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Howard M. Fields is an experienced attorney dedicated to providing timely, cost-efficient, effective advice for and representation of clients with expertise in Professional Liability, Real Property, Insurance and Business matters ranging from easily solvable problems to sophisticated, complex litigation. He aims to build and maintain high quality relationships characterized by trust, competence and effectiveness. He has built his reputation by providing consistently high-quality service, individual attention and personal concern for each client's unique needs throughout the litigation process with a determined focus on resolving problems on favorable terms and in a cost-effective manner. He develops at the outset of a new matter a fluid blueprint and works with the clients, who are insightful resources in the underlying matters, to enlist the client's feedback and involvement. There is an emphasis on strategy and case resolution over mere tactics that often include expensive unnecessary battles with opposing counsel. His legal, practical and life's experiences give him an edge at being an effective mediator for cases ranging from the simple to the complex, particularly where there are underlying emotional issues.

Practice Areas

Attorneys / Law Firms

• Represented numerous attorneys, as well as small to mid-size law firms in hundreds of claims relating to purportedly insufficient settlements, losses at trial and appeal, lapsed statutes of limitation, conflicts of interest, breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud, RICO, fraud, negligence in the handling of family law, real estate, probate, criminal, tax, workers’ compensation and other areas of law.

Professional Liability / Errors and Omissions

• Acted as third party administrator for an errors and omissions program insuring hundreds of attorneys requiring monitoring of outside counsel, setting of reserves and paying claims.

Coverage

• Advised insurers and insureds regarding coverage or lack of coverage.

Banking

• Successfully defended at trial three bank officers sued for breach of fiduciary and fraud in connection with a multimillion dollar construction loan followed by a non-judicial foreclosure sale.

Insurance Agents

• Defended a surplus lines broker in RICO cases in three United States District Court cases brought by banks and the FDIC which claimed the client was the mastermind of an elaborate insurance premium finance fraud scheme.
• Defended a variety of malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty cases.

Real Estate Agents

• Represented real estate brokers accused of malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty.

Trustees

• Represented a trustee of various intervivos trusts accused of breaching duties owed to contingent beneficiaries.
• Represented a trustee/attorney accused of a panoply of breaches dating back to the 1960's.

Trade Secrets Unfair Competition

• Represented a corporation and officers of one large commercial contractor accused by a competitor of theft of trade secrets; after the conclusion of the case obtained an award of attorneys' fees with a lodestar enhancement as punishment for the pursuit of frivolous litigation.

Construction

• Successfully represented a pipe manufacturer brought into numerous multiple party construction defect cases.

Architects / Engineers

• Represented an architectural firm in lengthy arbitration involving dispute over unauthorized use of plans resulting in favorable award.

Privacy / Defamation / Social Media

• Successfully defended a physician sued by another physician for defamation relating to communications with government officials with the plaintiff dismissing the action instead of opposing a motion for summary judgment.

Sexual and Workplace Harassment

• Represented attorneys in professional liability claims arising out of sexual harassment cases brought by clients dissatisfied with the results obtained by their lawyers.

Contract Disputes

• Represented developer of a successful Internet based business in disputes over ownership of the company.

Construction Disputes

• Represented a licensed contractor at trial involving claims of fraud and construction defects resulting in favorable judgment including a substantial attorney's fee award.
• Represented attorneys accused of mishandling contractor disputes.

Corporate / Partnerships

• Represented partners in disputes involving the dissolution of partnerships.

Homeowner Association

• As a board member oversaw construction defect litigation against subcontractors and developers resulting in multi-million dollar settlement.