Breakups – Business and Professional

Breakups are complicated, emotionally trying, and not easy to resolve.

It seems straightforward enough when a partner or shareholder wants to leave one firm and move to another, but fiduciary duties to clients and colleagues, conflicting loyalties and competing principles, as well as the nature of the business organization (Partnerships, LLC, PC) all complicate these decisions. Geri is recognized as an expert at unraveling and solving the complex problems underlying commercial breakups in professional partnerships and private companies.

 

Contemplating a break-up?

Seek counsel at the beginning of the process rather than risk the damaging consequences of a misstep.

Geri is counselor, advisor and colleague, as she guides her clients through legal, financial and emotional minefields. By helping clients follow the rules, answer accusations and defend their rights, she helps them to ultimately move forward with their careers in a positive way.

Her practice falls into three areas:

(i)  counseling and negotiating on behalf of owners, partners, and shareholders, in both internal and external disputes, involving their co-owners, partners, shareholders,

(ii)  addressing internal policies and disputes, including employee practices and employment claims

(iii)  negotiation, mediation, arbitration and litigation of dissolution and other breakup claims

 

Representative Reported Cases

  • Fern Simmons v. Richard Omohundro, et al., Index No. 05-cv-4482 (TPG) (SDNY). Obtained $3.69 million judgment entered based on jury verdict for plaintiff on claims of joint venture, breach of fiduciary duty, quantum meruit and unjust enrichment in connection with the development of an asset management company.
  • Schiller v. Guthrie, 102 A.D.3d 852, 958 N.Y.S.2d 736 (2d Dep’t 2013) Obtained summary judgment on behalf of wife sued by former husband for breach of fiduciary duty with respect to their former joint medical practice.
  • Seruya and Israeli v. Torres, Index. No. 1490KCV002 (Appellate Term, 2d Dep’t 2008) Obtained reversal on appeal of $4 million verdict entered against clients represented by prior counsel below in business divorce and breach of fiduciary duty case.