EXPERIENCE

Privately Owned Business Disputes

Mr. Seabolt has extensive experience representing closely held corporations, limited liability companies, and their constituents in a variety of privately owned business disputes, including shareholder/member disputes, shareholder/member oppression, business divorces, breach of fiduciary duties, and disputes over business valuations. He has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict or award. He also counsels entrepreneurs on business formation/structure questions and in drafting operating and shareholder agreements. Mr. Seabolt has represented both buyers and sellers in post-M&A disputes involving purchase price adjustments, breaches of reps and warranties, indemnification, fraud, and the like.

Automotive

Mr. Seabolt has represented automotive industry clients and other manufacturers his entire career. He has extensive experience representing automotive suppliers in litigation, arbitration, mediation and negotiations. His experience includes pricing disputes, warranty and recall cost recoveries, termination claims, misappropriation of trade secrets and piracy, antitrust, distribution agreements, development agreements, and more. He has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict or award. Mr. Seabolt also has represented buyers and sellers of goods in injunctive proceedings involving supply chain disruptions. He frequently counsels and represents clients in negotiating supply agreements and analyzing terms and conditions.

Business & Commercial Litigation

Mr. Seabolt has experience in a variety of other business and commercial litigation matters including:

• UCC sales disputes
• False claims act litigation
• Breach of warranty
• Misappropriation of trade secrets
• Construction and real estate developments
• Accounting malpractice
• Securities fraud

Internal Investigations

Mr. Seabolt has extensive experience leading and conducting internal investigations for corporate clients. He has led and conducted internal investigations involving allegations of embezzlement, misappropriation of company assets, economic espionage, bribery and corruption, cyber-fraud,  and False Claims Act violations, among others. Mr. Seabolt has led and conducted investigations that involved mobilizing and overseeing resources in multiple countries around the globe. He has worked with experts from a variety of disciplines, including computer forensics, IT security, forensic accounting, handwriting experts, and the like. When circumstances warrant, Mr. Seabolt interfaces with the appropriate governmental agencies and responds to government subpoenas and inquiries. Mr. Seabolt also advises clients on enhancing compliance programs and other corrective action measures.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mr. Seabolt has completed the General Civil Mediation Training that is provided through the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE). Based on his experience and recognition as a leading practitioner, he frequently serves as a mediator and facilitator of business and commercial disputes.

Significant Recent Results

• Represented plaintiff in breach of partnership matter involving cannabis dispensary. Obtained $19 million jury verdict.
• Represented Tier 1 automotive supplier in $20 million recall cost recovery claim brought by OEM. Secured complete defense award following two-week arbitration.
• Prosecuted claim for misappropriation of confidential information on behalf of automotive supplier against foreign contract manufacturer. Secured multi-million-dollar award plus royalties and attorney fees.
• Prosecuted multi-million dollar fraud claim against sellers under an asset purchase agreement. Secured successful resolution short of trial.
• Prosecuted shareholder oppression action on behalf of minority owner of sports arena. Secured successful buyout of majority owners.
• Defended investors in parent company of failed broker-dealer against multi-million dollar claims of control person liability, successor liability and veil-piercing. Resolved cases following initial trial victories.
• Defended developer, majority owner and managers of senior living facilities in member oppression and wrongful termination suit. Successfully moved to dismiss wrongful termination claim. Subsequently resolved member oppression claim following aggressive litigation, counterclaim and motion strategy.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

Chambers and Partners Litigation: General Commercial (Band 3)

Michigan Super Lawyers for Business Litigation

Best Lawyers in America

America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators

Dbusiness 30 in their 30’s, 2010