OVERVIEW
Thomas Butler represents both national and international clients in complex, multi-jurisdictional commercial litigation and arbitration in connection with a wide range of business disputes. He has handled high-stakes cross-border matters involving the United Kingdom, Ireland, India, France, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Cyprus, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Australia, and other jurisdictions, and has worked in close coordination with international counsel these jurisdictions. He has extensive experience handling cases in state and federal courts across the country as well as in a variety of domestic and international arbitral institutions.
Tom has been involved with high-profile multi-jurisdictional product liability, fraud, merger and acquisition, expropriation, and estate and trust-related issues. He handles all phases of dispute resolution, from preliminary discovery through trial and appeals. In addition, Tom acts as outside general counsel for a number of companies starting out operations in the United States.
Credentials
Bar and Court Admissions
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Eastern Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
Education
Columbia Law School, JD, 1991
College of the Holy Cross, AB, magna cum laude, 1988
News & Insights
Memberships
American Bar Association; International Litigation Committee; Working Group on Judicial Assistance to International Arbitration
Commercial Bar Association, England, Honorary Overseas Member
U.S.-India Business Council; Legal Services Section Steering Committee
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
- Represented PanAmSat, then the largest satellite-services company in the world, in disputes with satellite manufacturers, launch service providers and insurers, and with an international media conglomerate over a direct-to-home television service in India
- Represented the leader of a prominent international motor sports association in multi-jurisdictional litigation stemming from the sale of control of the association
- Represented a seller and importer of champagne in claims against a prominent champagne house
- Represented US WEST in suits filed against it in Chennai, India, arising from a telephone infrastructure project in the State of Tamil Nadu
- Represented a major insurance brokerage firm in securities class action and related litigation arising from the collapse of the Bennett Funding Group
- Represented a group of major banks and hedge funds in claims relating to letter of credit facilities in connection with the Mirant bankruptcy
- Represented a U.S. based trading company in litigation over contracts to source products from India
- Represented investment banking firms in litigation matters arising from merger and acquisition transactions
- Represented the executor of a $100 million estate in litigation relating to the distribution of the estate and various trusts created thereunder in the New York Surrogate’s Court
- Represented petitioners challenging probate of a will in New York Surrogate’s Court
- Represented a certain member of a European family in a dispute over U.S.-based assets held in an estate administered overseas
- Represented a managing director at Credit Suisse in litigation arising from injuries he sustained in a boating accident in The Turks and Caicos Islands.
- Represented the Purdue defendants in the defense of the OxyContin® litigation
- Represented a premium finance company in connection with fraud and racketeering claims asserted against a leading insurance brokerage firm
- Represented private power developers in proceedings against public utilities
- Represented the Tommy Hilfiger Corporation and its outside directors in a shareholder derivative suit in New York State Supreme Court
- Represented the Arab Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade in an interpleader action in New York relating to frozen assets
- Represented a Brazilian manufacturer in breach of contract action against Foot Locker U.S.A.
- Represented off-shore financial institutions in connection with forfeiture claims asserted by the United States government in connection with foreign exchange market
- Represented various foreign corporations in connection with the assertion of expropriation claims
- Represented a major Latin American media company in disputes over licensing of programming
- Represented prominent European jewelry house in litigation and arbitration in the U.S. and Europe arising from contractual relationships
- Advised Latin American financial institutions on U.S. regulatory issues, including FinCEN regulations and FATCA
- Represented Latin American investors in connection with claims asserted in bankruptcy proceedings, including the Lehman bankruptcy
- Advised foreign corporate entities on potential claims against sovereign defendants
- Advised Latin American entity on U.S. legal issues in connection with an investigation conducted by the Government of Argentina
- Represented an American manufacturer in an ICC arbitration over a significant construction project in the Republic of Ghana
- Represented corporate officer in connection with claims arising from a high-profile Indian bank fraud
- Represented technology company in Lanham Act and Sherman Act claims relating to advertising and marketing clothing containing performance-enhancing bioceramics
- Represented a European mining investor in fraud claims in the New York State Supreme Court
- Represented European investors in substantial, multi-jurisdictional fraud and breach of trust claims
- Represented an Indian individual in a 28 USC § 1782 proceeding to obtain evidence for use in a litigation brought in India by the Government of India
- Represented an American manufacturer in a 28 USC § 1782 proceeding in connection with claims pending in Australia
- Represented a U.S. corporate in breach of contract claims against a prominent Latin American financial institution
- Represented a U.K. FinTech company in connection with its US launch
- Represented an Irish real estate start up in connection with its US launch
- Represented a U.S.-based start-up with an innovative marketing platform
- Represented a U.K.-based corporate rewards company in connection with the establishment of its sales team in the United States
- Represented a French FinTech company in connection with its North American expansion
- Represented Indian broker-dealers in connection with their US launch
- Represented an Irish FinTech company in connection with its US launch
- Represented an Irish software services company in connection with its US launch