Chelsea R. McLean

Trusts, Estates & Fiduciary Litigation

• Secured a favorable appellate reversal on behalf of a trust beneficiary in litigation alleging that a trustee breached fiduciary duties by making improper trust distributions. Successfully persuaded the Minnesota Court of Appeals to reverse and remand the district court's dismissal of the claims.
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of trust beneficiaries in Alaska state court litigation concerning whether ownership interests in a closely held business could be distributed to trust beneficiaries.
• Representing a trust beneficiary in ongoing Arizona state court litigation involving allegations of wrongful distributions totaling hundreds of millions of dollars from family trusts.
• Representing a trustee in ongoing Alaska state court litigation involving disputes among siblings concerning trust accountings and the administration of family trusts.
• Representing a trust beneficiary in ongoing Minnesota state court litigation involving disputes among siblings concerning delays in the administration of family trusts.
• Successfully defended a trustee and trust beneficiary against a petition seeking removal of the trustee in Minnesota state court. Obtained a favorable ruling requiring the opposing party to personally pay the client's attorneys' fees, which was affirmed by the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
• Representing a charitable organization in ongoing probate litigation involving disputed beneficiary designations.
• Obtained a favorable settlement in a contested probate proceeding involving disputed parentage and allegations of fraud.
• Obtained a favorable settlement in a contested probate proceeding involving allegations of undue influence concerning beneficiary designations on bank accounts.

Shareholder, Business Owner & Corporate Governance Disputes

• Secured a $54.6 million judgment on behalf of a shareholder in a closely held business in a shareholder oppression action. Following reversal by the Minnesota Court of Appeals, successfully represented the shareholder before the Minnesota Supreme Court, which reinstated the judgment.
• Defending shareholders and directors of a closely held business in ongoing Washington state court litigation involving shareholder oppression claims brought by a minority shareholder.
• Defending a shareholder and director of a closely held business in an ongoing shareholder oppression action brought by his father. Secured favorable rulings on multiple claims asserted against the client.
• Obtained decision from New York's First Department reversing a trial court's refusal to dismiss breach of fiduciary duty claims involving an investment company.

Government Enforcement, Regulatory & White Collar

• Represented a qui tam relator in health care fraud litigation that generated an $18.5 million recovery for the government.
• Represented a small business in an OFAC enforcement proceeding and secured a settlement of charges resulting in no fines.
• Advised domestic and foreign commodities firms regarding compliance with CFTC regulations and represented firms in CFTC enforcement actions.
• Advised foreign governments and domestic and foreign companies regarding compliance with U.S. economic sanctions laws.
• Advised a medical device distributor regarding a False Claims Act investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Commercial Litigation & Business Disputes

• Obtained dismissal of all antitrust claims asserted against a global commodities company in consolidated class action litigation in New York federal court, where plaintiffs sought billions of dollars in damages.
• Obtained dismissal of all claims asserted against a Big Four accounting firm in malpractice litigation brought in New York state court.
• On the eve of trial, successfully moved in limine to eliminate all damages sought from a Big Four accounting firm in a malpractice action brought in New York state court.
• Secured a favorable settlement for a water treatment company in New York federal court involving claims for wrongful termination of an exclusive distribution agreement.
• Secured a favorable settlement for a grocery supplier in litigation alleging tortious interference with another supplier's business.

Arbitration

• Obtained a favorable ruling for a respondent in an LCIA arbitration relating to a billion-dollar real estate dispute between Russian nationals.
• Obtained a favorable ruling for a respondent in an AAA arbitration relating to a commodity company's termination of an agreement based on force majeure, where the claimant sought hundreds of millions of dollars in damages.

Environmental & Industry-Specific Commercial Litigation

• Secured a favorable settlement for a textiles company following a New York federal court trial involving environmental indemnity claims worth hundreds of millions of dollars arising from the acquisition of numerous textile facilities.

Real Estate & Housing Litigation

• Successfully represented landlords in Minnesota housing court proceedings and negotiated favorable resolutions of landlord-tenant disputes.