Michael D. Crisp

Michael D. Crisp

Mike Crisp is the leader of the Firm's complex business litigation practice and he has more than fifteen years of courtroom experience as a trial attorney. He primarily represents clients in banking, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, structured finance, financial products, and technology cases. He has represented banks, investment firms, institutional investors, hedge funds, private equity funds, professional services firms, diversified financial services companies and non-financial businesses in trials and cases related to asset securitization, mergers, the purchase and sale of companies, officer and director liability, post-closing purchase price adjustments, indemnity, accounting practices, breach of contract, lender liability and negligence. Mr. Crisp has conducted internal investigations of alleged financial fraud by senior executives and represented corporate clients cooperating during government investigations and prosecutions.

Mr. Crisp has also enjoyed a successful history representing clients in patent infringement litigation and in class action and product liability cases involving hazardous substances and consumer products. In these cases, he has served as national trial counsel and as coordinating counsel in multi-district litigation.

Mr. Crisp has represented clients in numerous commercial arbitrations in the United States and Europe under the Rules of the American Arbitration Association, the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce and the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution. He recently won several large arbitration awards for his clients.

Mr. Crisp has appeared as a legal commentator on CNN to discuss the credit crisis and he has been quoted in numerous publications including the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Law360, and the National Law Journal regarding such matters as the government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and litigation arising out of the failure of financial firms.

Selected Experience

· Defending bank in breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty case brought by another bank related to securitized second mortgages.

· Representing hedge fund in breach of contract case against depository bank following an exchange of shares in a Russian utility.

· Representing private equity fund against failed bank and others for breach of agreement to fund credit facility.

· Representing bank that was an investor in another financial institution against third parties for negligence and fraud.

· Obtained defense verdict representing accounting firm in Georgia jury trial of negligence and fraud case related to audit services.

· Successfully defended chemical company, consumer products company, and manufacturing company in multiple product liability/toxic tort cases involving various substances/products.

· Obtained large jury award for financial services client in case related to commercial lending agreement and fraud by corporate borrower.

· Recently obtained dismissal of product liability cases filed in Vermont, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts against manufacturing client.

· Obtained favorable settlement of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty case in Pennsylvania brought against client by investment bank and investor arising out of client's acquisition of technology company and contemplated IPO.

· Represented client during DOJ investigation of alleged bribes paid to elected officials by CEO to obtain public contracts and cooperated with the government during subsequent criminal trials of former executive and officials.

· On behalf of a clients' Board of Directors, conducted internal investigation of financial fraud by CEO and CFO arising out of large insurance claim.

· Obtained defense verdict representing manufacturer in trial of multi-plaintiff toxic tort case in Alabama.

· Successfully represented chemical company, telecommunications company, and financial services company in multiple infringement cases involving various patents.

· Recently obtained a large settlement for manufacturing client in a coverage dispute with OCIP and CCIP insurers following protracted product liability litigation in Virginia involving a large construction project.

· Recently obtained large award in favor of client against syndicate of 33 insurance companies after lengthy arbitration of dispute regarding interpretation of indemnity agreement.

· Obtained large awards for US holding company in two international arbitrations of business valuation disputes against a Swiss airline and US cruise line following the sale of airline catering and cruise line businesses.

Background

· While in law school, Mr. Crisp was a member of the Mercer Law Review, a member of the Intrastate and National Moot Court teams, and was selected for membership in the Order of the Barristers and Brainerd Currie Honor Society.

· He was also selected for membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and was a merit scholarship recipient.

(Also at New York, NY Office)