Richard Z. Wolf

Experience

• Lead litigation counsel for buyer of quick service restaurant (QSR) franchises in arbitration against seller in dispute over representations and warranties contained in the purchase agreement. After a three day hearing, a seven figure award was entered in favor of buyer on all claims, including an award of its attorneys’ fees.
• Defense counsel for five defendants accused of violating post-employment restrictive covenants and their new employer, in which Judge Holderman of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ruled in favor of the defendants on every count of the plaintiff’s complaint after trial, including finding that the restrictive covenants at issue were not enforceable. See, Instant Technology, LLC v. DeFazio, 40 F. Supp. 3d 989 (N.D. Ill. 2014). Then, obtained a decision affirming Judge Holderman’s ruling after the case was appealed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals by the Plaintiff. See, Instant Technology, LLC v. DeFazio, 793 F.3d 748 (7th Cir. 2015).
• Represented an executive in a FINRA arbitration related to the executive’s termination and defamatory U-5 disclosure filed by his employer. The FINRA arbitration panel ruled in favor of the executive and entered a seven figure damages award.
• Prosecuted, defended and advised clients in various ownership, partnership and shareholder disputes, including obtaining a temporary restraining order on behalf of a shareholder preventing the other shareholder of the company from freezing him out of the business.
• Defended a majority shareholder and director in litigation related to claims of fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract in excess of $70 million related to the sale of a business, relating in a favorable settlement a few weeks before trial.
• Defended a former majority shareholder and CEO in litigation regarding fraud claims related to the sale of a business and breach of fiduciary duty claims related to the CEO’s post-sale employment with the company, leading to a favorable settlement after mediation.
• Obtained a summary judgment award in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of the plaintiff in a breach of contract case in connection with the defendant’s failure to pay amounts owed under purchase orders.