Stephen P. Thomasch's practice focuses on complex commercial and civil litigation, including the defense against consumer class actions. He represents clients in civil litigation in state and federal courts, at the trial and appellate levels. His clients span numerous industries including automotive, finance, pharmaceutical, private equity, and real estate.
Stephen also maintains an active pro bono practice. As part of his pro bono practice, Stephen has been the primary author of amicus briefs filed in the Supreme Court of the United States and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Court. Stephen is a two-time recipient of The Legal Aid Society’s Pro Bono Publico Award.
Stephen has also been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers.
Work Highlights
- Ford Motor Company in defending against a series of putative class action suits concerning certain automotive transmissions.
- A travel company in a two-week jury trial against its joint venture partner resulting in a verdict that the joint venture partner violated the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
- Cannabis cultivation experts and investors in a dispute against their joint venture partner, a subsidiary of a large multistate marijuana operator, concerning the ownership of a medical marijuana license. After a two-week arbitration before a panel of three arbitrators, the arbitration panel found that the joint venture partner breached its fiduciary duties and unjustly enriched itself, and that it was liable for over $15 million in damages.
- The founder and CEO of a payment services company in multistate litigation against the company’s controlling noteholders and board representatives.
- A member of the board of directors of a major pharmaceutical company in connection with the defense of tort claims asserted in a bankruptcy action.
- GXO Logistics in federal court litigation stemming from disputes over warehouse management services contracts.
- A “Big Four” Member Firm in connection with a governance dispute with the global firm.
- Real estate developers in tort and contract actions.
- An individual lender against a real estate developer in a successful appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reversing an order granting summary judgment in favor of the real estate developer.
- Official Equity Committee in Hercules Offshore, resulting in the confirmation of a plan that provided equity with a guaranteed recovery of $15 million and reduced the claim of the first lien lenders by $32.5 million.
- The Renco Group, a mining and metal recovery holding company, and certain shareholders, in defending thousands of individual suits brought by Peruvian plaintiffs asserting mass tort and vicarious liability claims, including developing and asserting defenses based on the doctrine of international comity and Peru’s assertions of sovereignty.
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