S. Jamal Faleel

Head of Litigation and Disputes, Minneapolis
Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Minneapolis
United States
T:+1 612 321 2271
Minneapolis
United States
T:+1 612 321 2271
S. Jamal Faleel

S. Jamal Faleel

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Biography

Jamal Faleel serves as lead trial counsel and a trusted advisor to his clients on their most challenging high-stakes matters. Clients work with Jamal because he wins, bringing dynamic problem-solving skills, creativity and an in-depth knowledge of his clients' business needs. His national trial and litigation experience includes serving as lead counsel for public and private companies in their most significant trials and litigation, with a focus on class action defense, products liability defense and complex commercial litigation. He also serves as corporate counsel for one of the world's largest consumer goods private label manufacturers, helping his client navigate its dynamic global regulatory and litigation landscape.

Jamal began his career as a law clerk for, then Chief Judge, James M. Rosenbaum (Ret.), for the United States District Court, District of Minnesota.

Professional experience

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  • JD, magna cum laude, Hamline University School of Law, 2002
  • BA, cum laude, University of Minnesota, 1999
    • Honors Thesis: The Use of Expert Testimony to Explain Eyewitness Memory
  • Minnesota State Bar
  • Putative Consumer Products Class Action Summary Judgment and Class Certification Win. Won summary judgment and defeated class certification for one of the largest global private label manufacturers in a putative nationwide class action. The court agreed that the company's claims were not false or misleading, and denied plaintiffs' request for injunctive relief.
  • Putative Consumer Class Action Motion to Dismiss Win. Won a motion to dismiss a national putative class action on behalf of a public company window manufacturer accused of false advertising.
  • Putative Consumer Class Action Nuisance-Value Settlement. Secured nuisance-value settlement in a national consumer putative class action, brought in the Southern District of New York, accusing Jamal's client of false advertising. The negotiated settlement included the highly unusual concession by the plaintiff (in a publicly filed sworn statement) that it could not establish product identification, causation and suffered no damages.
  • Fraud, theft of confidential information and trade secrets, and civil RICO expertise. Successfully represented more than half a dozen corporations and individuals on both sides of the "v," in disputes involving fraud, theft of confidential information and trade secrets, and civil RICO, with a particular emphasis on cases where there are parallel federal and criminal proceedings. Jamal draws on his work early in his career advising clients in criminal matters and knowledge of federal criminal procedures and sentencing guidelines to assist clients in these matters.
  • Dismissal of Shareholder Derivative Action Related to a Multi-Billion Dollar Merger. Successfully opposed preliminary injunction seeking to block Fortune 500 public company's decision to approve a plan to gross up the excise tax liabilities of its executives and directors in connection with a multi-billion dollar inversion merger. Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the matter after the preliminary injunction motion was  denied.
  • Seven-Figure Arbitration Victory. Won a seven-figure arbitration award on behalf of a healthcare institution against one of the nation's largest insurers for improper reimbursement of medical services.
  • Multi-Million Dollar Fidelity Bond Insurance Recovery. Successfully represented a large financial institution in a claim against its fidelity bond insurance carrier seeking to recover losses it suffered as a result of employee dishonesty and forgeries in loan transactions. The financial institution received a multi-million-dollar settlement payment after obtaining a favorable summary judgment ruling.
  • Multi-Million Dollar Fraud, Fiduciary Duty, and Contract Claims Summary Judgment Victory. Won summary judgment on behalf of professional association defending multi-million-dollar fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by a former shareholder. The court dismissed all claims brought by the former shareholder and granted summary judgment in favor of the professional association.
  • Injunction Against Shooting Range for Violation of Shooting Range Protection Act. Obtained a permanent injunction on behalf of one of the nation's largest agricultural cooperatives against an adjoining shooting range to prevent stray bullets from endangering the lives of the agricultural cooperative's employees and causing significant property damage. In the first such decision in Minnesota, the trial court held that the shooting range violated the Minnesota Shooting Range Protection Act and enjoined all shooting range operations on the land near the agricultural cooperative.
