Michael P.Conway (Mike)

Partner

Chicago + 1.312.269.4145

Mike Conway, an experienced commercial litigator, has handled dozens of trials and arbitrations, encompassing a variety of industries and substantive areas. Much of his work has been for financial services firms, including national and regional banks, brokerage firms, hedge funds, and trading firms. He has represented financial institutions in litigation flowing from the credit crisis, including litigation concerning mortgage-backed securities and mortgage put-back litigation. Mike also has defended financial services firms in class action litigation involving consumer lending and protection statutes, as well as in individual claims alleging fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and contract claims.

Mike has extensive experience representing private equity firms, including more than a dozen significant post-closing disputes involving contract, tort, and statutory claims. In addition, he has represented private equity firms in matters relating to representation and warranty insurance policies, including policy negotiation and coverage disputes. Mike also has represented private equity firms in disputes with co-investors, partners, and third-party advisors.

Mike has tried and arbitrated cases across the country for a variety of clients in other industries. He has represented large privately held and family-owned companies in trials and injunctive proceedings alleging fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and minority oppression. He was involved in two successful antitrust trials and appeals regarding restriction on the telecasts of NBA games. Mike has represented many clients in litigation and emergency hearings involving the enforcement of post-employment restrictive covenants and trade secrets and won an arbitration in a nationally publicized retaliatory discharge case involving the U.S. Women's soccer team.

Experience

  • Global financial institution defends claims in VRDO mattersJones Day is defending a global financial institution in several matters related to its activities as remarketing agent for variable rate demand obligations (“VRDOs”) issued by agencies or units of state and local government.
  • Financial services company responds to DOJ investigation into its Paycheck Protection Program loan practicesJones Day is representing a financial services company in DOJ investigations related to its administration of Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans.
  • Riverside portfolio company acquires manufacturing facility in Mexico, MissouriJones Day advised The Riverside Company in the acquisition and financing by portfolio company Parker Products of a manufacturing facility located in Mexico, Missouri.
  • Follett Corporation divests Baker & Taylor division to private investor groupJones Day advised Follett Corporation in its divestiture of its Baker & Taylor division, the world's premier distributor of physical and digital books and services to public and academic libraries, which will now operate as an independent, privately-owned entity group led by Baker & Taylor's President and CEO Aman Kochar.
  • Financial institution obtains appellate victory in putative class action claims relating to alleged Ponzi schemeJones Day secured an appellate victory for a financial institution facing a putative class action asserting claims arising from an alleged Ponzi scheme.
  • CIBC secures dismissal of putative class asserting claims under the CARES ActJones Day successfully represented Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in a putative class action arising under the CARES Act's Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"), obtaining dismissal of all claims.
  • KeyBank obtains dismissal of class action involving agent fees related to PPP loansJones Day successfully represented KeyBank in obtaining dismissal of a putative class action seeking payment of agent fees associated with Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP") loans.
  • JinkoSolar sold two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Mexico to White River RenewablesJones Day advised JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., one of the world's largest and most innovative solar panel manufacturers, in the sale of two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Mexico to White River Renewables.
  • Central American conglomerate acquires significant strategic real estate holding in HondurasJones Day represented a Central American conglomerate in the acquisition of a significant strategic real estate holding in Honduras.
  • DataBank acquires LightBoundJones Day advised DataBank in connection with the acquisition and related financing of LightBound, an Indianapolis-based provider of colocation, Internet, voice, network, and cloud services.
  • Private equity firm obtains victory in working capital arbitrationJones Day successfully represented a private equity firm in a working capital dispute following the sale of a consumer products company to a Fortune 500 food products company.
  • Fortune 500 agribusiness and food company obtains arbitration victory arising from purchase price disputeJones Day successfully represented a Fortune 500 agribusiness and food company in a post-closing purchase price dispute arising out of our client's purchase of a U.S. food processing business.
  • Timken acquires Cone DriveJones Day advised The Timken Company in its acquisition of Cone Drive, a leader in precision drives used in diverse markets including solar, automation, aerial platforms, and food and beverage.
  • Follett Higher Education Group and Nebraska Book Company form strategic sourcing partnershipJones Day advised Follett Higher Education Group ("FHEG") in connection with a strategic sourcing partnership between FHEG and Nebraska Book Holdings, Inc. involving wholesale higher education course materials.
  • Data security company obtains dismissal of trade secret and tortious interference claimsJones Day successfully defended a data security company against claims of tortious interference and violations of the Illinois Trade Secrets Act.
  • Private equity firm resolves claims of fraud and breaches of representations and warranty without litigationJones Day defended a private equity firm against claims of fraud and breaches of representations and warranty.
  • Investment firm exercises put option in sale agreement, resolves valuation dispute without litigationJones Day represented the seller of a large consumer products company in connection with the exercise of a "put option" in the sale agreement and a dispute over the valuation of the stock subject to the put option.
  • GE Healthcare and Roche enter partnership to develop integrated digital diagnostics platformJones Day advised GE Healthcare in its strategic partnership with Roche to develop an integrated digital diagnostics platform relating to oncology and critical care treatment.
  • Midwest financial institution obtains dismissal of lawsuit stemming from foreign wire transferJones Day defended a Midwest financial institution in a litigation filed by former customers and other plaintiffs alleging negligence, abuse of process and conversion.
  • Financial institution investigates potential customer involvement with alleged Ponzi schemeJones Day conducted an internal investigation concerning potential customer involvement with an alleged Ponzi scheme and associated litigation risk, including evaluating potential claims and providing advice concerning limiting litigation exposure.
  • The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.

    Represented several regional and national banks in mortgage put-back litigation and financial institutions in lawsuits involving the sale of mortgage-backed securities.

    Represented a private equity firm in fraud and breach of representation and warranty litigation relating to a client’s purchase of a manufacturing business. Case settled after victory on a dispositive motion.

    Defended several class actions for clients including financial institutions and consumer products corporations. Substantive claims included purported violations of consumer lending and protection statutes and common law theories. Results in these cases have included denials of class certification as well as victories on summary judgment and motions to dismiss.

    Lead defense counsel for a bank in litigation alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with misappropriation of funds by a customer’s accountant.

    Lead trial counsel representing a private equity firm in an arbitration concerning coverage under a representation and warranty policy.

    Counsel for electronics manufacturer in defense of litigation filed by state attorney general alleging global price fixing conspiracy.

    Trial victory in derivative litigation filed against the officers and directors of a closely-held business by minority shareholders.

    Lead counsel defending a private equity firm in breach of contract litigation following the sale of a portfolio company.

    Lead counsel representing a consumer products company in arbitration involving the alleged breach of a $1.6 billion supply agreement.

    Represented television station in two antitrust trials against a professional sports league stemming from the league’s efforts to block the station from telecasting games.

    Lead counsel in an arbitration victory in a nationally publicized retaliatory discharge case involving the U.S. women’s soccer team.