Rick Anigian concentrates his practice on a wide variety of complex commercial disputes in federal and state courts, as well as arbitral proceedings. Rick has extensive experience in commercial and financial transactions litigation, real estate and oil and gas disputes, has handled complex disputes among partners and business owners, as well as a wide range of business torts litigation. Rick also has significant experience in the area of technology litigation, including theft of trade secrets, non-competition disputes, patent infringement, copyright and trademark disputes, and counterfeit goods disputes.
Rick is the Chair of our International Litigation Practice Group. He has written and contributed several papers on litigation including articles involving trade secrets, business torts, attorney-client and other privileges, litigation with financial institutions and reclamation of goods under the uniform commercial code and the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. He also serves as editor of Haynes and Boone's Texas Business Torts Litigation Handbook. Rick has passed all sections of the examination to become a Certified Public Accountant.
His recent litigation matters include the following:
- Defended major lender in multi-billion dollar lender liability and business torts action involving multiple billion dollar syndicated credit facilities;
- Defended start-up company and its founder involving claims of theft of trade secrets and violation of non-competition agreements;
- Defended various patent and trademark infringement cases involving treadmills and other exercise equipment;
- Defended and prosecuted breach of contract and breach of warranty claims involving software licenses and consulting services;
- Defended breach of warranty and deceptive trade practices class action dispute involving notebook computers;
- Represented an Asian computer manufacturer in multiple disputes involving product warranties, business torts and deceptive trade practice claims.
- Defended national real estate developer in dispute with partner involving the development of a regional shopping mall;
- Handled multi-jurisdictional disputes involving claims of breach of warranty, deceptive trade practices and other business torts;
- Defended partnership and its founding partners in dispute with minority partner involving fiduciary duty and fraud claims;
- Represented U.S. manufacturer in dispute with Australian dealer regarding termination of dealership; and
- Prosecuted and defended numerous financial institutions in claims involving loans and other credit facilities.
Professional Recognition
- Recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer - Business Litigation (2005, 2007-2012) Intellectual Property Litigation (2012)
- Recognized in Best Lawyers in America - Commercial Litigation (2012-2013)
- Martindale Hubbell® Law Directory with a Peer Review Rating of AV® Preeminent™
Selected Representative Experience
Public Foreclosure Sale Litigation
Representing buyer of property sold at a public foreclosure sale to uphold the buyer's winning bid.
Forcible Entry and Detainer Action
Representing commercial property owner in forcible entry and detainer action.
Post-Judgment Collection
Pursued post-judgment collection against a judgment debtor on behalf of a wholesale distributor of construction materials.
Anland North, L.P., Anland North Commercial, L.P., Anland 10, L.P., and Anland South, L.P. v. Center Operating Company; No. 05-120-00128-CV; Dallas Court of Appeals; appeal from 101st District Court, Dallas, TX
Reversed temporary injunction on ground that agreements concerning parking lot rights were not enforceable as a matter of law, after court of appeals' ruling, opponent dismissed its suit.
Cushman & Wakefield of Texas, Inc. v. Farmers Branch Group, LLC; No. 07-13362 (116th Dist. Ct., Dallas County, Texas, June 2009)
Obtained a complete summary judgment awarding a full-service commercial real estate firm all damages, attorney’s fees, costs, and interest resulting from an unpaid commission owed by the former owner of an office building.
Adelphia
Represented Bank of America, as agent for $2.5 billion credit facility owed by various Adelphia entities, in Adelphia’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy case. Successfully obtained payment in cash in full for clients when cable operations were sold to Time Warner and Comcast. Continue to represent Bank in related litigation.
Adelphia Communications v. Bank of America, 1:03-md-01529-LMM (S.D.N.Y.)
Represented one of the nation's largest lending institutions in a $10 billion adversary proceeding stemming from the Adelphia Communications Corporation bankruptcy, including handling multiple appeals to the Southern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Debt Restructure and Collections
Represented Southwest Savings Association, Bonnet Resources, Amresco, and Sunbelt Savings Association in connection with the collection of hundreds of loans including, real property foreclosures, personal property foreclosures, litigation, demands for payment, restructurings, and bankruptcies. These loans covered all industries and involved many novel factual and legal issues.
Bankruptcy Case - Major Financial Institution
Represented a major financial institution as the administrative agent for multi-billion dollar credit facility in the Adelphia bankruptcy case. The case involved significant litigation against the bank group for which Bank of America serves as administrative agent. The litigation is ongoing.