The cannabis industry presents unprecedented opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs. Yet, entities looking to engage in this emerging industry face daunting levels of legal complexity and uncertainty. Moreover, state and local governments are constantly tasked with regulating an ever-evolving industry. Dykema's Cannabis Law Blog discusses important cannabis-related legal developments, reviews the practical implications of those developments, and provides valuable insight for anyone...
Practice Expertise
- Antitrust & Trade Regulation
- Appellate
- Business & Commercial
- Class Action Defense
Areas of Practice
- Antitrust & Trade Regulation
- Appellate
- Business & Commercial
- Class Action Defense
- Appellate and Complex Motion Practice
- Consumer Financial Services
- Financial Services Litigation
- Financial Services Litigation - Consumer
- Food & Beverage
- Government Reorganization and Restructuring
- Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property & Intellectual ...
- Litigation
- Product Liability View More
WSG Practice Industries
Dispute Resolution
Corporate & Business
Retail & Distribution
Financial Services
Government & Public Sector
Intellectual Property
Technology
Taxation
Hospitality, Media & Leisure
Industrial & Manufacturing View More
WSG Leadership
- WSG Coronavirus Task Force Group - Member
Profile
Mr. Gale's practice focuses on litigation matters, with an emphasis on complex commercial disputes, financial services litigation and class action defense. He has tried cases before state and federal courts and arbitrators, on matters related to contracts, dealer termination, real estate, intellectual property, unfair competition, antitrust, mass torts, securities fraud, and bankruptcy. His experience includes all aspects, from extraordinary preliminary relief through discovery, trial and appeal.
Mr. Gale originally joined the firm in February 2006, but left to serve as Division Counsel, Commercial Litigation at Abbott Laboratories from March 2011 to November 2012. Before joining Dykema, Mr. Gale practiced his entire career in an AmLaw 100 firm in Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
Bar Admissions
Illinois
California
District of Columbia
Michigan
Education
University of Notre Dame School of Law, J.D., Law Review Michigan State University, B.A.
Areas of Practice
- Antitrust & Trade Regulation
- Appellate
- Business & Commercial
- Class Action Defense
- Appellate and Complex Motion Practice
- Consumer Financial Services
- Financial Services Litigation
- Financial Services Litigation - Consumer
- Food & Beverage
- Government Reorganization and Restructuring
- Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property & Intellectual Property Litigation
- Litigation
- Product Liability
Professional Career
Significant Accomplishments
Lead trial counsel in litigation filed in bankruptcy of major airline to bar enforcement of cross-default provision in lease at hub airport. Over $600 million in debt at issue. Cross-default ruled unenforceable.
Lead counsel in a series of lawsuits filed in bankruptcy of major airline seeking clarification that repayment of certain bond obligations cannot be "rent" pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code. Over $500 million in debt at issue. Summary judgment awarded to client in three of four cases, and to opponents in fourth case. Judgments upheld on appeal.
Lead counsel for investigation of residential foreclosure business practices of Top Ten mortgage servicer. Managed large team of attorneys to gather salient facts, identify legal standards, and develop recommendations regarding remediation and best practices in all United States jurisdictions.
Lead counsel defending putative class action challenging appraisal practices under TILA, RESPA, and New York and California state law. Case dismissed. Cedeno v. Indymac Bancorp, Inc., et al., 2008 WL 3992304 (S.D.N.Y)
Represented cigarette manufacturer in smoking and health litigation, focused primarily on cases brought by third parties paying for the health care of groups that include smokers. Concentration on scientific issues, particularly pharmacology and smoker behavior. Participated in jury trails brought by state attorney general (settled before verdict) and by a class of union health and welfare funds (defense verdict).
Represented several automotive manufacturers in personal injury matters alleging defects in design and/or manufacturing.
Trial counsel for credit card servicing arm of large bank in copyright infringement litigation related to software to manage collection actions. Won summary judgment on all counts, together with fees, costs, and $35,000 in monetary sanctions against opposing counsel. Argued appeal to United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; trial court judgment upheld in full.
Trial counsel for defendant retailer/maintainer of storage disks for mainframe computers in Kodak aftermarket monopolization action (Sherman Act, section 2). At trial, Plaintiff sought $78 million after trebling. Following a three month trail, jury deliberated for two days and returned a defense verdict.
Represented plaintiff corporations in securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duties suit against major defense contractor and its directors. One of two trial counsel. Clients awarded $30 million after twelve day jury trail.
Lead trial counsel in litigation filed in bankruptcy of major airline to bar enforcement of cross-default provision in lease at hub airport. Over $600 million in debt at issue. Cross-default ruled unenforceable.
Lead counsel in a series of lawsuits filed in bankruptcy of major airline seeking clarification that repayment of certain bond obligations cannot be "rent" pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code. Over $500 million in debt at issue. Summary judgment awarded to client in three of four cases, and to opponents in fourth case. Judgments upheld on appeal.
Lead counsel for investigation of residential foreclosure business practices of Top Ten mortgage servicer. Managed large team of attorneys to gather salient facts, identify legal standards, and develop recommendations regarding remediation and best practices in all United States jurisdictions.
Lead counsel defending putative class action challenging appraisal practices under TILA, RESPA, and New York and California state law. Case dismissed. Cedeno v. Indymac Bancorp, Inc., et al., 2008 WL 3992304 (S.D.N.Y)
Represented cigarette manufacturer in smoking and health litigation, focused primarily on cases brought by third parties paying for the health care of groups that include smokers. Concentration on scientific issues, particularly pharmacology and smoker behavior. Participated in jury trails brought by state attorney general (settled before verdict) and by a class of union health and welfare funds (defense verdict).
Represented several automotive manufacturers in personal injury matters alleging defects in design and/or manufacturing.
Trial counsel for credit card servicing arm of large bank in copyright infringement litigation related to software to manage collection actions. Won summary judgment on all counts, together with fees, costs, and $35,000 in monetary sanctions against opposing counsel. Argued appeal to United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit; trial court judgment upheld in full.
Trial counsel for defendant retailer/maintainer of storage disks for mainframe computers in Kodak aftermarket monopolization action (Sherman Act, section 2). At trial, Plaintiff sought $78 million after trebling. Following a three month trail, jury deliberated for two days and returned a defense verdict.
Represented plaintiff corporations in securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duties suit against major defense contractor and its directors. One of two trial counsel. Clients awarded $30 million after twelve day jury trail.
Articles
Blogs
Insurance Coverage Notes and Developments
Insurance Coverage Notes and Developments provides legal insight on topics of special interest to insurance industry professionals. Covering a wide range of industries, Dykema's Insurance Coverage Notes and Developments blog provides brief but substantive alerts, including updates and analysis on significant developments and trends in the insurance industry.
The Firewall
The Firewall keeps you up to date on the hottest legal topics in the ever-changing world of data security and privacy. As information security becomes a critical facet of all businesses and industries and the target of many regulators, it is important to stay apprised of new legal developments. The Firewall provides insightful legal analysis of the emerging issues in data privacy and cybersecurity law to help businesses stay ahead of the curve.
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