcompanies.ThesetransacPonsincludeassetsales,363sales,andleveragedandnon-leveragedrecapitalizaPons.
PaulworkswithcompaniesthroughtheirenPrelifecycleincludingadvisingontheformaPonandchoiceofbusinessenPty;preparingandnegoPaPngshareholderandlimitedliabilitycompanyagreements,employmentagreementsandothercriPcalcorporatecontracts;advisingonmulPpleroundsofprivateequityfinancinganddebtfinancing;andrepresenPngcompaniesintheiniPalpublicofferingsandinconnecPonwithongoingsecuriPescompliancefilingswork.
InaddiPontorepresenPngissuersinacquisiPonsanddivesPtures,privateandpublicofferingsanddebtfinancings,hehasalsorepresentedunderwritersinpublicofferingsandplacementagentsinprivateplacementsaswellasforeignissuersinconnecPonwithofferingsunderSECRegulaPons.
Educa.on• ColgateUniversity,B.A.,cumlaude• FordhamUniversitySchoolofLaw,J.D.
PaulPollockPartner-CorporateCrowell&[email protected]
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AlanHowardPartner-LiPgaPonCrowell&[email protected]
AlanHowardisapartnerinCrowell&Moring'sNewYorkoffice.AlanisanaccomplishedtrialaworneywhohasovertwodecadesofexperiencehandlingliPgaPonandarbitraPonmawersdomesPcallyandinternaPonally.HehastriedcasestojuriesandjudgesinfederalandstatecourtsthroughouttheU.S.andtoarbitratorsinproceedingsundertherulesoftheAmericanArbitraPonAssociaPon,JAMS,andtheInternaPonalChamberofCommerce.
Alanfocusesoncommercialcontractdisputes,oYeninvolvingmanufacturing,producPonand/ordistribuPonofgoods,technologyorsoYware,orjointventures.AlanalsorepresentsparPesengagedinmulPpleproceedingsinmulPplejurisdicPonsandhasparPcularexperiencerepresenPngforeigncompanies,andseniorofficersofforeignanddomesPccompaniesengagedinhighstakesdisputes.HehasextensiveexperiencerepresenPngfinancialinsPtuPons,andinparPcular,intheareaofAnP-MoneyLaunderingregulaPonsandcompliance.Alanalsohastriedanumberofintellectualpropertymawers,includingpatentcases,casesinvolvingtheYoftradesecretsanddisputesinvolvingsoYwareproviders.
Alanalsodoesextensiveprobonowork.HewasleadcounselforthenamedplainPffsinDavidv.SignalInternaPonal,LLC,anacPonbroughtonbehalfofhundredsofskilledworkersfromIndiawhowereluredbyfalsepromisesofgreencardsandforcedtoliveinlaborcampsandworkinmarinefabricaPonfaciliPesinMississippiandTexasin2006-2007.TheacPoninvolvedclaimsofforcedlabor,traffickinginforcedlabor,civilRICO,discriminaPon,andfraud.Alanledateamthathandledthefirsttrial,onbehalfoffiveworkers,thattookplaceinJanuaryandFebruary2015beforeafederaljuryinNewOrleans,Louisiana.ThattrialresultedinaverdictforplainPffsonallclaimsagainstalldefendantsandanawardofcompensatoryandpuniPvedamagestotalingover$14million.Thiswasoneofthelargestcasesofitskindeverbroughtandoneofthelargestverdictseverobtainedinthistypeofcase.
AlanisthechairoftheBoardofDirectorsoftheSouthernPovertyLawCenter.
Educa.on• YaleUniversity,B.A.,magnacumlaude• HarvardLawSchool,J.D.,cumlaude
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IlanaLubinisacounselinCrowell&Moring'sNewYorkofficeandamemberofthefirm'sCorporateGroup.Ilanafrequentlyrepresentsclientsintheapparel,fashion,retail,luxury,andbeautysectorsregardingcross-borderanddomesPcmergersandacquisiPons,jointventures,andprivateequityinvestments.ShealsorouPnelydraYsandnegoPatesintellectualpropertylicensingandothergeneralcorporateandcommercialtransacPons,andshehasexperienceworkingin-houseacrossbusinessunits,includinginconnecPonwithglobalmergerandacquisiPonandlicensingacPvity.Ilana'sbackgroundincludestherepresentaPonofavarietyofcompaniesfromincepPon,includingadvisementwithrespecttomawersrelaPngtoformaPonandstructuring,equityanddebtfinancing,employment,andcommercialleasing.Educa.on• CornellUniversity,B.S.,policyanalysisandmanagement• BenjaminN.CardozoSchoolofLaw,J.D.
IlanaLubinCounsel-CorporateCrowell&[email protected]