General Contract/General Business

Landlord and commercial tenant negotiated a lease which provided for renewal of the lease but included two different sets of terms for the circumstances under which the lease renewal could occur. Successor landlord and tenant each sought declaratory judgment.

Plaintiff investment banker sued his former employer alleging that employer had ignored promises of minimum compensation, breached an agreement regarding vesting of shares of the company’s stock, and was liable to Plaintiff in quantum meruit for uncompensated work performed prior to his termination. Defendant denied the allegations.

Buyer sued the seller of a piece of commercial property for specific performance after seller backed out of the sale. Seller cross-complained against its listing agent, claiming that in handling the marketing and sale, listing agent misrepresented the fact that the property no longer had necessary permits for building residences on the property.

Plaintiff co-owner of a company which operated a restaurant claimed, individually and derivatively on behalf of the company, that Defendant, the other co-owner, mismanaged the restaurant, stole the company’s assets, and ultimately caused Plaintiff to lose his entire investment as a result. Defendant denied the allegations.

Owner of numerous investment companies retained consultant to assist in evaluating incoming deals and investments. Following several years of work, the parties went their separate ways, but consultant later contended that he was entitled to an ownership interest in numerous start-up companies based on an alleged oral agreement with owner.
Two students who lived in Defendant university’s student housing brought a class action against the university alleging tenant harassment under a local ordinance.

Defendant law firm was retained to advise a consulting company owned by Plaintiff and individual Defendants. Plaintiff alleged that the firm, however, breached its fiduciary duty to the company when the firm assisted the individual Defendants in cutting Plaintiff out of managing the business and diverting funds from the company to themselves.

Large alcoholic beverage manufacturer entered into distribution agreements with distributor, each of which only allowed assignment of the agreements with the manufacturer’s consent. Distributor notified manufacturer that it intended to sell substantially all of its assets, but manufacturer withheld consent to assignment of its distribution agreement, which distributor claimed was unreasonable under the agreement.