Bernard J. Fuhs

About Bernard J. Fuhs

Mr. Fuhs is a nationally recognized emergency litigator and expert on non-compete and trade secret matters, having litigated and/or counseled clients on such matters in all 50 states and presented to many national and local business and/or legal organizations regarding the same. He also specializes in franchise litigation and serves as Chair of Butzel Long\'s Franchise Specialty Team. He has significant experience in minority shareholder oppression disputes, financial services industry disputes (including proceedings with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority FINRA)), real estate, sales representative matters and cannabis law (licensing and appeals). Mr. Fuhs also advises start-up and closely held businesses, as well as sports and fitness industry members.Mr. Fuhs is a Vice President of Butzel Long and serves on the firm\'s Board of Directors. Selected as a Business Litigation, Trade Secret and Franchise Top Lawyer by DBusiness Magazine. Selected as a Michigan Super Lawyer (an award recognizing no more than 2.5% of lawyers in Michigan)Named to Crain\'s Detroit Business\' Class of \"40 under 40,\" which honors \"the best and brightest in Southeast Michigan who have made their marks in business before age 40.\" Named to L. Brooks Patterson\'s Elite 40 Under 40 Class, which includes young thought leaders and trailblazers who live or work in Oakland County and are under the age of 40.

Experience

1. Director VP and Managing Shareholder (Detroit Office)

   Butzel

   May 2005 — Present · Detroit, MI, US

   Successfully defended a publicly-traded electronics corporation on a breach of contract action brought by a New York based private equity firmOn behalf of a leading global franchisor engaged in the moving industry, successfully obtained numerous injunctions against former franchisees prohibiting them from operating a moving company within the restricted territory and from otherwise violating their obligations under the Franchise AgreementSuccessfully represented numerous minority shareholders in a shareholder oppression cases under MCL 45•••41 (the Michigan Business Corporation Act), including results exceeding for clients.On behalf of a 40-year old Michigan-based company that specializes in premium metalworking fluids, industrial cleaners and corrosion management solutions, successfully obtained a judgment against a former consultant and his US and Canadian entities in Oakland County Circuit Court relative to claims for breach of contract, tortious interference action and unfair competition Represented a distributor and marketer of engine oils against a multi-million dollar trademark lawsuit brought by a prominent petroleum and natural gas industry trade association. Successfully negotiated dismissal of client from lawsuit thereby saving the company, as well as the individually named corporate officers, from a potential multi-million dollar judgment Successfully represented a structured products hedge fund in claims against a global European bank and its US broker-dealer affiliate arising out of the bank’s refusal to complete and underwrite a contracted $1 billion ABS CDO^2 once it saw that the RMBS market began to deteriorate in mid-2007 Represent corporate investors, including a Panamanian bank, sued by the foreign representatives overseeing the liquidation of one of the main feeder funds to the Ponzi scheme associated with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities, LLC

Education

• University of Detroit Mercy

  Bachelor of Science, Accounting and Finance

  1999 — 2003

• University of Detroit Mercy School of Law

  Juris Doctorate, Law

  2003 — 2006

Skills

• Complex Litigation
• Franchise Agreements
• Public Speaking
• Trade Secret Litigation
• Contract Disputes
• Dispute Resolution
• Commercial Litigation
• Breach of Contract
• Arbitration
• Litigation
• Trade Secrets
• General Business Litigation
• Restrictive Covenants
• Non-Compete Agreements