J. Stephen McAuliffe, III

Successfully represented the head of the international arbitration practice of a major law firm in a domestic case in Maryland. We obtained a favorable ruling for our client upholding the validity of a Postnuptial Agreement (the “Agreement”) and requiring his spouse, who challenged the validity of the Agreement, to pay over four hundred thousand dollars of the attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by our client in successfully defeating the challenge to the validity of the Agreement.

Successfully represented a majority of the owners of a partnership that owns a shopping center in litigation that arose because the minority owner, who also managed the center, misappropriated funds that belonged to the Partnership. The claims asserted by the majority owners of the partnership against the minority owners included breach of contract, constructive fraud, fraudulent concealment, fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and civil conspiracy. A favorable settlement was obtained by our clients on the eve of trial.

Successfully represented the widow of one of the owners of a large Washington DC-based construction company in litigation brought by our client against the trustee of an irrevocable trust established by our client’s husband. The action arose out of multiple breaches of trust and other fiduciary duties by the trustee of the trust who was taking actions inconsistent with the expressed intent of our client’s husband, the settlor of the trust. A favorable settlement was obtained for our client after an extensive multiple-day mediation process.  

Successfully represented one of two equal owners of a Maryland partnership in an arbitration proceeding against the other owner. The claims asserted by our client against the other owner were for fraud, constructive fraud, civil conspiracy, conversion, breach of contract and dissolution. We were able to document, with the assistance of a forensic accountant, the theft/diversion of several million dollars from the partnership and obtain just days before the commencement of a month-long arbitration proceeding a multi-million dollar settlement for our client.

Successfully represented a family law client in a contested five day divorce case in Montgomery County Circuit Court. Initially, the client’s wife sought a large pendent lite alimony award and the Court determined after an evidentiary hearing that she was not entitled to the relief she was seeking. Subsequently, the wife unsuccessfully sought a multi-million dollar monetary award and significant attorneys’ fees. Although our client’s wife did receive a monetary award, the amount she receive was significantly less than the multi-millions dollar monetary award she requested and the Court declined to award her any attorneys’ fees.

Successfully represented Thomas L. Clancy, an international best-selling author. The details are set forth in Clancy v. King, 405 Md. 541, 954 A.2d 1092 (2008).

Successfully represented the wife of a former heavyweight boxing champion in an action brought by our client against her then husband for divorce by obtaining a favorable settlement for our client in the divorce case.