EDUCATION

University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, J.D., 1975

Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, B.A., 1972

 

ADMITTED

Pennsylvania 1975

Ohio 2000

 

PLACE OF BIRTH

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

 
Lawyers / Professionals
 
Gordon W. Schmidt
Partner
625 Liberty Avenue
23rd Floor
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222-3142
T: 412.667.7946
F: 412.667.7955
gschmidt@mcguirewoods.com

Mr. Schmidt has litigated a variety of complex commercial cases at trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts. His experience includes breach of contract claims, contract interpretation issues, antitrust, securities law class actions and shareholder derivative actions.

Additionally, he has a great deal of experience with franchise and distribution issues, having represented national franchisors in numerous lawsuits. He has also litigated trademark infringement claims and trade secret issues. He also has substantial experience involving wrongful termination cases and employment cases. He has litigated matters in more than 15 states, and has argued before the 3rd, 4th and 10th U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Mr. Schmidt’s experience includes:

  • Mr. Schmidt recently acted as counsel to the managing trustee of a national asbestos trust which was created during the bankruptcy of a large manufacturing concern in order to handle asbestos claims against the company. The trust is responsible for accumulating funds from insurance carriers to be disbursed to claimants against the fund.
  • Mr. Schmidt recently settled a coverage lawsuit on behalf of a client in which the carrier settled the suit by paying 100% of claim.
  • Represented a consortium of utilities when a supplier brought suit to modify or cancel a long-term supply contract for the supply of uranium. The suit involved the interpretation of regulations unique to utilities and uranium mining and their interplay with price escalation provisions in the contract.
  • Represented a national restaurant franchisor that granted a regional development agreement to an entity that was not adequately developing its territory. Successfully litigated the claim that allowed the client to terminate the franchise agreement.
  • Represented a national franchisor in three class actions brought by franchisees claiming, among other things, breach of contract, antitrust violations and breach of duty of good faith. The suits were consolidated and settled, paving the way for better relations between the company and its franchisees.
  • On behalf of a German client, won an injunction to stop an industrial products company that began manufacturing and marketing a form of robotics that incorporated our client's technology.
  • Represented a national chain of diet centers whose franchisees were purchasing unapproved products. Obtained an injunction to prohibit the distribution of these products within the client's system, and obtained a multimillion-dollar judgment against the manufacturer.

    • Practices & Industries Fraternities or Sororities
    • Delta Upsilon
    Previous Experience
    • Partner, Doepken Keevican & Weiss, PC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1990-2002
    Publications
    • System Standards - What's A Franchisor To Do
    Professional Affiliations
    • Member, American Law Institute
    Civic Affiliations
    • Board Member, Pittsburgh Opera
    • March of Dimes Golf Classic (prior board member)