Christopher W. Pendleton

Represented a staffing company in actions against its former president and employees who joined a competitor and solicited a major client in violation of one-year restrictive covenants, and against the client for tortious interference. Benesch achieved favorable settlements covering a year of lost profits and all legal fees.

Obtained substantial relief for staffing providers, Alliance Industrial Solutions, LLC and Alliance Solutions Group, LLC, in dual actions: one to enforce restrictive covenant agreements against its former president and two key employees that left for a competitor and poached a significant customer, and a second against the poached customer for tortious interference with the former employees’ restrictive covenant agreements. 

Secured dismissal of Title VII claims in a discrimination lawsuit filed against The Andersons, Inc. and its affiliates in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. After removing the case to federal court, the team moved to dismiss, arguing the plaintiff failed to state a viable gender-discrimination claim. The Court sustained the Motion to Dismiss, significantly narrowing the plaintiff’s remaining claims.

Represented Meteor Education, a portfolio company of Bain Capital Double Impact Fund, in its acquisition of Advanced Technologies Consultants, a leading provider of career and technical education training and equipment in both secondary and post-secondary education markets.

Obtained substantial relief for American Equipment Systems, LLC (“AES”) and its parent company, Rotunda Capital Partners, after a competitor poached two veteran AES employees subject to restrictive covenants, including the termination of one of the managers, who was subject to a non-competition provision, an extension of certain non-solicitation provisions, and protection of trade secrets and other proprietary information.

Represented Weinberg Capital Group in the sale of its interest in North American Kitchen Solutions, Inc. (dba Hoodmart).