Joseph P. Moodhe is a retired partner and currently is of counsel to the firm. Mr. Moodhe had been a litigation partner who focused on securities and insurance litigation and regulatory matters, but also has had broad commercial litigation experience in matters involving bankruptcy and tax disputes. The Legal 500 US recognized him as a leading securities litigation lawyer. He recently led a team of Debevoise attorneys in a five-month trial that resulted in a landmark ruling finding the Connecticut education system unconstitutional. His trial experience includes leading the defense of a client in two class actions in the tobacco litigations.
Mr. Moodhe is a member of the Federal Bar Council. He has authored “Outline of Reporter’s Privilege,” Communications Law, Practising Law Institute (1984-1993) and “The Use of Prior Uncounseled Convictions in Gun Control Prosecutions,” 92 Harvard Law Review 1790 (1979). He also serves as a Chair of Legal Services of New York—Bronx and is a Trustee for The Africa-America Institute.
Mr. Moodhe joined Debevoise in 1981 and became a partner in 1990. He received his B.A. from Columbia University in 1977 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1980, where he was case editor of the Harvard Law Review. He served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Lloyd F. MacMahon, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, from 1980 to 1981.
Experience:
- Insurance Litigation & Regulatory Experience
- An issuer of privately placed insurance products in securing and successfully defending on appeal a summary judgment in its favor on claims arising out of underlying investments.
- A major life insurance company in the investigation of retained asset accounts.
- ReliaStar Life in a federal court trial and appeal of a market timer claim.
- Counseling a major P&C carrier on claims litigation and coverage administration.
- The Phoenix Companies in arbitration and litigation arising out of the sale of various assets.
- Various insurance entities in obtaining a $140 million federal court judgment against Chilean entities that had defaulted under two credit agreements.
- Siemens’ Audit Committee in a worldwide investigation into possible corrupt payments to government officials leading to an early settlement with the U.S. and German authorities.
- Bankruptcy & Commercial Litigation
- American Seafoods, one of the largest seafood companies in North America and one of the largest harvesters of fish in the world, in the successful out-of-court refinancing and restructuring of nearly $1 billion in aggregate funded debt.
- Notz, Stucki et Cie, its directors, and related entities, in litigation related to substantial investments with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, in obtaining dismissal of investor class action litigation purporting to assert claims for fraud and breach of common law duties relating to one of the firm’s managed funds, and in adversary proceedings brought by the Trustee of the BLMIS estate in the bankruptcy proceeding.
- Delta Air Lines, as special aircraft counsel, in its Chapter 11 case in New York litigating issues relating to Section 1110 of the Bankruptcy Code, lease rejections and related aircraft motions.
- Hertz in defense of shareholder claims relating to its bid to acquire Dollar Thrifty.
- Director of Lyondell in an adversary proceeding arising out of its post-merger bankruptcy.
- An Asian shipbuilder in enforcing arbitration awards of more than $190 million.
- A major real estate investment fund in cases alleging breach of contract claims.
Education:
- Harvard Law School, 1980, J.D.
- Columbia University, 1977, B.A.
Bar Admissions:
- New York
Cost
Rate : $$$