Thomas J. Tallerico

Mr. Tallerico represents clients in complex commercial litigation and arbitration, nationally and internationally, particularly matters involving the auto industry, banking, professional liability, securities, distribution relationships, and antitrust law.

Mr. Tallerico has extensive experience representing major corporations, including financial institutions and automakers, in multi-million dollar litigation involving third persons incorporated in North America, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. He has handled disputes relating to the termination of distribution relationships, anti-trust issues, securities fraud/professional liability and lender liability matters for major corporations, including major international vehicle and vehicle part manufacturers, American Airlines, Inc., The American Medical Association, a joint venture of Sherwin-Williams and Hoechst AG, and numerous banks. Mr. Tallerico has also represented numerous clients on all types of fraud claims.

Mr. Tallerico is a civil mediator.  He is also listed on the American Arbitration Association’s Complex Commercial Dispute Panel and its International Panel.  He has been appointed by AAA to serve on numerous panels, as sole arbitrator, panel member, or chairman. He has also been a member of the advisory board of Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Metro Detroit.

He is a past president of the Oakland County Bar Foundation and of The American Constitution Society, Michigan Chapter. He was named a “Legal Eagle” by Franchise Times. He is listed in Chambers USA 2017 under Commercial Litigation, in The Best Lawyers in America 2025 under Commercial Litigation, in Michigan Super Lawyers 2024 under Business Litigation, and in Benchmark Litigation 2008-2025 under Antitrust and Commercial Litigation. He is also listed as a 2025 “Top Lawyer” by DBusiness magazine. He was named a “Client Service All Star” for 2011 by BTI Consulting, a leading provider of strategic research to law firms and general counsel. He is AV® Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Tallerico is the co-author of “The Use of Bifurcation and Direct Testimony Witness Statements in International Commercial Arbitration,” Journal of International Arbitration (2003). He has spoken at seminars regarding international arbitration in the U.S., Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.

Mr. Tallerico is reasonably proficient in Spanish and French. Before joining Bodman, he worked for the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs of the United States Department of State.

Honors, Awards, and Recognition

• Chambers USA 2017, Commercial Litigation
• The Best Lawyers in America 2005-2025, Commercial Litigation
• Michigan Super Lawyers 2006-2024, Business Litigation
• Benchmark Litigation 2008-2025, “Litigation Star”
• DBusiness Magazine “Top Lawyer,” 2009-2015, 2018, 2020-2022 and 2025, Litigation-Antitrust Law
• “Client Service All Star,” BTI Consulting, 2011
• “Legal Eagle,” Franchise Times
• Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® Peer Rated for Highest Level of Professional Excellence; Endorsed for High Ethical Standing

Civic, Cultural and Community Activities

• Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Metro Detroit, Advisory Board
• Pro Bono representation of a Juvenile Life Without Parole prisoner

Professional Affiliations

• International Bar Association
• American Arbitration Association
  • National Roster of Commercial Arbitrations
  • Complex Commercial Dispute Panel
  • International Panel
• Oakland County Bar Association
  • Circuit Court Committee
• Oakland County Bar Foundation, Fellow
• State Bar of Michigan
  • International Law Section

Publications

• Co-Author, “The Use of Bifurcation and Direct Testimony Witness Statements in International Commercial Arbitration Proceedings,” 20 Journal of International Arbitration 295-305 (2003).

Pro Bono

• State Bar of Michigan 2023 A Lawyer Helps Pro Bono Honor Roll 

Representative Matters

Significant representative matters in which Mr. Tallerico has been counsel of record include the following:

• The arbitration of disputes relating to the non-renewal of automotive distributorships in Doha, Qatar and Beirut, Lebanon. The cases involved complex contract, choice of law, and damages issues, and were   decided favorably by the AAA International Center For Dispute Resolution in New York in one instance and by the London Court of International Arbitration in the other.
• The successful arbitration and litigation, in London and throughout the United States, of disputes regarding the termination of other distribution relationships, including matters in Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Holland, Iraq, Germany, Greece, Lebanon, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and throughout the United States.
• The defense of professionals, including most of the major accounting firms.
• Litigation between a U.S. oil company and its wholly owned subsidiary in Yemen to enjoin a Washington, D.C.-based lawyer and his law firm from representing the Yemen Arab Republic (the “YAR”) in all matters in which the oil company had an interest adverse to the YAR.
• The litigation of other disputes involving persons in Switzerland, France, Italy, England, St. Martin, the Cayman Islands, Dubai, Hong Kong, and Canada.
• A wide variety of other injunctive relief matters, virtually all of which have required the rapid assessment and articulation of relevant facts and law. Jerome Duncan, Inc. v. Auto-By-Tel, L.L.C., 966 F.Supp. 540 (E.D. Mich. 1997), is one example. In that action, an automobile dealership sought to restrain Mr. Tallerico’s client, an Internet Web site operator, from terminating their contract.
• A wide variety of disputes relating to financial institutions, including defense of major lender liability claims in various courts across the country and the pursuit of claims related to frauds perpetuated by large borrowers.

Related News

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• 08/12/202458 Bodman Attorneys Listed in Michigan Super Lawyers 2024
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