  • National Counsel and National Trial Counsel for Fortune 500 Company. National counsel and national trial counsel representing manufacturer in defending against products liability matters.
  • Pet Food Litigation. Successful representation of multi-national pet food manufacturers in a variety of litigation matters. 
  • Criminal Defense. Represented clients in federal and state criminal matters.
  • Pro Bono Representation. Over 2,500 hours of pro bono work over the course of career. Successfully represented multiple individuals seeking asylum in the United States; lead counsel for former Minnesota girls' high school hockey players suing U.S. Department of Education for Title IX and constitutional violations; successfully represented multiple individuals in housing court involving landlord/tenant disputes; and member of team securing exoneration of Louisiana death-row inmate based on actual innocence.
  • Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, Best Lawyers, 2024
  • Best Lawyers in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Best Lawyers, 2024
  • Best Lawyers in America, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Best Lawyers, 2024
  • Litigation Star, Benchmark Litigation, 2023
  • Benchmark Litigation Minnesota Litigation Star, 2020-2022
  • Benchmark Litigation Under 40 List Hot List, 2020
  • Super Lawyer, Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2022 - 2023
  • Minnesota Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2007, 2009, 2011 - 2012, 2015 - 2017
  • Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow, 2015
  • One of 15 Up-and-Coming Attorneys, Minnesota Lawyer, 2005
  • Co-Author, "Remedies for Breach," Minnesota Contracts Deskbook, 3rd Ed., August 2009-2023
  • Author, "The Practical Challenges of Litigating and Trying a Claim for Attorney Fees to a Jury in Minnesota: Providing Minnesota's District Court Judges, Lawyers, and Litigants the Guidance and Predictability They Need," Hamline Law Review, Vol. 37,Iss. 1, Article 4,2014
  • Author, "A Right to a Jury Trial on a Claim to Recover Attorney Fees," December 2012
  • Author, "Minnesota Supreme Court Decision Provides Right to a Jury Trial for Claim to Recover Attorneys' Fees," September 2012
  • Co-author, "Minnesota Court of Appeals Clarifies When Dissenters are Entitled to an Award of Expert Witness Fees", May 2010
  • Co-author, "Recent District Court Ruling – A Minority Shareholder's Rights Trump the Squeeze-Out Merger that the Majority Shareholders Had Sought," September 2009
  • Co-author, "When Does a Domestic Choice of Law Provision Result in the Application of International Contract Law?", June 2007
  • Corporate Leaders Roundtable - Moderator, November 2023
  • U.S. Supreme Court 2022-2023 Term Year in Review, September 2023
  • Contract Fundamentals A to Z: Remedies for Breach and Choice of Law, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 2021
  • Practice Pointers for Virtual Depositions, Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Mass Tort and Class Action Group, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 2021
  • Class Action Litigation – 2015 Year in Review, NAMWOLF Product Liability Practice Area Committee, New Orleans, Louisiana (February 2016)
  • Top 10 Questions to Consider Before Settling a Class Action, NAMWOLF Product Liability Practice Area Committee, San Antonio, Texas, February 2015
  • Remedies and Damages in Commercial Litigation, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 2014
  • Remedies for Breach, Key Cases in Contract Law, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 2014
  • Top 10 Tips for Practicing Before the Health Licensing Boards, Hamline Law CLE, St. Paul, Minnesota, January 2014
  • Drafting Your First Contract, Course Chair, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, April 2013
  • Working With Financial Forensic Expert Witnesses, National Litigation Consultants' Review, December 2014
  • Minnesota Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Advisory Board Member
  • Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
  • Federal Bar Association - Minnesota Chapter, Mass Tort and Class Action Practice Group
  • District of Minnesota, Federal Practice Committee, 2012-2014
  • Minnesota State Bar Association, New Lawyers Section, Chair, 2008-2009
  • Minnesota State Bar Governing Council and Legislative Committee, 2008-2009
  • Willem C. Vis International Arbitration Moot Court (Vienna, Austria), Hamline University School of Law, Coach, 2003 – 2006

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