Practice Group | Bassford Remele

Represented a global computer-equipment company, obtaining a decision affirming and reinstating an arbitration award resulting in a total award exceeding $800 million in a misappropriation of a trade secret dispute. Seagate Tech., LLC v. Western Digital Corp., 854 N.W.2d 750 (Minn. 2014).

Served as co-lead counsel in a consolidated proceeding of more than 70,000 plaintiffs seeking damages arising from a multinational biotechnology conglomerate’s alleged premature commercialization of genetically modified corn products, resulting in a favorable settlement. In re: Syngenta Litig., No. 27-CV-15-3785 (Hennepin Cty. Minn. 2017).

Represented a global agricultural corporation in a multimillion dollar grain, fertilizer, oil and oil field supplies transloading site in Canada involving breach of contract, tortious interference, and equitable claims.

Represented the chief executive officer, chairman of the board, and minority shareholder in a dispute involving a successful family business.

Represented dealers at trial against a multinational agricultural company, obtaining a six-figure jury verdict and finding of no liability on a seven-figure counterclaim arising from a breach of seed distribution agreement.

Represented a global medical-device company in district court and on appeal, winning summary judgment on liability for breach-of-contract and tortious interference claims, together with a jury verdict and seven-figure judgment, including an attorneys’ fees award. St. Jude Med., S.C., Inc. v. Biosense Webster, Inc., 818 F.3d 785 (8th Cir. 2016).

Represented a global manufacturer in a dealer termination action enforcing the Minnesota choice-of-law and forum-selection provision and rejecting the claimed applicability of the New Jersey Franchise Practices Act.

Represented a group of distributors, obtaining dismissal of an antitrust class action. Insulate SB, Inc., 797 F.3d 538 (8th Cir. 2015).

Represented the former chairman, chief executive officer, and selling-shareholder in a class-action ESOP litigation, winning summary judgment from the district court for the firm’s client on the eve of trial. (Following separate trials on liability and damages, the plaintiff class was awarded more than $15 million in relief. Judgment in favor of the firm’s client was unchallenged on appeal.) Chesemore v. All. Holdings, Inc., 276 F.R.D. 506 (W.D. Wis. 2011); 886 F. Supp. 2d 1007 (W.D. Wis. 2012); aff'd sub nom. Chesemore v. Fenkell, 829 F.3d 803 (7th Cir. 2016).

Represented an individual at trial, obtaining a $4.75 million jury verdict against a large manufacturer in a fraudulent transfer case.

Represented an individual, obtaining a $2.3 million arbitration award in a case involving breach of a buyout agreement related to a casino-development project in California.

Represented a realty company and its parent company, obtaining a favorable outcome in a theft of a copyright and antitrust matter.

Defended an energy company at trial, obtaining a defense jury verdict in a case involving tortious interference with a frac-sand mining contract and claimed damages exceeding $60 million.

Represented a business and its owner at trial, obtaining a favorable jury verdict in a contract dispute with a railroad.