Renowned Trial Lawyer James Quinn Joins Berg & Androphy in New York

NEW YORK, Jan. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — In a noteworthy addition to its New York trial practice, trial boutique Berg & Androphy announced the arrival of veteran courtroom star James W. Quinn as Of Counsel in its New York office.

Mr. Quinn joins Berg & Androphy after more than 40 years of practice at Weil, Gotshal & Manges where he spent the last two decades as head of Weil’s renowned Litigation Department, as well as a member of the firm’s management committee.

Hailed as a “legendary litigator” by Legal 500 US and known for his judgment and ability to command the courtroom, Mr. Quinn is considered one of the most accomplished trial lawyers in the country. He has represented many Fortune 500 companies as both plaintiff and defense counsel and won the Chambers USA Award of Excellence for Litigation Business Trial Lawyer in 2013. He has also prevailed in numerous large arbitration matters.

“Jim Quinn is one of America’s greatest trial lawyers and one of my closest friends,” said David Berg, founding partner of Berg & Androphy. “He has a long history of teeing up and trying cases, with great success. He will be a powerful presence for expanding our platform and our profile nationally, as well as in the important New York market.”

Among a long list of high-profile representations, Mr. Quinn served as lead trial counsel for NFL players in a historic dispute concerning the players’ challenge to the NFL’s antitrust restrictions against them. In another major sports case, he was lead trial counsel for the North American Soccer League against the NFL’s regulation prohibiting team owners from owning other professional sports teams. Both resulted in plaintiffs’ verdicts that were upheld on appeal.

“We are extremely fortunate that Jim Quinn is joining our ranks and look forward to taking full advantage of the opportunities and relationships he brings to our firm, particularly to our Sports & Entertainment, Antitrust and IP Litigation practices,” said Michael Fay, who co-founded B&A’s New York office in 2015.

In a career filled with milestone wins and matters, Mr. Quinn’s trial experience includes the following:

• Exxon Mobil v. SABIC – Co-lead trial counsel for Exxon Mobil in a breach of contract suit against Saudi Basic Industries Corporation. Exxon was awarded $416.8 million in compensatory damages, the largest verdict in a commercial case in the history of Delaware.

• Modi Enterprises v. ESPN – Lead trial counsel in defense of a $231 million claim brought by Modi against various ESPN entities arising out of the launch of ESPN channel in India. After a two-week trial in NY State Supreme Court, the jury rendered a complete defense verdict for ESPN.

• EchoStar, Inc. v. ESPN, Inc., et al. – Lead trial counsel in NY State Supreme Court action, representing ESPN and related Walt Disney companies. A jury rejected EchoStar’s $130 million claim for alleged contract breaches relating to rights to ESPN and Disney’s high-definition television networks, delivering a complete defense verdict.

• Colgate-Palmolive Co. v. Procter & Gamble Co. – Lead trial counsel for Procter & Gamble in successful defense of $80 million claim brought for purported violations of the Federal Lanham Act. Following a three-week trial in the Southern District of New York, the jury rejected Colgate’s claims and awarded no damages.

• Buffalo Broadcasting v. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers – Lead class counsel for Buffalo Broadcasting and 600 other television stations nationwide in this antitrust class action concerning blanket licensing. Mr. Quinn led a three-month bench trial after which the Court held that so-called “blanket” licensing of music performing rights was an impermissible restraint on trade. The ruling led to a complete reconstruction of music licensing rights in television and radio industries across the United States.

“I am thrilled to be joining my longtime friend David Berg and his colleagues at Berg & Androphy, a terrific trial boutique with outstanding trial lawyers,” Mr. Quinn said. “Although I am grateful that I was able to practice alongside so many exceptional lawyers at Weil for so many years, in moving to Berg & Androphy, I am looking forward to furthering my trial practice and helping expand B&A’s litigation brand nationally.”

Berg & Androphy opened its New York office in April 2015 with Mr. Fay and Jenny Kim, former partners from prominent litigation firm Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman. Founded in Houston by Mr. Berg in 1970, Berg & Androphy has built a national reputation as a litigation firm that excels at trial.

Among other notable cases, B&A currently represents Norddeutsche Landesbank Girozentrale in the only investor lawsuit against Lynn Tilton and Patriarch Partners regarding investments in the Zohar CLO Funds. The firm also represents Globefill Inc. (Crystal Head Vodka) in a trademark infringement suit against Kah Tequila, which is set for trial in March 2017.

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