Ani-Rae counsels a wide variety of clients—including officers and directors, hedge funds, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, financial institutions, and public companies—facing complex and high-stakes commercial disputes and business decisions. In addition to representing clients in stockholder, transactional, restructuring, and commercial litigation at the trial and appellate level in state and federal courts, Ani-Rae advises clients on litigation risk from mergers and acquisitions, strategic transactions, and related party transactions. Ani-Rae also has significant experience advising clients on issues related to insurance and indemnification coverage.
Experience
- Representing Exactech, Inc., and its affiliated debtors in their pending chapter 11 cases involving the restructuring of more than $350 million of prepetition debt, as well as additional prepetition liabilities; Exactech’s chapter 11 cases are supported by an $85 million debtor in possession credit facility and a stalking horse bid, which remains subject to higher and better offers, for substantially all of the debtors’ assets.
- Defended Shari Redstone and National Amusements, Inc. against parallel actions in the Delaware Court of Chancery brought by former stockholders of Viacom and former stockholders of CBS challenging the multi-billion dollar merger of Viacom and CBS in 2019, resulting in settlement prior to trial.
- Representing foreign subsidiaries of Schroders plc in litigations in federal court relating to the Madoff investment fraud.
- Represented the independent director of Basic Energy Services, Inc., in connection with that director’s investigation and analysis of estate causes of action as part of Basic’s ongoing chapter 11 cases, which involve more than $400 million of funded debt.
- Obtained dismissal of $1 billion dollars in fraudulent conveyance claims as lead defense counsel for shareholders that invested in a major publicly-traded fashion company prior to its leveraged buyout and subsequent bankruptcy.
- Represented committee of independent directors of a publicly-traded oil and gas company in an investigation of potential claims as well as related post-petition Rule 2004 discovery.
- Represented officer and director in advancement litigation, including in an appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court.
- Pro bono representation of historic African Methodist Episcopal Church in contested chapter 11 proceeding, ultimately resulting in a confirmed plan of reorganization following a one-week confirmation trial.