David Hansma guides clients through complex disputes, including “bet-the-company” litigation.
Education
Recognitions
Named among The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2026)
Named among Michigan Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters® (2010-2025)
Named among Michigan Super Lawyers® Rising Star (2012-2020)
Named among Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit by DBusiness Magazine (2012, 2019, 2020, 2025)
Memberships
American Arbitration Association, Member
State Bar Licenses
Court Admissions
Experience*
- Served as lead trial counsel on behalf of plaintiff in a shareholder oppression case resulting in a $3.1 million arbitration award.
- Defended a general partner accused of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty resulting in a complete trial victory including an award of attorney’s fees.
- Successfully defended a foreign corporation in an action alleging breach of a contract to convey stock and seeking over $2 million in damages. The court granted dismissal of all claims.
- Served as lead defense counsel in $1 million breach of contract case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York resulting in a favorable settlement.
- Acted as co-counsel in a successful arbitration action relating to ownership of a registered investment advisory firm with over $1 billion in assets under management.
- Represented a physician in a shareholder oppression action resulting in a settlement of over $900,000 following a favorable case evaluation award.
- Represented a Tier 2 auto supplier in defense and negotiation of a minority shareholder’s demand to inspect corporate records.
- Successfully represented a pharmacy supplier in a breach of contract action leading to an arbitration award of nearly $600,000.
- Acted as trial counsel on behalf of a restaurant group in a lawsuit brought by a former restaurant manager claiming breach of his employment contract. The trial resulted in a judgment of no cause of action in favor defendant.
- Represented a consumer electronics manufacturer in cross-border litigation arising from the termination of the general manager of the company’s Canadian division.
- Successfully represented a municipality in a federal civil rights case resulting in summary judgment in favor of the municipality.
- Represented the defendant in a class action alleging violations of the Junk Fax Prevention Act.
- Represented banks and lenders in numerous cases to enforce notes, mortgages, guarantees, and other instruments.
- Served as counsel at oral argument for a plaintiff seeking to reverse the dismissal of a shareholder oppression claim. The Court of Appeals reversed. Frank v. Linkner, 310 Mich. App. 169 (2015).
- Served as appellate counsel in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in a case arising under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Mize v. Tedford, 375 Fed. Appx. 497 (6th Cir. 2010).
- Argued in the Michigan Court of Appeals in cases involving easements, breach of contract, promissory estoppel, attorneys’ fees, creditor rights, and property taxes.
*Experience completed prior to joining Clark Hill
Publications
- Franks v. Franks: Shareholder Oppression, Business Judgment, and Specific Intent, The Michigan Business Law Journal (Spring 2020)
- Figuring Out What Rule Applies to Noncompetition Agreements with Independent Contractors, Michigan Defense Quarterly, Volume 36 (November 2019)
- Shareholder Oppression and the Entire Fairness Standard: Reconciling MCL 450.1489 and MCL 450.1545a, The Michigan Business Law Journal (Spring 2019)
- Michigan’s Corporate Opportunity Doctrine: Understanding the Production Finishing and Rapistan Decisions, Michigan Bar Journal (May 2019)
- Defending Corporate Oppression Claims in Michigan, The Litigation Journal (Litigation Section of the State Bar of Michigan), (Winter 2018/2019)
- Fiduciary Duties, Corporate Purpose, and Director Conscience, The Michigan Business Law Journal (Fall 2018)
Presentations
- The American Arbitration Association commercial panel (October 8-9, 2024)
- Third Annual Symposium on Corporate Oppression Actions and Business Law – Oppression in the Age of Pandemic, Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan (Grand Rapids) (November 2020)
- Second Annual Symposium on Corporate Oppression, Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan (December 2019)
- Litigating Commercial Cases in Arbitration, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel Winter Meeting (November 2019)
- Symposium on Corporate Oppression Actions: Prosecuting, Defending, and Avoiding, Business Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, (October 2018 – Grand Rapids) and (November 2018 – Detroit).
- Advising Closely-Held Business Clients: Practical Steps to Avoid Disputes Among Owners, MICPA Anti-Fraud Issues, Litigation & Business Valuation, & Mergers & Acquisitions Conference (May 2018)