Ted Hassi

Partner

Ted Hassi is a partner in O’Melveny’s New York office and a member of the Securities Litigation and Antitrust/Competition Practices.  Ted has extensive experience litigating and trying a broad range of complex commercial matters.  He has represented clients in all phases of securities, antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, and general commercial litigation.  Ted’s clients include major credit card companies, a stock exchange’s board of directors, a group of motion picture studios, a satellite radio provider, and several financial institutions.  Ted’s professional experience includes the following significant cases:

Illustrative Professional Experience

• Representing Capital One in antitrust action brought by American Express leveraging successful Department of Justice judgment against Visa and MasterCard
• Defending Capital One in consolidated antitrust conspiracy cases related to payment card interchange
• Represented the independent directors of the New York Stock Exchange in a suit by a putative seatholder class to block transformative merger with Archipelago
• Obtained dismissal of six underwriters accused of violating Sections 11 and 12 of the 1933 Act in a Royal Ahold global securities offering
• Defended five major motion picture studios against claims of conspiracy with film exhibition chains to boycott independent film exhibitor  
• Represented MasterCard in challenge to Visa U.S.A. bylaw that prevented U.S. debit card banks from switching from Visa to MasterCard.  Successfully enforced judgment entered in Department of Justice case against Visa and MasterCard
• Represented Finnish paper manufacturer against price-fixing claims in multi-district litigation
• Represented controlling shareholder in Delaware Chancery Court action to enjoin company from implementing a poison pill, dilutive option and other defensive measures
• Obtained the dismissal of a derivative action against the outside directors of Honeywell related to Honeywell’s merger with Allied Signal 
• Successfully tried securities and common law fraud claims against pharmaceutical manufacturer over sale of wholly owned manufacturing subsidiary
• Obtained dismissal of spurned suitor’s action to block merger of two major U.S. banks
• Successfully represented bondholder syndicate against bondholder’s injunctive action to permit sale of bonds without syndicate’s required approval
• Obtained restraining order preventing paper manufacturer from purchasing or transferring controlling shares in closely held European consumer packaging company
• Obtained dismissal of Section 10(b) claims against Board of Directors of hygiene product manufacturer
• Successfully defended merger between two major hospital chains against suit to prevent merger on monopolization grounds
• Represented a 50% owner of marquee Major League Baseball franchises in a dispute over franchise valuation
• Tried adversary proceeding on behalf of a satellite radio network against a computer systems integrator  
• Represented City of New York at trial of personal injuries caused during shooting in city owned building

Prior to joining O’Melveny, Ted served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for eight years.  In that capacity, he flew an SH-2 antisubmarine warfare helicopter and led a four-pilot, 13-person maintenance crew on numerous deployments.  He also managed the New York office of the Navy’s Officer Recruiting Program.  He was awarded the Naval Helicopter Association Rescue Aircrew of the Year.

Professional Activities

Admitted to Practice, US. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Second Circuit Court of Appeals
Awards, InMotion (formerly Network for Women's Services) Commitment to Justice Award
Board of Directors, Alumni Board, Fordham Moot Court Board; First Congregational Church, Montclair, New Jersey
Co-author, "Shareholder Derivative Actions: From Cradle to Grave," Practising Law Institute (2006, 2007)
Military Service, US Navy Lieutenant, 1986-94
Languages, French