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Terry Wit is a partner in the San Francisco office.  Focusing on complex business disputes, including multidistrict and class action litigation, Mr. Wit has served as both plaintiff and defense counsel, representing corporations, banks, insurance companies and individuals in matters involving business torts, fraud, contract, fiduciary duty, tortious interference, RICO and other claims.  Super Lawyers Magazine named him as a “Northern California Rising Star” in business litigation in 2011 and 2012.

In addition, Mr. Wit serves as the president and chairman of the board of 826 National, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting under-resourced students ages 6 to 18 in the development of their creative and expository writing skills.  826 has a network of chapters in eight cities across the United States, which together serve over 30,000 students each year.

American International Group, Inc.
BlueFire Ethanol Fuels, Inc.
Dr. Enrico Bondi, Extraordinary Commissioner of Parmalat Finanziaria, S.p.A
Deutsche Bank
Dorco Company, Ltd.
Goodyear
IBM
LifeScan
Pace Shave, Inc.

SemGroup Litigation Trust

Representing Pace Shave, Inc. and various Dorco Company entities as defendants in Massachusetts federal litigation brought by The Gillette Company and The Procter & Gamble Company, involving eleven patents spanning over 250 claims, as well as numerous assertions of trademark and trade dress.  Despite plaintiffs' assertions of intellectual property infringement covering hundreds of millions of dollars in sales of Gillette shavers, we quickly narrowed the issues and obtained a cost-effective global settlement on an expedited basis for our US and Korean-based clients. 

Representing Dr. Enrico Bondi, Extraordinary Commissioner of Parmalat S.p.A in three separate $10 billion lawsuits arising out of the largest bankruptcy in European history against various financial institutions and accounting firms, for aiding and abetting Parmalat's insiders in the commission of massive fraud and for auditor malfeasance. We obtained a $150 million settlement against Deloitte & Touche's Italian arm and a $100 million settlement against Bank of America. 

Representing an established medical device manufacturer in a dispute with the potential acquirer of a patented product line following failure of the transaction.  Conducted the investigation of the allegations, developed the client’s own counterclaims, and formulated a pre-complaint strategy designed to avoid public litigation.  A confidential mediation was proposed and a settlement was achieved at a steep discount, avoiding significant litigation costs in the process. 

Representing IBM in a former employee’s appeal of summary judgment dismissing multi-million dollar employment discrimination claims for lost wages and benefits as well as emotional distress.  Obtained an opinion from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirming the dismissal in its entirety – without oral argument.

Representing a major foreign bank against nine-figure class action claims arising from the insolvency of a prior commercial client of a trust company acquired by the bank.  Achieved a global settlement of claims following years of litigation despite complex and often competing interests both within the defense group and on the plaintiffs’ side (represented by four major plaintiffs’ class action firms).

Representing one of the world’s largest automotive industry manufacturers against a foreign plaintiff’s multi-billion dollar tort and civil RICO claims stemming from alleged interference with a joint venture with the Chinese government to build a factory in China.  Obtained dismissal of the complaint in its entirety on remand following plaintiff’s successful appeal of summary judgment previously granted by the district court.