JBazis@GreeneEspel.comDownload vCard
Education
- J.D., University of Minnesota School of Law, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif (1992); Editor, Journal of Law & Inequality
- Temple University, B.B.A., summa cum laude, Economics (1988)
Experience
- Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, Los Angeles, California, Associate (1994-1997)
- United States District Court, District of Minnesota, The Honorable James M. Rosenbaum, Law Clerk (1992-1994)
Jeanette Bazis practices in complex business litigation, intellectual property, employment disputes, and internal investigations. Jeanette merged her business litigation and intellectual property skills to return the 1960's smash rock hit, Louie Louie, to its proper home. She represented the performers, helping them recapture ownership of their master recordings.
Jeanette routinely litigates cases in the fields of business torts; closely-held business disputes; securities fraud; trade secrets; trademark and copyright; patent and patent ownership disputes; contractual disputes; non-disclosure and non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants; executive severance; and the whole range of employment disputes including discrimination and whistleblower/reprisal claims.
Jeanette’s clerkship with recently-retired Judge James Rosenbaum of the United States District Court of the District of Minnesota and her service on the Federal Practice Committee and the Federal Bar Association have given her particular insight on the workings of the federal court.
REPRESENTATIVE CASES
Business Litigation
Represented securities lending participants in a federal action to rescind the defendant bank’s investment of participants’ cash collateral in an unsuitable structure investment vehicle.
Defended numerous public companies from securities fraud claims.
Brought an action on behalf of a satellite communications service provider in connection with breach of an exclusive distribution agreement for a Department of Defense contract.
Defended former minority shareholders of a corporation against attempts by the corporation to pierce the corporate veil to recover $20-plus million in environmental remediation costs. Achieved outright dismissal of claims by the plaintiff in the midst of discovery.
Routinely represent clients in closely held business disputes. For instance:
• Brought a successful action against our client’s joint venture partner for financial improprieties, recovering millions of dollars for the client on the eve of trial.
• Successfully defended privately-held parent company in a lawsuit charging the management of a wholly-owned subsidiary with engaging in a fraudulent management buyout.
• Represented a former law firm partner in connection with his severance and recovery of his share of the firm’s contingency fees.
Obtained a $1.3 million jury verdict as trial co-counsel in an action to recover under a theft insurance policy following embezzlement by the client top executive.
Represented a public utility in an action again dozens of insurers to recover over $100 million under commercial general liability policies for environmental investigation and remediation costs. After several trial days, the defendant insurers settled with our client.
Represented a publicly held technology company in a successful effort to avoid delisting by NASDAQ.
Assist both public and private companies in internal investigations and lawsuits addressing financial improprieties by executives and employees.
Represent victims of Ponzi schemes to recover lost funds and lost investments.
Employment
Represent clients in actions before administrative agencies, state and federal courts and FINRA involving non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information, wrongful termination, and other employment disputes. Represent employers in a wide range of discrimination lawsuits, and wage and hour disputes. Also represent clients in executive compensation and severance disputes. Conduct workplace investigations.
Intellectual Property
Initiate and defend lawsuits to protect clients’ rights in their trademarks, trade dress and copyrights.
Represents clients in disputes over patents and patent ownership.
Successfully represented a national affinity marketing corporation in a dispute with a competitor over their respective trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets, reaching a business resolution early in the case after an informal exchange of information.
Hubbard Feeds, Inc. v. Animal Feed Supplement, Inc., 182 F.3d 598 (8th Cir. 1999). Successful defense of trademark infringement action brought by international animal feed company against manufacturer of animal feed supplement. Awarded summary judgment by federal court dismissing all trademark-related claims.
Peterson v. Highland Music, Inc., 140 F.3d 1313 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, Gusto Records, Inc. v. Peterson, 525 U.S. 983 (1998). At summary judgment stage, and on appeal, successfully represented the performers of the popular "oldies" song, “Louie Louie,” enabling them to recapture ownership of their master recordings because of nonpayment of royalties.
Represented an ousted LLC member in an action to pursue his ownership rights in a patent. After the first day of trial, the former co-member defendant signed over all ownership rights in the patent to our client.
BAR ADMISSIONS
State of Minnesota
State of California
U.S. District Court, Central and Eastern Districts of California
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth and Eighth Circuits
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Federal Practice Committee, U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
Member (2008-2011)
Federal Bar Association
Board of Directors, Minnesota Chapter (2004-Present)
Executive Committee, Minnesota Chapter (2004-Present)
FBA Foundation Board of Directors (2007-Present)
FBA Fellow (2007-Present)
Eighth Circuit Vice President, FBA (2006-2008)
FBA IP Litigation Section, Planning Committee (2005-2007)
Minnesota State Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, Governing Council
Member 2010--present
Minnesota Supreme Court Civil Justice Reform Task Force, Member (2011)
Infinity Project
President-Elect (2012)
Board Member (2009-present)
Minnesota Women Lawyers
MWL President's Leadership Circle (2009-present)
American Bar Association
Section of Litigation, Section of Intellectual Property
Hennepin County Bar Association
U.S. Magistrate Merit Selection Panel, Chair (2007-2008)
Eighth Circuit Judicial Conference Planning Committee (2007-2008)
AWARDS AND OTHER RECOGNITION
Super Lawyer
Named "Super Lawyer," Minnesota Super Lawyers, (2008-2011)
Named as one of the "Top 100 Women Super Lawyers," Minnesota Journal of Law and Politics, 2008 and 2009
Named as "Business Litigation Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers Corporate Counsel Edition (2009, 2010)
Named as a "Rising Star," Minnesota Journal of Law and Politics (1998-2004)
PUBLICATIONS
"Remedies and Roadblocks in the Recovery of Unpaid Music Royalties," Entertainment and Sports Lawyer, Volume 17, Number 4 (Winter 2000)