Bryan J. Cecil

Experience

Integral member of the litigation and trial team that that represented the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians and its casino in a dispute over $50 million of Indian-gaming revenue bonds. Bondholders sought over $94 million in damages. Case involved, among other issues: tribal sovereign immunity, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (“IGRA”), tribal court jurisdiction and exhaustion, federal court jurisdiction, tribal constitutional issues, Rule 144A securities and warranty claims, fraud, and legal malpractice. Case spanned eight years in multiple courts, including the Western District of Wisconsin, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Lac du Flambeau Tribal Court, and the Waukesha County Circuit Court. After federal litigation resulted in voiding of key instruments in the bond transaction, the remaining aspects of the case were scheduled for a ten-day bench trial and a seven-week jury trial before the Waukesha County Circuit Court. After ten-day bench trial resulted in a decision voiding the remaining two agreements securing the bonds under IGRA, the case settled favorably for the Tribe before picking the jury in the seven-week jury trial. Mr. Cecil successfully briefed and argued numerous pretrial motions and motions in limine, briefed several appellate issues, deposed both fact and expert witnesses, and was a key member of the trial team. See U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Case Nos. 09-CV-768, 12-CV-255, and 13-CV-372; Lac du Flambeau Tribal Court, Case No. 13-CV-115; Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Case Nos. 10-2069, 14-2287; and Wisconsin Circuit Court, Waukesha County, Case Nos. 12-CV-187 and 15-CV-302.

Lead counsel for plaintiff in personal injury dispute that resulted in successful jury verdict for client. Mr. Cecil handled all aspects of litigation, including briefing and arguing insurance-coverage dispute and numerous other pre-trial motions, acting as first-chair at jury trial, and successfully briefing and arguing post-trial motion that increased damages award by over 35%. See Mullen et al. v. Constantini, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Iron County, Case No. 15-CV-01.

Lead counsel for plaintiff in personal injury dispute that resulted in successful jury verdict for client. Mr. Cecil handled all aspects of litigation, including briefing and arguing insurance-coverage dispute and numerous other pre-trial motions, acting as first-chair at jury trial, and successfully briefing and arguing post-trial motion that increased damages award by over 35%. See Mullen et al. v. Constantini, Wisconsin Circuit Court, Iron County, Case No. 15-CV-01.

Headed a complex nationwide licensing project for an automobile manufacturer wishing to be licensed to distribute and sell its products in all 50 states. Mr. Cecil researched and drafted proper license and permit applications, implemented system for tracking and updating required licenses, and coordinated with client, client’s suppliers and vendors, and federal and state officials.

Counseled independent accounting firm that was subject of an unauthorized breach of its computer system. Mr. Cecil led all legal aspects of client’s response, including identification of individuals and authorities client was required to notify regarding breach, drafting of notification letters to affected individuals and appropriate government authorities, coordination with computer-security experts and law enforcement officials, and remedial efforts to prevent future breaches.