Business Litigation
Ifrah Law is known for providing the expertise and experience that high-profile clients expect from big firms, along with the benefits of direct, speedy attorney access and cost efficiency that can only be provided by boutique firms. We have successfully represented clients in commercial litigation matters on issues ranging from breach of contract, copyright and trademark, data security and cybersecurity, employment law and licensing, corporate governance disputes, commercial fraud and alter ego, to name a few.
Since the firm’s inception, Jeff Ifrah and his team have received accolades from clients and peers alike for their innovative approach and successful results across the industries of digital media, online entertainment, interactive sports and gaming, in addition to healthcare and pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, financial services and payment processing, and government contracting.
Trained at the nation’s top law firms and at the highest levels of government and regulatory agencies, our lawyers are consistently recognized as litigation leaders in media outlets like the National Law Journal and ranking directories like Chambers USA. We have tried federal cases across key federal agencies – FTC, CFTC, DOJ, EPA, FDA, FERC, as well as numerous U.S. Attorney’s Offices, District Attorney’s Offices, and state regulatory agencies throughout the country.
In addition to counseling our clients through the challenges of a complex commercial litigation, Ifrah Law also provides integral guidance on post litigation strategy including enforcement and collection. Partner George Calhoun, Chair of our Financial Services practice, brings decades of experience in insolvency and creditor’s rights law to our team, enhancing our ability to advise clients not only on the likelihood of judicial success but the viability of collecting on claims, either domestically or in an international context.
Litigation Forum: Litigation vs. ADR – Practical Issues From Drafting to Enforcement
Association of Corporate Counsel, National Capitol Region
Read moreZealous Counsel or Unethical Social Media Maven – How Far Can a Lawyer Go?
Domain Name Seizures: A Primer on the Government’s Hot New Weapon Against Internet Businesses
Trash Talk? Viral Leaks? What to do When Employees and the Public Take to the Internet Town Square
Applying the Patriot Act to Real Estate Transactions and Investments
Defending a Healthcare Provider Against Claims of Fraud
Our client, a prominent anesthesiologist, employed a medical services billing specialist to submit insurance claims for his practice and surgery center. The terms of the specialist’s contract stated that she would receive 18% of each claim she filed using a specific step-by-step submission and follow-up process.
After the billing specialist was terminated for not following the established submission procedures, she sued the doctor to retain her full commission on outstanding claims she had worked on prior to her dismissal, including those that hadn’t yet been paid. In addition to this contract dispute, she also accused our client and his surgery center of fraud, alleging that they funneled money into a “secret account” to avoid paying her commission under the contract.
Although there was very little basis for the fraud claim, the court allowed it to move forward. Jeff understood the importance of attempting a settlement on the contract claim, so he analyzed the agreement and claims reports and devised a methodology for valuing the claim. When the plaintiff refused to settle, Jeff and the client pursued mediation with confidence, understanding both the fair value of the case and specific details of the parties’ contract. During mediation, the plaintiff’s side raised several arguments that demonstrated their lack of familiarity with the contract. Jeff’s thorough understanding of certain provisions allowed the defendant to quickly address and dismiss the arguments. As a result, the plaintiff ended up settling for much less than she originally claimed.
While the settlement terms are confidential, our client was thrilled with the final result, not only with the amount and the dismissal of the fraud claims, but also in terms of how well the matter was handled.
The Blacklisting Rules Are Coming: What Federal Contractors Need to Know
The Federal Acquisition Regulation final rule implementing the “Fair Play and Safe Workplaces” Executive Order 13673 was issued on August 25, 2016, and the rule goes into effect on October 25, 2016. This new regulation presents a significant change – and potential challenge – for major government contractors. President Obama signed Executive Order 13673, often… Read More
A Bank is a Bank
Do you remember when I wrote about how a federal district court had ruled that an online poker account was akin to a bank account and should therefore be subject to FBAR reporting? It seemed nonsense to me at the time—and I also worried about whether the court’s expanded definition of a “financial institution” would… Read More
This Man Is Dodging Wall St.
Rather than confront accusations of baseless zeal and prosecutorial overreach, New York federal prosecutor Preet Bharara would rather spend his energy dodging accountability. In 2010, Bharara launched a crusade against Wall Street, prosecuting several hedge funds he suspected of insider trading. Highly publicized raids followed. In the wake of the financial meltdown, Bharara was hailed… Read More
Data Breach Lawsuits: Challenges Persist After Spokeo v. Robins
Data breaches are as common as the common cold—unfortunately, just as incurable. Run a news search on “data breaches” and you’ll find that all kinds of institutions—major retailers, tech companies, universities, even government agencies—have been vulnerable at some point. Now run a search on “data breaches,” but include the word “lawsuit.” You’ll find that many… Read More
Arbitration Under Fire: Brace Your Company for Less Contract Freedom and More Class Actions
Since the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) of 1925, the United States has had a policy preference for arbitration, even when an arbitration provision includes language barring class action litigation. We saw this most recently in December 2015 when the Supreme Court reversed a decision by a California Court of Appeal to invalidate a class-arbitration waiver… Read More
Halting Business And Seizing A Domain Without A Moment’s Notice
Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons- Uploaded by NativeForeigner Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas proves to be one of the more interesting conventions to attend. 2016 did not disappoint: companies showed off cool innovations in displays, robotics, and integrated smart technology across the consumer products platform. Adding to the excitement at this year’s… Read More
FAIL: For-Profit Education Sector Dealt Major Blow
For-profit education was dealt a major blow in a federal court case challenging the Department of Education’s Gainful Employment Rule. U.S. District Court Judge Lewis Kaplan of New York dismissed a lawsuit that was filed last November by the Association of Proprietary Colleges. The lawsuit is one of two filed in federal court shortly… Read More
Telemarketing Tips: What We Can Learn From Caribbean Cruise Lines’ Excursion With The FTC
The FTC’s “Do Not Call” and “robocall” rules do not apply to political survey calls. So, if Hillary Clinton sought to “voice blast” a survey about international issues, she could do so without violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule (“TSR”). (Though under FCC rules she would have an issue calling wireless numbers). However, companies may… Read More
TCPA Not Violated When Consumer Voluntarily Provided Number to Business
A federal court in California recently ruled that a plaintiff who was required to enter her phone number to purchase a plane ticket online had consented to receive a text message, and dismissed her claim under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). A plaintiff’s prior express consent is a major issue in TCPA litigation and… Read More
