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Independent counsel for complex commercial disputes, drawing on experience in private practice and corporate litigation management.
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J. Thomas Archer
Chicago, Illinois
J. Thomas Archer focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation. His professional experience spans law firm partnerships, national litigation leadership, and management of significant litigation and claims within a financial services company.
Before beginning independent practice in January 2022, Mr. Archer served as Vice President, Major Litigation/Claims at Fidelity National Financial, handling complex title and real estate litigation and claims. His earlier career includes partnerships at Gallop Johnson & Neuman, Holland & Knight, and Bryan Cave.
At Bryan Cave, he served on the firm’s Executive Committee and led its Commercial Litigation Client Service Group, with responsibility for the national and transnational client service of a 235-attorney litigation group. At Holland & Knight, he served as national coordinating counsel for complex litigation for an international hospitality company.
His experience includes the prosecution and defense of claims for public and private clients. His representative engagements encompass antitrust litigation, commercial real estate and title disputes, hospitality management agreements, securities litigation, regulatory investigations, and appellate proceedings.
Experience
Independent Practice
Attorney-at-Law
Fidelity National Financial
Vice President, Major Litigation/Claims
Gallop Johnson & Neuman
Partner, Complex Commercial Litigation
Holland & Knight LLP
Partner, Complex Commercial Litigation
Bryan Cave LLP
Partner, Complex Commercial Litigation
Executive Committee and Commercial Litigation Client Service Group leader, September 2000–May 2002.
Representative matters
Selected engagements from Mr. Archer’s professional experience, including work in prior roles.
Title & real estate litigation
Directed defense of title litigation concerning the application of the “first spade” rule to an unmarketability-of-title claim. Defense of related federal and state Southern California real estate fraud litigation involving allegedly fabricated short-sale payoff demands, double-pledging, and alleged Ponzi schemes.
Escrow & fiduciary claims
Directed defense of escrow and fiduciary negligence allegations involving the failure to perfect security interests in a tax-increment-financed mixed-use real estate development and a bankrupt manufacturing concern.
Hospitality management disputes
Defended an international branded hospitality company against claims by ownership real estate investment trusts alleging breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and breach of contract arising from hotel operations. Represented an international branded hospitality company in management-agreement termination and delayed-opening litigation involving design and construction.
Antitrust litigation & counseling
Defended claims of monopolization and unlawful attempted monopolization. Retained by an independent directors committee of a public food services company to assess Robinson-Patman Act claims and exposure.
Securities & investment disputes
Defended an international bank and trust company in transnational, federal, and state securities suits and claims arising from the liquidation of a Caribbean hedge fund-of-funds.
Regulatory investigations
Defended a senior corporate executive of an international investment company complex in regulatory investigations concerning soft-dollar and revenue-sharing issues under federal investment company and investment adviser laws.
Appellate proceedings
Experience includes appeals in the Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals; the Washington, Nevada, and California Supreme Courts; the California Court of Appeal; and the Missouri Court of Appeals.
These descriptions do not identify clients or promise an outcome. Each matter depends on its facts and applicable law.
University of Illinois
Urbana-Champaign
Juris Doctor, 1979
A.B., Political Science, Highest Distinction, 1976
Bar admissions
Admitted and active in Illinois, Missouri, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and New York.
Also admitted to practice in various United States District Courts.
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