David A. Berger

Partner

David Berger is a founding partner of the Firm. He has successfully tried cases in various federal and state courts and before a number of administrative and arbitral tribunals. He routinely counsels clients concerning business transactions and other strategic and sensitive matters. A creative problem solver, Mr. Berger focuses on obtaining positive and cost-effective solutions tailored to each client’s individual needs.

Mr. Berger's professional experience covers a broad range of substantive areas, including contract, antitrust, securities and commodities, corporate governance, partnership, franchising, commercial, intellectual property, licensing, media and entertainment, health care, pharmacy, bankruptcy litigation, employment, and defamation law. His experience includes extensive work in multi-party and multi-district litigation, including class actions, arbitration, and in investigations before such regulatory and self-regulatory authorities as the SEC, NASD, FINRA, CFTC, and various state attorneys general.

Mr. Berger regularly provides clients with risk assessments in connection with potential transactions or in anticipation of significant business decisions, including corporate actions, and the implementation of new business strategies. He also has an active transactional practice, particularly in the areas of employment and executive compensation, and in the licensing and intellectual property fields. In addition, he counsels clients in crisis situations, drawing on his prior professional experience in corporate public relations and crisis management.

An experienced mediator, Mr. Berger is called upon to mediate a range of disputes, and serves as a court-appointed mediator for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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Representative Matters

Antitrust

• Representation of approximately 3,800 independent pharmacies in multi-district litigation asserting Robinson-Patman and Sherman Act claims against pharmaceutical manufacturers, and in ancillary state court proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.
• Defended apparel manufacturer against New York Donnelly Act claims.
• Representation of trade association concerning potential antitrust liability.

Bankruptcy Litigation

• Representation of trade associations and member retail pharmacies in bankruptcy proceedings of industry factor of pharmacy receivables.
• Represented community organization in fraud and malfeasance claims against former officer.
• Prosecuted class action against numerous defendants on behalf of independent pharmacies, chiropractors, opticians, and veterinarians, in bankruptcy proceedings arising from Ponzi scheme perpetrated by advertising sales company, and defended hundreds of ancillary state court proceedings.

Business and Commercial Disputes

• Representation of bank in various cases involving Letters of Credit and the Uniform Commercial Code.
• Defended major telecommunications company in numerous cases by utilities and others for property damage and relating to land use.
• Representation of financial services companies in various contractual matters.

Class and Collective Actions

• Represented retail pharmacy class in multi-jurisdictional class actions alleging fraud over capitation plan for pharmacy services against major health insurance carrier.
• Prosecuted class action against numerous defendants on behalf of independent pharmacies, chiropractors, opticians, and veterinarians, in bankruptcy proceedings arising from Ponzi scheme perpetrated by advertising sales company, and defended hundreds of ancillary state court proceedings.
• Defended telecommunications firm in class action tariff litigation.

Corporate Counseling and Transactional Matters

• Representation of purchasers and sellers in variety of asset purchase transactions, including sales by and of assets of closely held businesses.
• Representation of licensors and licensees in licensing and technology transfer agreements.
• Representation of clients in purchases and sales of intellectual property.
• Representation of media and entertainment company with respect to major talent and senior management contracts.
• Representation of fashion designer in buy-out transaction.
• Representation of European fashion design firm with respect to risk analyses regarding contemplated corporate actions, implementation of business strategies.
• Representation of pharmaceutical manufacturer in sale of pharmaceutical compound.
• Negotiation of executive and employment compensation packages.
• Negotiation of employment agreement and profit participation for film editor with media company.
• Representation of management consulting firm in joint venture, employment and contractor agreements.
• Negotiation of physicians with respect to partnership agreements.
• Performed “legal audit” and risk assessments for financial services, media and entertainment clients.

Defamation

• Represented pharmacy owners in defamation action against pharmacy benefit management company.
• Defended individual investment banker defendants in defamation action arising from termination of employee.

Employment

• Defense of bank in multiple federal and state court actions alleging claims including wrongful termination, breach of contract, and ERISA violations.
• Negotiated resolution of contract and severance claims on behalf of senior creative director against advertising agency following termination.
• Represented telecine editor in breach of employment contract and New York labor law claims against editing facility arising from facility’s failure to pay commissions due and owing.
• Conducted internal investigation into alleged sexual harassment claims.
• Defended financial services firm in arbitration over alleged breach of employment contract claims.

Franchising

• Representation of franchisor with respect to federal and state franchise registrations, contractual and employment agreements, and legal oversight on operational matters.
• Representation of franchisees with respect to franchise purchases.
• Representation of franchisee in claims against franchisor with respect to earnings claims statements.
• Represented franchisee seeking rescission of franchise agreements.

Health Care

• Representation of Medicaid providers in denial and freezing of claims in administrative proceedings in New York and New Jersey.
• Represented retail pharmacy class in multi-jurisdictional class actions alleging fraud over capitation plan for pharmacy services against major health insurance carrier.
• Representation of pharmacy providers in claims against third party administrators relating to audits.
• Defense of pharmacist in wrongful dispensing claim.

Intellectual Property

• Representation of New Jersey trade association in federal Lanham Act litigation.
• Representation of inventor of video-on-demand patent in arbitration over licensing agreement.
• Representation of author in copyright claims against television producer.

Investigations

• Representation of broker-dealer, registered representatives, witnesses in SEC, NASD, FINRA, CFTC, CBOT investigations into insider trading, customer complaints, and disciplinary matters.
• Conducted internal investigation into alleged sexual harassment claims.
• Internal investigation concerning Chief Financial Officer's defalcation.

Media and Entertainment

• Representation of well-known musical performers in copyright action.
• Representation of licensor of celebrity names and likenesses against former joint venturer.
• Represented leading television commercial producer in multi-party arbitration and related litigation over failed implementation of accounting services software and services agreements.
• Representation of recording studio in litigation with equipment lessor.

Mediation

• Mediated numerous partnership, corporate control, commercial, intellectual property, and media and entertainment matters.
• Represented clients in numerous mediations in range of substantive areas.

Partnership and Corporate Control

• Represented co-founder of hedge fund against former partner in action asserting breaches of contract and fiduciary duty in the Delaware Chancery Court over membership interests in limited liability company, and in ancillary liquidations of various domestic and offshore hedge funds.
• Represented former management in corporate control dispute among partners in shipping syndicate.
• Representation of partner in venture capital concern against other partner over respective entitlements under partnership agreement.
• Represented faction of family owned businesses against other family faction in jointly coordinated cases concerning ownership interests of family businesses.
• Represented departing member of limited liability company relating to value of interests in real estate development business.

Securities

• Tried multi-party New York Stock Exchange arbitration on behalf of broker-dealer concerning industry stock loan practices with other broker-dealers.
• Defended federal court action on behalf of public company against minority shareholder claims.
• Representation of broker-dealer, registered representatives, witnesses in SEC, NASD, FINRA, CFTC, CBOT investigations into insider trading, customer complaints, and disciplinary matters.

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