Jeffrey S. Gavenman is a partner in
the Washington, D.C. office of Hughes Hubbard. He represents corporations and
individuals across a broad spectrum of complex commercial litigation.
Jeff is known as a fierce
advocate for his clients, and his perfect record at trial makes him a feared
opponent. He has won tens of millions of dollars for his clients at trial,
without a single loss. These exemplary results in the courtroom have also
resulted in driving early, favorable settlements at great value for his
clients. Jeff has also successfully defended his clients against hundreds of
millions of dollars in claims, often winning such cases during motion practice,
successfully avoiding costly trials for those clients. Jeff brings a
hard-hitting, results-oriented approach to every engagement, often leading his
clients through bet-the-company litigation. The National Trial Lawyers
Association has recognized his outstanding legal work by naming him one of the
Top 100 Trial Lawyers for the state of Maryland on numerous occasions.
Mr. Gavenman has represented
Fortune 100 companies and individual clients in mediations, arbitrations, state
courts and federal courts. Jeff has a wide range of experience, including in
contractual, multi-jurisdictional, international, pharmaceutical, insurance,
product liability, professional liability, and other business-related disputes,
and in government investigations, internal investigations, corporate counseling
and employment law matters.
His clients span a variety of
industries, including automobile manufacturing, cable television, construction,
consumer electronics, franchising, financial services, government, insurance,
legal, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, real estate, restaurants, technology
and telecommunications. Jeff also has a robust practice in the sports sector,
litigating and advising on complex commercial matters for current and former
athletes, executives, sports organizations, sports focused marketing agencies,
and related stakeholders on litigations and arbitrations, complex media rights
deals, and name, image, and likeness agreements. Mr. Gavenman is the co-chair
of Hughes Hubbard’s Sports, Media, and Entertainment practice group.
Jeff also has significant
experience litigating cases involving Lanham Act false advertising, civil RICO,
breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade
secrets, trademark and copyright infringement, unfair competition, defamation,
and federal and state securities violations.
Jeff brings unique
international experience to the table. He has lived and worked in Israel,
Hungary, Romania and Kosovo, giving him a unique ability to navigate the
business and cultural norms of his international clients. Jeff has used his
experience and skills to help clients from over a dozen countries achieve their
goals.
Highlighted Matters
Representation of pharmaceutical company and its principals as national litigation counsel handling Lanham Act false advertising, contributory false advertising, trademark infringement, breach of fiduciary duty, trade secrets/know how, and tortious interference cases in federal and state courts in Maryland, Wisconsin, California, Georgia, and Florida. Obtained $18 million jury verdict and permanent injunction, and won findings of contempt, all of which were affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Defeated more than 50 counterclaims and won summary judgment dismissing separate $160 million claim.
Representation of current and former athletes, executives, sports organizations, sports focused marketing agencies, and related stakeholders. Successfully negotiated millions of dollars in NIL agreements and litigated breach of contract and fraud claims in the NIL space.
Successfully defended the American subsidiary of a major Japanese trading company against a lawsuit requesting $70 million dollars in damages.
Ongoing representation of major pharmaceutical company in breach of contract, patent infringement, trademark infringement, and Lanham Act false advertising case.
Prevailed against the Texas State Securities Board in a contested matter in front of the State Office of Administrative Hearings, where the judge found that the TSSB failed to show a basis for issuing a cease-and-desist order against his client and, therefore, dismissed the TSSB’s case, cancelled all further proceedings, and required the TSSB to withdraw the cease-and-desist order.
Served as strategic advisor to multiple foreign governments and to three prime ministers.
