T. Michael Guiffre
Overview
T. Michael Guiffre is a skilled trial lawyer and litigator with more than 25 years of global disputes experience. Michael has served as lead counsel in international and domestic arbitrations and federal and state court litigation throughout the United States. He is a partner in the International Dispute Resolution Group.
Career & Education
- Department of Defense
Judge Advocate/Captain, U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps, 1993–1999
- Department of Defense
- New Mexico State University, B.A., 1990
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1993
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Virginia
- Maryland
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court of New Mexico
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- New Mexico (Inactive)
Michael's Insights
Webinar | 01.23.25
Trump Administration and What it Means for Businesses Outside the US
On 23 January 2025 at 16:00 CET, Crowell will host a webinar on the new Trump Administration and what it means for businesses outside the US. It will focus, in particular, on the Trump Administration’s policy objectives, how they will be implemented, and the legal and real-world impacts. By the date of the webinar, the new Trump Administration is expected to have issued its first Executive Orders, and there will be more clarity on their scope and content.
Publication | 10.10.24
Speaking Engagement | 03.12.24
“The Development of Investor-State Arbitration-the North American experience under NAFTA compared to India's-parallels and divergences," Indian Society for International Law, New Delhi, India
Publication | 11.15.23
Representative Matters
- Secured reversal of a $1.3 billion judgment confirming an international arbitral award against India’s wholly owned space and satellite company, Antrix Corp. Ltd.
- Extensive experience representing a Middle East airline and airport with respect to construction arbitration, aeropolitical matters, and investor-state disputes.
- ICC arbitration of multibillion dollar dispute concerning breach of contract and negligence in airport infrastructure project.
- Represented an investor in a multibillion dollar investor-state dispute against the Independent State of Papua New Guinea for obstructing a construction and timber rights project.
- Secured dismissal of Anti-Terrorism Act claims against a Middle Eastern bank.
- Following a two-week arbitration, secured global IP licensing rights, a US$12 million royalty payment, and other relief in a complicated patent and biotechnology dispute.
- Obtained summary judgment for a government software services provider defending an US$18 million claim involving disputed RFP terms, multiple bid protests, an ASBCA termination for convenience claim, and allegations of tortious interference and conspiracy.
- Secured a US$4.4 million arbitration award against a competitor of an electronic recycler company for malicious prosecution of a lawsuit alleging US$25 million in damages based on knowingly unsupportable RICO, fraud, and breach claims. Obtained sanctions against opposing counsel exceeding US$350,000.
- After a week-long arbitration, secured a US$3 million award against a wind tower supplier for manufacturing defects and delays, recovered wind towers worth approximately US$5 million, and defeated a US$6.6 million counterclaim.
- Successfully defended a US$140 million lawsuit alleging that a research and development company had unlawfully converted sulfur removal technology. After a two-week trial, the court denied the plaintiff’s claims of theft of a corporate opportunity, breach of contract, fraud, and civil conspiracy.
- Successfully obtained dismissal of multibillion dollar Chapter 11 cases in favor of insolvency proceedings initiated in The Bahamas. Successfully defended multiple related lawsuits and construction claims.
- Obtained over US$500,000 in sanctions against the plaintiff and its counsel in a federal jury trial based on an alleged breach of a professional services contract.
- In a month-long trial, successfully defended the General Services Administration (GSA) against claims that it improperly took more than US$300 million in volume discounts under the Federal Telecommunications Service contract.
- Obtained summary judgment against a former governor and White House Chief of Staff who alleged a major airline had committed breaches of contract and fraud in connection with renegotiated aircraft leases.
- Conducted a jury trial in the “Rocket Docket” (E.D.Va.) concerning breaches of a military transportation contract in Afghanistan, mitigating damages alleged by the opposing party.
- Obtained a US$2.1 million judgment against a foreign embassy’s former counsel who embezzled the embassy’s funds.
