Patrick Lewis represents clients in high-stakes litigation, with emphases on commercial litigation, class action defense and election law matters. His commercial practice is focused on the financial services industry. Patrick defines the issues facing his clients early on and maintains a practical, outcome-oriented approach throughout litigation. Patrick is also an experienced appellate advocate and has represented clients before the Ohio Supreme Court, the Sixth Circuit and other appellate courts. In addition, he regularly represents financial institutions and other secured creditors in bankruptcy, receivership and related proceedings.

Experience

• Defended a prominent Ohio bank in litigation involving several tort and equitable claims brought by another lender in the aftermath of a nearly $10 million commercial loan refinance gone sour,  all predicated on the plaintiff’s allegation that a loan officer orally agreed to release a multimillion-dollar mortgage on land as part of a refinance of other debt. Matter settled after nearly ever claim was dismissed.
• Representing a credit life insurance company in putative multistate class action litigation arising out of challenges to the carrier’s claims handling practices.
• Defending Ohio’s three largest banks in a putative class action brought by county prosecutors challenging the use of the MERS System and seeking to require lenders to publicly record all residential mortgage assignments in the state of Ohio.
• Represented lenders in litigation arising under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Expedited Funds Availability Act, and other consumer protection statutes.
• Lead counsel to a real estate investor and borrower in high-profile litigation with a lender arising out of a nonrecourse $135 million commercial mortgage-backed security loan used to acquire a multibuilding office portfolio in suburban Cleveland. The lender claimed that the borrower and investor were personally liable for the loan under controversial nonrecourse “carve out” provisions.
• Represented a secured creditor with a $12 million claim in a complex Chapter 11 proceeding to include defending the client’s lien position and securing favorable cash collateral orders and plan treatment; also prosecuted related-party state court foreclosure proceedings in two states. The creditor was repaid nearly in full.

Baker & Hostetler LLP

BakerHostetler’s national Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights team brings rich experience and creativity to the representation of clients across industries and to the full spectrum of issues that arise in stressed and distressed situations.

Drawing on the firm’s tradition of deep client relationships and our extensive experience as counsel to companies in major commercial sectors, we bring business advisory skills and strong advocacy to every representation, tailoring solutions to meet each client’s unique business needs. In an interview with Chambers & Partners, we were described as, “Excellent from a strategic standpoint, and ‘outside-the-box’ thinkers who find non-traditional ways to get to the end result.” The work of our team is complemented by the strength of our litigation, hospitality, employment, healthcare, tax, corporate, intellectual property and real estate attorneys across the country.

Our team—nearly 50 attorneys strong—includes the first U.S. Trustee for the Southern District of New York; a former senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the U.S. Trustee; former judicial law clerks; and attorneys who have represented the complete array of interests and constituents in out-of-court restructurings, bankruptcy proceedings, and litigation matters.