Terry M. Brennan

Partner

Cleveland
T +1.216.861.7485
F +1.216.696.0740

"[Terry]'s always prepared for battle and skillfully and effectively litigates his cases...He's an outstanding attorney; smart, strategic and very capable."

— Chambers USA 2022

Overview

Terry Brennan is the Litigation Leader for BakerHostetler’s Cleveland office, with practice management responsibility for more than 40 litigation attorneys. He focuses his practice on complex business litigation and corporate criminal matters, representing banks, manufacturers and other public and private corporations and individuals in a wide range of complex commercial disputes.

In his white collar practice, Terry represents individuals and businesses in connection with investigations and prosecutions conducted by the DOJ, SEC, FDA, FTC and other federal and state law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies. He conducts internal investigations on behalf of corporate clients, educates clients on compliance matters, speaks on topics ranging from effective depositions to recent developments in white collar law and has served as a state-appointed special prosecutor. He regularly earns recognition from his clients and peers in Chambers, Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America®.

Select Experience

Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Represents a public automobile manufacturer in defending trade secret claims alleging billions of dollars in damages.

Government and Internal Investigations

  • Represents the Chairman of the Board of a hospital network in connection with a government and internal investigation alleging more than $10 million in misappropriated assets.

SEC and Securities

  • Represented the co-CEOs of a private equity company in an SEC investigation alleging numerous securities law violations.

FDA

  • Represented a food manufacturer in an FDA investigation involving food contaminated by melamine.
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Experience

Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Represents a public automobile manufacturer in defending trade secret claims alleging billions of dollars in damages.
  • Represents the former CEO of a public utility in RICO and other litigation arising from what has been alleged to have been the largest bribery scandal in Ohio history.
  • In connection with Baker’s representation of the Official Committee of Tort Claimants in Pacific Gas & Electric’s bankruptcy, led the development of the liability case against PG&E for the November 2018 Tubbs Fire. The bankruptcy case resulted in a $13.5 billion settlement on behalf of 75,000 victims of the 2017 and 2018 California wildfires.
  • SIPC v. Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC: Successfully led a team of attorneys on behalf of the Securities Investor Protection Act (SIPA) Trustee in litigation of claims against former employees of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC.
  • Client v. City of Cleveland: Represented a public company in a lawsuit alleging breach of contract that resulted in a multimillion-dollar settlement for the client.
  • Plaintiffs v. Client: Successfully defended a telemarketing company in federal class action lawsuits alleging fraud and related cases of action.
  • CITA v. Client: Successfully defended a publicly traded bank against a $400 million lawsuit alleging failure to recognize interest in securities.
  • Winter Equipment Co. v. Client: Won jury trial on behalf of a manufacturer alleging misappropriation of trade secrets.
  • Kopp v. Client: Represented a bank and defeated claims alleging violations of federal antitrust law, the federal Truth in Lending Act, the Ohio Retail Sales Installment Act and breach of fiduciary duty.
  • Client v. Hummer: Represented the nation’s largest pharmacy in a lawsuit arising out of a merger agreement with claims and counterclaims totaling more than $100 million, resulting in a client victory.
  • Jacobs v. Jacobs: Represented a real estate developer and former Cleveland Indians owner in litigation brought by trust beneficiaries seeking removal of the client as a trustee and millions of dollars in damages, resulting in a client victory.

Government and Internal Investigations

  • Represents the Chairman of the Board of a hospital network in connection with a government and internal investigation alleging more than $10 million in misappropriated assets.
  • Represents a $10 billion public company in connection with anti-poaching allegations.
  • Represents a manufacturer being investigated for allegedly causing a fire that resulted in the deaths of two people and the destruction of more than 1,000 properties.
  • Represented current and former supervisors of Volkswagen and Audi in connection with the Volkswagen emissions scandal. Obtained a declination.
  • Successfully represented a large cryptocurrency ATM company in recovering all assets unlawfully seized from it.
  • Represented multiple shipping companies in connection with federal investigations involving the Clean Water Act and the Taft-Hartley Act.
  • Represented a national architecture firm in a federal public corruption investigation.
  • Represents publicly traded banks in FINRA matters and other internal investigations.
  • Represented a publicly traded company in a DOJ customs investigation that was initiated by a search warrant. The client received a declination letter.
  • Represented a construction company, shopping mall development company, insurance company and other businesses and individuals in public corruption investigations.

SEC and Securities

  • Represented the co-CEOs of a private equity company in an SEC investigation alleging numerous securities law violations.
  • Represented a multimillion-dollar investment fund in an SEC investigation of a Ponzi scheme.
  • Represented a former CFO of a publicly traded company in an SEC civil case and class action alleging fraudulent accounting.
  • Represented a former officer of an office supply company in several lawsuits alleging violations of securities laws.

FDA

  • Represented a food manufacturer in an FDA investigation involving food contaminated by melamine.
  • Represented a university in an FDA investigation of diversion of controlled substances.

Recognitions and Memberships

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA: Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations in Ohio (2021 to 2022)
    • Band 2 (2021 to 2022)
  • The Best Lawyers in America® (2018 to Present)
    • Ohio: Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Martindale-Hubbell: AV Preeminent
  • Ohio "Super Lawyer" (2020 to 2023)
    • Ohio Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (2005, 2007, 2009)

Memberships

  • City Club of Cleveland: Board Member

  • Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association

    • Judicial Selection Committee: Board Member
  • Criminal Justice Act Panel (CJA), Northern District of Ohio (2010 to 2014)

News

News

Press Releases

Prior Positions

  • Assistant Prosecuting Lawyer, Cuyahoga County 
    • Investigated and prosecuted felony cases, including homicide and white collar crimes. 
    • First chaired more than 50 bench and jury trials

Admissions

  • New York, 1997
  • Ohio, 1995

Education

  • J.D., Indiana University School of Law, 1995, cum laude; Managing Editor, Indiana Law Journal
  • B.A., Miami University, 1992