David A. Crichlow

Representative Experience

• Lead trial counsel defending a Cayman Island hedge fund against a $324 million preference action brought by the creditors’ committee in the Refco bankruptcy. Obtained successful resolution prior to summary judgment hearing.
• Lead trial counsel for one of the country's largest oil companies in several adversary proceedings brought against the Enron Corporation, or its affiliates, in the Enron bankruptcy, with respect to disputes arising from a pipeline joint venture between the company's affiliates and Enron's affiliates.
• Lead trial counsel representing financial institution, as indenture trustee, in its $6.3 billion claim on behalf of first-lien noteholders for payment in full on certain first-lien notes issued by gaming company Caesars Entertainment Operating Company (CEOC), in a suit before the US District Court for the Southern District of New York against CEOC’s parent, Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CEC), for alleged breach of its parent guarantee under the applicable indenture and alleged violations of the Trust Indenture Act. The lawsuit resulted in a favorable settlement on the eve of summary judgment arguments, paving the way to a global settlement in CEOC’s bankruptcy to which CEC contributed, resulting in the first-lien noteholders receiving payment in full on their notes with interest.
• Lead trial counsel for equity committee of insolvent multinational manufacturer of high-performance chemical-based materials for industrial and consumer use in its $2 billion lawsuit against former parent, asserting that former parent undercapitalized company at spin-off, fraudulently transferred certain liabilities and misrepresented the scope of future environmental liabilities in public documents related to the spin-off. Obtained global settlement under bankruptcy plan and recovery for pre-petition equity holders. *
• Lead trial counsel defending California loan originator against claims by Residential Funding Company, LLC (the successor-in-interest to ResCap) for alleged breach of warranty and indemnification arising from ResCap’s purchase, securitization and sale of certain residential mortgage-backed securities. The aggregate damage claims in the consolidated actions in which the mortgage securities-related claims are proceeding involve more than $7 billion in controversy.
• Lead trial counsel defending one of the country’s largest automobile finance companies in a class action suit alleging violations of New York’s Motor Vehicle Retail Leasing Act. Obtained voluntary dismissal of nationwide class allegations, and resolved state class claims favorably to client after extensive commercial mediation.
• Lead trial counsel defending a Boise, Idaho company in a "bet-the-company" case against a putative class action related to the company's role as indenture trustee to a $40 million bond issuance, indenture trustee's alleged breach of fiduciary duties, and contractual obligations, after issuer of notes declared bankruptcy and was alleged to have been engaged in a massive Ponzi Scheme. Obtained dismissal of all claims prior to class certification and without class discovery.
• Lead trial counsel in multiparty plaintiff actions brought by certain upstream oil producers against several of the nation’s largest oil companies as downstream purchasers, for claims worth hundreds of millions of dollars alleging unjust enrichment, constructive trust and other equitable remedies.
• Represent clients with claims against the Reserve Fund for redemption of investments after the fund historically “broke the buck” during the financial crisis in the fall of 2008.
• Represented trustee for certificate holders under pooling and servicing agreements in connection with RMBS litigation and claims brought by monoline insurer against trustee for alleged breaches of contract and various other purported duties. Obtained dismissal of all claims.
• Represent large domestic public utility company in petition before US Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari to review lower court's decision on constitutionality of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ruling.