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Commercial Litigation

Contact

Deborah B. Baum
Partner, Washington, DC
T: +1.202.663.8772
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Areas of Focus

Pillsbury is recognized as among the most feared law firms for litigation by BTI Consulting Group. Beyond this overall recognition, Pillsbury earned particular praise as a standout performer in the complex commercial and commercial litigation categories. With more than 200 litigators throughout the United States, our Commercial Litigation team is proud of its winning record for clients—from startups to Fortune 50 multinationals—in all phases and types of commercial disputes.

Pillsbury’s Commercial Litigation practice team has deep experience representing some of the world’s largest and most sophisticated businesses. We have won a wide range of business disputes in federal and state trial and appellate courts, through alternative dispute resolution, and at the negotiating table.

In each instance, we bring together the right team, made up of lawyers with the legal acumen, courtroom skill, and technical and industry-specific backgrounds to try each matter and win. Pillsbury utilizes the latest technologies to streamline data analysis, efficiently manage litigation and enhance evidence presentation. From pre-litigation strategies through trial, appeal and post-judgment enforcement, we offer pragmatic business advice, providing cost-efficient and effective solutions.

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Our firm has achieved victories for both plaintiffs and defendants across industries, including retail and consumer products, energy, media and entertainment, health care and life sciences, manufacturing, insurance, technology and financial services.

Representative Experience

  • Won unanimous jury verdict of “no liability,” denying $40 million in an alleged damages claim by the reneging purchaser of a luxury jet. The jury deliberated just three hours following a five-week trial.
  • Defeated €20 million claim and secured a €10 million award for a Scandinavian equipment manufacturer accused of falling far short of a contractual performance guarantee when it outfitted a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Central Europe.
  • Recovered $20 million international arbitration award for a pioneering Chinese manufacturer/seller of photovoltaic models when a product purchaser reneged on its purchase agreement because it would not qualify for energy tax incentives.

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  • Aviation
    • Defended Bombardier against novel claims that a draft aircraft purchase agreement, together with a letter of intent and other communications, created an obligation for Bombardier to execute an aircraft purchase agreement.
  • Construction
    • Secured appellate win upholding a record-breaking $54 million award for our client Sacramento Municipal Utility District on a breach of contract claim against Fru-Con, which was hired to build a California Central Valley power plant.
  • Corporate
    • Achieved complete victory for our client and an important precedent regarding LLC governance through a unanimous reversal from New York’s highest court. The case addressed the manager’s fiduciary duties in the buyout of former LLC members.
  • Finance
    • Won award of more than $6 million plus attorneys’ fees and costs for a hedge fund client seeking repayment of a loan defaulted on by a tech company borrower.
  • Food & Beverage
    • Achieved successful termination of a regional distribution arrangement that threatened to severely limit our client Yogurtland’s burgeoning business. The arbitrators found that the distributor failed to show damages and awarded Yogurtland attorneys’ fees.
  • Real Estate
    • Won appellate reversal awarding summary judgment and costs, and allowing our client Pathmark to retain the deposit on an uncompleted $87 million real estate sale. The case was unanimously affirmed on appeal.
    • Won appeal of a lower court’s auction order and other unusual decisions. The previously ordered sale of the property was stayed and ultimately reversed.
  • Technology
    • Secured multimillion-dollar jury award for AOL—the full amount spent on its primary contract with consultants—when the Order-to-Cash system that consultants recommended wholly failed to meet AOL’s needs.
    • Won dismissal of a breach of contract claim brought in Texas by an indirect purchaser of our client Lexware GmbH’s software module. The court found personal jurisdiction lacking, and the Fifth Circuit affirmed victory.
  • Telecommunications – Global Sourcing
    • Defeated large vendor’s multimillion-dollar contract termination claim in arbitration and secured a damages award on a counterclaim for our telecommunications services company client.

Practice Area Highlights

  • Recognized by The Legal 500 U.S. for General Commercial Disputes (2024).
  • Best Lawyers Best Law Firms 2025 National Tier 1 Commercial Litigation ranking.
  • Pillsbury is recognized as among the most feared law firms for litigation by BTI Consulting Group.

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  • Chambers USA ranked our Washington, DC General Commercial Litigation practice as “Highly Regarded” in Band 3. (2023-2024).

Resources

Brochure

Litigation Highlights

2024 MOST FEARED FIRMS

BTI Consulting recognizes Pillsbury as one of the most feared law firms in litigation.

2021 LEGAL 500 U.S. GUIDE RANKS PILLSBURY AS LEADING FIRM

28 Practice Areas from Litigation, Regulatory, Transactional Practices and Industry Teams

Case Study

IQVIA: Keeping Our Client out of the Fray Altogether

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