Robert E. Mangels

As co-chair of JMBM's Litigation Group, Robert Mangels has more than 35 years of experience. His practice emphasizes general business and commercial litigation including complex financial fraud, professional negligence, securities, entertainment, intellectual property, bankruptcy, class actions, wrongful termination and construction matters. He has significant experience representing the owners of hotels and office buildings in international disaster recovery, including coordinating the numerous professionals required for dealing with mass disasters and complex litigation.

• Represented San Juan Dupont Plaza Hotel which was devastated by an act of arson and resulted in the greatest loss of human life in any U.S. hotel fire. This fire killed in excess of 100 persons, injured over 600 persons and caused substantial property damage to the hotel. In the wide-ranging multi-district litigation we represented the hotel owner in litigation brought on behalf of the victims and other claimants. This case involved every hospitality issue imaginable and a trial in San Juan, Puerto Rico of numerous direct and third-party claims. We were lead trial counsel responsible for the hotel owner, directing hundreds of professionals in a case that settled half way through trial, spanned more than 5 years of active trial and appellate litigation, and resulted in a major victory for the owner resulting in a payment in excess of $150 million on a $1 million face value fire insurance policy
• Represented numerous hotel owners against major national hotel companies. These matters resulted in a termination of the management agreement on terms favorable to the owners. In one instance, represented the owner of a major urban hotel against one of the top 3 hotel companies in significant litigation with the hotel operator. The case involved complex issues arising out of a joint venture arrangement with the operator and owner, ground lease, construction defect allegations against the operator-developer. Representation guided the client to a free termination of the management agreement and joint venture arrangement, and the arbitration (extending over several years) resulted in a multi-million payment to client
• Represented an international professional services company ($925 million at issue) in litigation brought by a major aerospace company. We obtained a Summary Judgment in our client's favor based upon admissions that we obtained from executives of the aerospace company during the deposition process
• Represented a licensing company in case of first impression against a major competitor over licensing and other fees resulting from a contract with Target, Inc. After a protracted arbitration, the 3 judge arbitration panel awarded our client both monetary damages including all of its attorneys fees and costs but also reaffirmed our client's right to a percentage of revenue for a substantial period of time. This award was confirmed by the Los Angeles Superior Court, affirmed by the California Court of Appeals and the California Supreme Court