Michael Ardeljan is an associate in the litigation and enforcement practice group at Ropes & Gray. He has developed a broad generalist litigation practice, representing public and private companies, boards of directors, financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals across a wide array of industries in connection with general and complex commercial litigation and arbitration, business restructuring strategy and bankruptcy proceedings, corporate governance and shareholder litigation, business and mass toxic tort claims, antitrust, intellectual property, and regulatory and enforcement matters. Michael advises clients on all stages of litigation, from pre-suit strategy through trial and appeals, and has helped clients navigate sensitive government and regulatory investigations.
Michael also maintains an active pro bono practice and has served as pro bono counsel in cases involving disputed issues of constitutional and disability law.
Prior to joining the firm, Michael practiced at another major international law firm and clerked for the Honorable Barbara C. Moses of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Experience
The following is a representative sample of Michael’s client engagements:
General & Complex Commercial Matters
- Originated and led successful representation of DeFi trading software corporation in connection with commercial dispute and impending litigation against a third-party business partner. Reached settlement on highly favorable terms.
- Representing private equity fund in representations and warranties insurance coverage dispute with third-party insurer, stemming from acquisition of portfolio companies.
- Representing private equity fund and its portfolio company in commercial dispute with third-party seller, relating to post-closing assistance and noncompete covenants.
- Successfully represented leading pharmaceutical company to secure dismissal with prejudice and a rare award of attorneys’ fees in connection with vacatur petition filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, concerning alleged breach of contract related to the development of an ophthalmic drug.
- Represented private equity fund in international arbitration, concerning alleged breach of contract and business torts related to portfolio company divestiture. Reached settlement on favorable terms.
- Represented life sciences technology company in multiple arbitrations, concerning alleged breaches of contract related to joint research development for healthcare technology. Reached global settlement on favorable terms.
- Represented high-net-worth individual in commercial dispute with third-party contractors.
- Represented asset manager in connection with risk assessments for investment decisions.
- Represented public utility company in breach of contract litigation filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, concerning state-backed expropriation of ownership stake in the company.*
Business Restructuring & Bankruptcy Matters
- Representing public telecommunications corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates in connection with debt financing strategy and anticipated litigation related to impending restructuring.
- Represented ad hoc group of lenders in litigation before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas, in connection with chapter 11 restructuring plan disputes among different stakeholders. Successfully quashed all discovery sought against ad hoc group.
Corporate Governance & Shareholder Matters
- Represented high-net-worth individual in corporate governance, commercial, and white-collar engagement, related to an investor dispute. Reached settlement on favorable terms.
- Represented officers and directors of a private equity fund portfolio company in the Delaware Court of Chancery, concerning alleged breaches of fiduciary duty. Reached settlement on favorable terms.
- Represented private equity fund in connection with portfolio company corporate governance dispute.
- Represented international telecommunications company in derivative stockholder litigation filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery, stemming from merger with a competitor.*
Business & Mass Toxic Tort Matters
- Represented private equity fund portfolio company in connection with congressional inquiry and mass toxic tort class action litigation related to public utility failures.
- Represented major financial institution in litigation filed in the Southern District of New York, concerning alleged business torts arising from client relationships.
- Represented public utility company in mass tort litigation and regulatory investigations stemming from natural disasters that resulted in global settlement.*
Antitrust Matters
- Representing premier healthcare system in antitrust litigation in federal court, concerning alleged violations of the Sherman Act and state antitrust law related to contracting with healthcare payors.
- Representing private equity fund portfolio company in connection with European antitrust litigation.
- Represented cellular technology company in several simultaneous high-stakes antitrust and breach of contract actions filed by regulators, public companies, and putative consumer classes in U.S. federal court and various fora worldwide that resulted in global settlements and/or successful appeals.*
- Represented financial institution in antitrust litigation filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, alleging Sherman Act violations related to securities bid pricing.*
Intellectual Property Matters
- Represented medical device manufacturer in connection with intellectual property licensing dispute related to novel European medical device regulations.
- Represented private home security technology company to prosecute patent infringement litigation against a competitor.*
Regulatory & Enforcement Matters
- Represented medical device manufacturer in connection with regulatory healthcare litigation.
- Represented life sciences technology companies in civil investigative inquiries before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
- Represented private equity fund portfolio company in Germany in connection with regulatory compliance and anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and anti-money laundering systems.
- Represented public company in government enforcement matters. Entered into a deferred prosecution agreement on favorable terms.*
Pro Bono Matters
- Representing New York State municipality and its supervisor in pro bono constitutional litigation, concerning alleged First Amendment and state law violations related to the municipality’s display of a foreign flag in solidarity with victims of a terrorist attack.
- Represented putative class of state prisoners in pro bono constitutional litigation filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, concerning alleged Eighth Amendment violations related to juvenile offender parole release eligibility.*
- Represented disabled individual in pro bono litigation before the Social Security Administration, successfully obtaining retroactive and indefinite prospective disability benefits on appeal.*
*Prior to joining Ropes & Gray