- After 10 days of testimony on a TRO/preliminary injunction, succeeded in dismissing claims to expel more than 20 priests, deacons, and parishioners from an Ethiopian church, leading to a tripling of the church’s parishioners. Subsequently obtained dismissal of a related federal lawsuit based on constitutional grounds and the plaintiffs’ failure to allege RICO claims.
- Obtained favorable settlement defending intellectual property and executive compensation indemnification claims valued in excess of US$30 million.
- Secured a trial verdict for predatory lending.
- During jury deliberations, negotiated a favorable settlement for the plaintiff, a government contractor whose former employees started a competing business.
- Negotiated a multimillion dollar settlement against the U.S. government to recover costs of remediating organochlorine pesticides at the former Naval Air Station Alameda.
- Successfully defended multiple agency-level and judicial bid protests against the awardee of a US$126 million construction contract based on alleged investment activities in Iran.
- Obtained a declaratory judgment within two weeks of instituting a suit against the government for wrongfully proceeding with contract performance while a bid protest was pending.
- Represented a public company in its voluntary disclosure of billing irregularities to the Department of Defense Inspector General. Successfully negotiated a compliance agreement precluding disbarment from government contracting.
- Persuaded the Air Force to set aside a termination for default in a bet-the-company appeal and secured a major award against the company’s subcontractor for breach of contract.
- Successfully prosecuted a TRO action blocking a prime contractor in Afghanistan from usurping a subcontractor’s essential personnel.
- Conducted an internal investigation for a major oilfield services provider and negotiated a favorable confirmatory order with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission resulting from displaced radioactive material.
- Persuaded the Department of Justice not to intervene in a False Claims Act case alleging delivery of nonconforming encrypted communications equipment, after which the qui tam plaintiff voluntarily dismissed his retaliation claims.
- Obtained summary judgment for a former White House Special Counsel in a defamation lawsuit concerning "Travelgate" and "Filegate."
- Negotiated a favorable settlement for a major insurance broker in connection with an investigation by the D.C. Attorney General of alleged antitrust and other violations.
- Negotiated a favorable settlement in a novel insurance coverage claim based on reduced convention attendance due to the H1N1 virus.
- Successfully defended a company against its former CEO’s claims for wrongful termination based on misappropriation of company assets.
Michael's Insights
Webinar | 01.23.25
Trump Administration and What it Means for Businesses Outside the US
On 23 January 2025 at 16:00 CET, Crowell will host a webinar on the new Trump Administration and what it means for businesses outside the US. It will focus, in particular, on the Trump Administration’s policy objectives, how they will be implemented, and the legal and real-world impacts. By the date of the webinar, the new Trump Administration is expected to have issued its first Executive Orders, and there will be more clarity on their scope and content.
Publication | 10.10.24
Speaking Engagement | 03.12.24
“The Development of Investor-State Arbitration-the North American experience under NAFTA compared to India's-parallels and divergences," Indian Society for International Law, New Delhi, India
Publication | 11.15.23
Insights
Speaking Engagement | 03.12.24
“The Development of Investor-State Arbitration-the North American experience under NAFTA compared to India's-parallels and divergences," Indian Society for International Law, New Delhi, India
|03.12.24
Michael's Insights
Webinar | 01.23.25
Trump Administration and What it Means for Businesses Outside the US
On 23 January 2025 at 16:00 CET, Crowell will host a webinar on the new Trump Administration and what it means for businesses outside the US. It will focus, in particular, on the Trump Administration’s policy objectives, how they will be implemented, and the legal and real-world impacts. By the date of the webinar, the new Trump Administration is expected to have issued its first Executive Orders, and there will be more clarity on their scope and content.
Publication | 10.10.24
Speaking Engagement | 03.12.24
“The Development of Investor-State Arbitration-the North American experience under NAFTA compared to India's-parallels and divergences," Indian Society for International Law, New Delhi, India
Publication | 11.15.23
