Jason A. Levine serves as a trusted business advisor and legal counsel to executives, entrepreneurs, boards of directors and companies of all sizes.
When companies face potential litigation, they run the risk of significant financial and reputational harm. Accounting for all of the business consequences, both short- and long-term, for his clients, is one of Jason’s top priorities. He understands the complex legal, financial and interpersonal issues at stake, particularly in shareholder, partnership, and joint-venture disputes. Jason regularly litigates claims of shareholder oppression, breach of fiduciary duties, mismanagement, trade secret misappropriation, fraud, contract disputes, breach of restrictive covenant, defamation, and tortious interference. This work often includes negotiating company valuations and structuring buyouts in the event of a company divorce or dissolution. But if disputes cannot be resolved amicably, Jason is ready and willing to take cases through trial and, if necessary, appeals, and he has extensive experience leading litigations in both state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as taking arbitrations to final hearings.
Jason’s clients reside in a variety of industries, including highly-regulated sectors such as financial services, gaming and professional services. Jason advises private equity firms and their portfolio companies, closely-held entities and their principals, real estate developers, retailers and entrepreneurs on the legal issues they encounter in the course of doing business. When the government calls, he helps clients respond to subpoenas or other inquiries, and to present their cases to local, state and federal administrative agencies and enforcement authorities.
Jason maintains an active pro bono practice, which includes representing indigent individuals in both criminal and civil rights matters, and he is an active member of several non-profit and community organizations. He serves on the Regional Board and Executive Committee of the Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey office of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a civil rights organization, and has spearheaded an effort to expand ADL’s critical anti-bias and anti-bullying educational programs in Southern New Jersey.
Jason is actively involved in the business and strategic planning of the firm. He is a member of the firm’s Board of Directors; he chairs the Business Development and Marketing Committee and the Lateral Shareholder Hiring Committee; and he also serves on the 401(k) Fiduciary Committee.
Prior to joining Hangley Aronchick, Jason worked in the litigation and white collar practice groups of Covington & Burling LLP in Washington, DC.
Representative Matters
- Successfully represented the Charles Chrin Companies against a former employee and minority owner for alleged breach of fiduciary duties and unfair competition.
- Represented the Cordish Companies and Stadium Casino RE, LLC d/b/a Live! Casino and Hotel Philadelphia in litigations and appeals in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Commonwealth Court against the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and private parties involving an application for a slot machine license.
- Representing a New Jersey pharmacy chain in procurement challenge pending in state court adverse to University Hospital, New Jersey’s only public hospital.
- Served as lead counsel to minority shareholder in Bucks County, Pennsylvania litigation and contentious business divorce involving allegations of mismanagement and shareholder oppression; successfully navigated client’s buyout of majority shareholders and resolved subsequent claims involving misappropriation of confidential company information and unauthorized use of company intellectual property.
- Represented an engineering firm and two majority shareholders against minority shareholder who asserted breach of fiduciary duties and violations of shareholder agreement; obtained successful resolution after three-week arbitration hearing.
- Represented financial institutions and their employees in multiple fast-paced litigations involving enforcement of restrictive covenants and misappropriation of trade secrets and other corporate assets.
- Counseled a telecommunications company in more than a dozen litigations across Pennsylvania and New Jersey arising out of each state’s 911 Act.
- Tasked with investigating and litigating claims against officers and directors of bankrupt company and third parties on behalf of a chapter 11 estate trustee.
- Served as lead counsel to a large New Jersey real estate investment company in a complex contract and tax dispute.
- Represented individuals, corporations, and partnerships in connection with investigations arising out of the US Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania involving allegations of bribery and violations of the False Claims Act.
Representative Pro Bono Matters
- Following evidentiary hearing before the District of New Jersey, obtained writ of habeas corpus from a state court conviction and the vacation of client’s 20-year old conviction and sentence. In April 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unanimously affirmed Judge Wolfson’s decision, and the client was subsequently released from prison for the first time in more than two decades.
- Successfully represented a prisoner plaintiff in multiple federal civil rights lawsuits alleging violations of the First and Eighth Amendments, obtaining favorable settlements involving both monetary and injunctive relief.