Michael S. Gardner

In re M Waikiki LLC (federal bankruptcy court, Honolulu, Hawaii)
Represented resort owner in connection with its termination of long-term hotel management agreement with Edition, the lifestyle hotel brand in the Marriott International family, ousting Edition from the property, and installing new management company at resort. Represented owner as special litigation counsel in bankruptcy, including weeklong estimation hearing.

Cheeca Holdings, LLC v. Rock Resorts International, LLC (JAMS arbitration, Chicago, Illinois)
Represented hotel management company in prosecuting claims for wrongful termination of contract and in defending against claims of mismanagement in four-week arbitration hearing.

Destination Telluride Hotel, LLC, et al. v. The Lodge at Mountain Village Owners Association, Inc. (state court, Telluride, Colorado, and state appellate court, Denver, Colorado)
Represented hotel management company and affiliate in connection with termination of operating agreements and claims against ownership. Engagement included trial and successful appeal of various issues.

Hyatt Corporation, et al. v. BMC – The Benchmark Management Company (state court, Montgomery County, Texas)
Represented hotel management company in defending against claims for tortious interference with contract and misappropriation of trade secrets.

Santa Barbara Hospitality, N.V. v. Hyatt Curacao, N.V. (Curaçao court and International Centre for Dispute Resolution)
Represented resort owner in international litigation (TRO hearing in Curaçao) and in an international arbitration in connection with its termination of long-term hotel management agreement with Hyatt, ousting Hyatt from the property, and installing new management company at hotel.

John P. Rochon, et al. v. Mary Kay Holding Corp. (state court, Dallas, Texas)
Represented former CEO of Mary Kay and others in prosecuting claims against former employer for millions of dollars of compensation and carried interest pursuant to various agreements.

Hammond Properties, Inc. v. Shelton Dunhill, Ltd. (state court, Dallas, Texas)
Represented defendant against claims for breach of contract, fraud, negligence, and deceptive trade practices, in connection with the sale of condominiums valued at several million dollars. Negotiated favorable settlement for client through mediation.

RSR Corp., et al. v. AIU Ins. Co., et al. (state court, Marshall, Texas)
Obtained tens of millions of dollars in settlements from approximately fifty insurance carriers in connection with clients’ claims for insurance coverage related to, among other things, CERCLA cleanup costs incurred at numerous environmental sites across the Unites States.

Pharos Capital Group, LLC, et al. v. Nutmeg Ins. Co. (federal and state court, Dallas, Texas)
Represented insured party in prosecuting claims against insurer for breach of contract, violations of the Texas Insurance Code, and bad faith.

Hollywood Casino Corp., Shreveport v. Lexington Ins. Co. (federal court, Shreveport, Louisiana)
Represented casino-hotel project in claim for insurance coverage relating to tornado damage to the project during construction.

Flandana Holdings Limited v. Access Capital Advisors (Guernsey) (London Court of International Arbitration, London, England)
Represented claimant, a Cyprus company, against respondent, a private equity “fund of funds,” in prosecuting claims arising from breach of partnership agreements and other contracts. The matter was governed, in part, by English law and, in part, by Guernsey law.

State of New York v. Barrett Wissman (state court, New York, New York)
Represented defendant in connection with the New York Attorney General’s highly publicized investigation and prosecution of allegations of corruption of the Office of the New York Comptroller and the New York State Common Retirement System by managers of alternative investment funds, state officials, and certain other politically connected individuals. (Also represented same person in related matters with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the New Mexico State Investment Council).

Bruce K. Siddle, et al. v. Pharos Capital Partners, L.P., et al. (federal courts in East St. Louis, Illinois, and Nashville, Tennessee, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Cincinnati, Ohio)
Represented private equity fund managers and private equity funds in defending against RICO and fraud claims asserted by minority owner of portfolio company. Obtained judgment dismissing all claims against clients and secured an award against plaintiffs of over $1 million in attorneys’ fees and litigation costs. Obtained affirmance of the dismissal on appeal to the Sixth Circuit.

Geotag, Inc. v. Frontier Communications Corp., et al. (federal court, Marshall, Texas)
Represented inventor and patent owner in obtaining discovery in patent infringement action.

Shops Dunhill Ratel, LLC v. Apple Texas Restaurants, Inc. (state court, Dallas, Texas)
Represented client in seeking damages for breach of commercial real estate lease.

Wimbrey v. US Homes, Inc. (state court, Denton, Texas)
Represented developer in prosecuting claims for breach of real estate sale agreement and violation of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code.

United States v. RSR Corporation, et al. (federal court, Seattle, Washington)
Represented lead recycling and smelting company, and affiliates, in defense of claim by the Department of Justice, Environmental Division, alleging that pollution was caused by clients and seeking recovery of millions of dollars in CERCLA cleanup fees.

In re Lewis Equipment Co., Inc., et al. (federal bankruptcy court, Fort Worth, Texas)
Represented principal of various bankrupt construction companies in connection with claims for breach of contract arising from personal guaranties of corporate debt.