 Thomas I. Sheridan, III
tsheridan@hanlyconroy.com
Phone: (212) 784-6404
Born New York, New York, January 10, 1952. Admitted to bar: 1977, New York; U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, 1978; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, 1986; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1982; U.S. Court of Appeal, Seventh Circuit, 2008, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 2009, U.S. Supreme Court, 1980. Education: St. Michael’s College (B.A., cum laude, 1973); Fordham University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1976). Fordham Law Review, Associate Editor. Law Clerk to Hon. Thomas J Meskill, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1976-1978. Adjunct Professor of Law, Products Liability, Fordham University School of Law, 1989. Member: New York City Bar Association; New York State Bar Association; Federal Bar Council; American Bar Association, American Association for Justice.
Mr. Sheridan has over three decades of experience trying cases and arguing appeals in the state and federal courts in New York. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in trials and appeals involving a wide range of cases, including securities, fraud, fiduciary duties, products liability, contracts, intellectual property, unfair competition, professional liability, insurance, real estate, and executive termination. Mr. Sheridan is known for his careful analysis and thorough preparation of the case, well-written motions and briefs, and superior trial and oral argument skills.
In addition to his trial and appellate practice, Mr. Sheridan has served as a mediator in numerous cases involving employment, contract, partnership, fiduciary duty, insurance, products liability, real estate, negotiable instruments and personal injury.
Mr. Sheridan has often served by appointment of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to represent appellants who do not have a lawyer but whose appeals are deemed meritorious by the court, including, for example, Spina v. Department of Homeland Security, 470 F.3d 116 (2d Cir. 2006).
Representative cases:
In investors rights and securities fraud cases, Mr. Sheridan has represented
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Venture capital investment funds prosecuting fraud and related claims arising from their investments in a medical device company. Easton Capital Management v. Rush, No. 09 Civ. 1307 (S.D.N.Y., currently pending). |
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Mutual fund investors in derivative and class action litigation against fund managers and advisors who illegally invested and lost tens of millions of dollars investing in off-shore Internet gambling companies, including, for example, Wodka v. Causeway Capital Management, No. 09-56733 (9th Cir., currently pending), and Hartsel v. Vanguard Group, C.S. No. 5394-VCN (Delaware Court of Chancery, currently pending). |
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An investor in a derivative action involving claims arising from a joint venture to finance Russian communications satellites. Reid v. Spazio, 970 A.2d 176 (Supreme Court of Delaware 2009) (en banc, currently pending). |
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Public companies that have been victimized by “death spiral” financing schemes, including, for example, ATSI Communications, Inc. v. Levinson, 493 F.3d 87 (2d Cir. 2007).
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Investors prosecuting claims for breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty in connection with a conspiracy to deprive them of their interest in a joint venture. Richbell Information Services, Inc. v. Jupiter Partners L.P., 309 A.D.2d 288, 765 N.Y.S.2d 575 (1st Dep’t 2003).
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An issuer of securities defending securities fraud class action litigation. In Re MTC Electronic Technologies Shareholder Litigation, 329 F.3d 297 (2d Cir. 2003). |
In business litigation matters, in addition to cases listed above, Mr. Sheridan has represented
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An automotive parts distributor prosecuting an action to enforce a non-competition agreement against a former executive. ATC Distribution in ATC Distribution Group, Inc. v. Conroy (Alabama Sup. Ct. 2007). |
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Merrill Lynch in Gillon v. Merrill Lynch Interfunding, Inc., 221 A.D.2d 234, 633 N.Y.S.2d 956 (1st Dep’t 1995), defending an action by a former CEO seeking damages and declaration of invalidity of a non-competition provision in a management contract and prosecuting counterclaims for breach of the non-competition clause, misappropriation of corporate opportunity, breach of management services agreement, fraud and mismanagement. |
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A famous New York City pizzeria in Patsy’s Brand, Inc. v. I.O.B. Realty, Inc., 317 F.3d 209 (2d Cir. 2003), in securing an appellate modification of an injunction in a trademark action. |
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The petitioning creditors in an involuntary bankruptcy proceeding that arose from a purchasers’ default under a stock sale agreement. In re Sutton, 99-10630/1 (S.D.N.Y.). |
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A corporation prosecuting fraud and related claims arising from the purchase of a corporate division. Thermo Electric Wire & Cable, LLC v. Thermo Electric Co, Inc., Docket No. L-8429-99 (N.J. Sup., Bergen Co.). |
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A medical equipment maintenance and repair services provider prosecuting an action against a competitor and former executive for breaches of contracts and fiduciary duties and for unfair competition. Serviscope Corporation v. Swissray International, Inc., Index No. 605091/97 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. Co.). |
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Anonymous parties prosecuting and defending False Claims Act (“whistleblower”) actions in New York, Texas and Virginia. |
In products liability matters:
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Mr. Sheridan is a member of the firm’s team of lawyers prosecuting class action litigation against Toyota Motor Corporation arising from sudden unintended acceleration.
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Mr. Sheridan is one of the firm’s four lawyers who represented Turner & Newall PLC in asbestos-related litigation. In Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. v. Turner & Newall PLC, 964 F.2d 159 (2d Cir. 1992), Mr. Sheridan secured a writ of mandamus to restrain the district judge, who had ordered the production of attorney–client privilege materials pursuant to an “attorneys-eyes-only” procedure. Mr. Sheridan was T&N’s lead trial counsel in. Turner & Newall PLC v. Canadian Universal Ins. Co., 87 Civ. 1027 (S.D.N.Y.). |
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Mr. Sheridan served as New York counsel to Glidden Company and SCM Corp. in their defense of lead paint litigation. |
In employment-related matters, in addition to cases listed above, Mr. Sheridan has represented
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An international securities firm defending claims for discrimination in federal court and for breach of contract before the New York Stock Exchange. Ferrand v. Credit Lyonnais, 110 Fed.Appx. 160 (2d Cir. 2004); Alban-Davies v. Credit Lyonnais Securities, 2002 WL 498630 (S.D.N.Y. 2002). |
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A printing company defending gender discrimination claims. Kalathakis v. Vanguard Group of Printing Companies, Inc., Index No. 2413/92 (N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. Co.). |
Publications and Presentations
“Disloyal Employees Risk All,” New York Law Journal, February 23, 2004.
“When Attorney–Client Privilege Fails to Shield,” New York Law Journal, June 23, 2003.
“The Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney–Client Privilege,” presented to MetLife, 2003.
Mr. Sheridan has three sons and resides in New York City with his wife Meg, a fund-raising professional who works with non-profit organizations.
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