Jason Conti

Partner

Jason Conti is a trial and appellate attorney with over 26 years of experience handling complex, high-stakes commercial and partnership disputes, UCC contract litigation, property tax appeal litigation, real estate litigation, and intellectual property, trade secrets, and computer software litigation. He is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice.

Jason has successfully represented publicly and privately owned corporations, manufacturers, real estate developers, property owners, national retailers, software developers, media clients, partnerships, and taxpayers in state and federal trial and appellate courts, and administrative agencies. He has obtained numerous verdicts, published court decisions, settlements, and dismissals in favor of his clients, including over US$100 million in property tax refunds for his property owner clients.

Representative Experience*

Property Tax Appeals

  • Represented both commercial and industrial clients in achieving millions of dollars of property tax savings in Michigan and outside the state.
  • Counseled Michigan’s largest chemical facility in property tax appeal resulting in a refund in excess of US$30m.
  • Prosecuted property tax appeals for apartment property resulting in tax savings in excess of US$1m.
  • Counseled taxpayer of a Michigan headquarters building in a property tax appeal resulting in tax savings in excess of US$500,000.
  • Represented industrial clients in appeal of property classification resulting in more than US$30m in tax refunds.
  • Prosecuted property tax appeal for Michigan hotel, which resulted in tax savings in excess of US$750,000.
  • Represented golf course country club properties in property tax appeals.
  • Counseled taxpayer in property tax appeal of mobile home park.
  • Counseled a taxpayer in “mistake of fact” claim seeking refund of erroneously paid taxes resulting in favorable published Michigan Court of Appeals decision.
  • Represented property owners in disputes with cities regarding Industrial Facilities Exemption Tax Certificates and other exemption claims resulting in favorable decisions and settlements.
  • Represented taxpayer in “mistake of fact” claim regarding the reporting of art work which resulted in favorable published Michigan Court of Appeals decision.

Real Estate Litigation

  • Represented numerous commercial landlords in complex summary proceedings, eviction matters and unpaid rent actions; recovered millions of dollars in unpaid rent from delinquent tenants.
  • Trial counsel in jury trial in Oakland County Circuit Court relating to construction of residential home, which resulted in jury verdict of 100% of client’s demand.
  • Trial counsel in arbitrations relating to construction of luxury homes resulting in favorable awards to clients.
  • Represented client in litigation involving exercising option to purchase.
  • Trial counsel in arbitrations relating to delay claims by general contractors against owners.
  • Represented client against contractor regarding mold claims in multi-unit apartment complex resulting in summary disposition on liability and million-dollar settlement.
  • Represented luxury home builders in connection with various building disputes.
  • Defended actions regarding easement and right-of-way disputes.
  • Defended owners, general contractors, and trades in lien foreclosure actions.

Commercial Litigation

  • Trial counsel in arbitration regarding the sale of a private company, which resulted in an award and payment to client in excess of US$850,000.
  • Trial counsel in federal district jury trial representing defendant regarding the purchase of an automotive tier two supplier.
  • Defend breach of contract claims of auto supplier for alleged failure to produce parts.
  • Defended claims of misappropriation of trade secrets.
  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of Defendant in connection with multimillion-dollar claims of misappropriation of computer software.
  • Defended claims of defective industrial manufacturing machinery and other UCC Article 2 disputes.
  • Obtained multimillion-dollar judgment in enforcement of loan agreements on behalf of lender.
  • Defended pawnbrokers in defense of various statutory claims.
  • Defended client in million dollar claim by insurance company regarding alleged theft of jewelry.
  • Defended officers and directors in federal securities action arising out of claims of shareholder oppression by minority shareholders.
  • Defended publicly traded company in multimillion-dollar fraud claims relating to transaction resulting in dismissal of client.
  • Trial counsel in arbitration representing corporate officers and directors in shareholder oppression claims resulting in a no-cause award in favor of clients.
  • Counseled clients regarding data breaches of electronically stored information and data.

Entertainment, Trademark, and Copyright

  • Defended claims of trademark and copyright infringement and false advertising regarding the release and sale of best-selling exercise videos.
  • Obtained summary dismissal of trademark infringement and false advertising claims for national restaurant/bar chain.
  • Defended royalty fee claims regarding retail sales of best-selling children’s video and horror movie series, as well as recording artists.
  • Managed and filed federal, state and international trademark and service mark registrations for more than 1,300 marks, including responding to office actions and file copyright registrations.
  • Counseled clients regarding trademark, trade dress and copyright issues inherent in package and product designs and in comparative advertising and false advertising matters.
  • Trial counsel in arbitration involving computer software.

*Certain of these matters were handled prior to Jason joining Foley.

Awards and Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America©, Litigation – Real Estate (2012 – 2024), Commercial Litigation (2013 – 2024), Litigation and Controversy — Tax (2013 – 2024)
  • Michigan Super Lawyers — Tax (2019-2022)
  • Detroit Litigation and Controversy — Tax Lawyer of the Year (2016)
  • DBusiness Magazine’s Top Lawyers (2010, 2014 – 2016, and 2022)
  • Peer Review Rated as AV Preeminent®, the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ system

Affiliations

  • Member, State Bar of Michigan, including the Litigation and Taxation sections
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Oakland County Bar Association
  • Member, Detroit Bar Association, current Board Member
17 August 2023 Honors and Awards

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2024 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys across 20 U.S. offices have received recognition in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
10 November 2022 Events

While You Were Quarantining: Key Developments and Takeaways

The post-COVID and post-lockdown world has ushered in key changes and current trends in the law. Join us as we discuss the updates on important court decisions over the last three years, ongoing woes in the supply chain, and critical issues in employment law, compliance, and taxation. The program, designed for in-house counsel, will also address planning and suggestions for companies as they prepare for potential economic uncertainty ahead.
18 August 2022 Press Releases

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP proudly announced that 250 of our attorneys across 20 offices have received recognition in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.
12 August 2022 Honors and Awards

Foley Attorneys Named to 2022 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that 10 of its Detroit attorneys have been named to the 2022 Michigan Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.
16 November 2021 In the News

Five Detroit Partners Named as 2022 Top Lawyers by DBusiness Magazine

Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to announce that five of the firm's partners from the Detroit office were selected for inclusion in DBusiness Magazine's "Top Lawyers 2022" list.
19 August 2021 Press Releases

Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2022 Best Lawyers in America

Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that 236 of the firm’s attorneys from 18 U.S. offices have been recognized in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, and 46 lawyers from 13 offices were included in the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list. Additionally, 14 of the firm’s attorneys received the special designation of “Lawyer of the Year,” an honor earned by only one lawyer in each practice area and metropolitan region.