Ethan Z. Davis
Partner
Education:
J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, Fordham University School of Law, 2002 (Staff Member, Fordham Law Review); B.A., Johns Hopkins University, 1995
Admitted to Practice:
Massachusetts; New York; U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; U.S. Court of Appeals for the First and Fourth Circuits.
Ethan Davis’s practice focuses on helping clients resolve disputes arising from business and employment relationships, and commercial transactions. Ethan has extensive experience representing clients in matters involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, freeze outs and “business divorces”, breach of non-compete and other restrictive covenants, whistleblower claims, wage act claims, and appellate matters. Ethan has also represented clients in real estate and residential and commercial construction disputes. He has brought and defended numerous cases in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts and New York on behalf of a wide variety of clients that include Fortune 500 companies, multinational banks, investment advisers, Big Four accounting firms, as well as much smaller companies, universities, close corporations, family businesses, start-ups, and individual litigants.
Ethan has been named a Best Lawyer in America® in Commercial Litigation, and has also been named a Super Lawyer® in Business Litigation in each year since 2013, and was a "Massachusetts Rising Star" in 2011 and 2012 in Massachusetts Super Lawyers published by the Thomson Reuters rating service in Boston Magazine.
Before co-founding Tymann, Davis & Duffy, Ethan practiced for nine years at Fitch Law Partners, LLP, where he was a partner focused on complex commercial litigation, shareholder and partnership disputes, and construction litigation. He also practiced at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York and at Goodwin Procter in Boston.
In addition to his private practice background, Ethan also has extensive experience clerking in Federal Court. He first served as a law clerk to the Hon. Denny Chin in the United States District Court for Southern District of New York in 2003-2004. When Judge Chin was elevated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 2010, Ethan returned to New York to clerk during Judge Chin’s transition from the Southern District of New York to the Second Circuit.
Before becoming a lawyer, Ethan worked as an investigator of police misconduct for the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board. Ethan’s community service and pro bono commitment includes serving as the chairman of the Watertown Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, and providing pro bono mediation services in Waltham District Court.
Representative Cases:
Obtained multi-million dollar judgment in real estate fraud case in Suffolk Superior Court.
Won dismissal of all claims brought against publicly traded supplier of food and restaurant supplies.
Won summary judgment in Federal court in Maryland dismissing all claims brought by former salesman seeking commissions against publicly traded medical records provider.
Won dismissal of claims brought against dental practice management firm by orthodontist.
Won dismissal of whistleblower claims brought by disgruntled former employee against publicly traded financial firm in matter of first impression that ultimately went to the Supreme Court.
Obtained favorable settlement for minority owner of accounting firm in dispute with majority owners resulting in redemption of plaintiff’s shares at full value.
Obtained favorable settlement for minority owner of convenience store in dispute with majority owner resulting in redemption of plaintiff’s shares and sale of real estate at full value.
Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of partner frozen out of investment advisory firm.
Obtained favorable settlement of minority shareholder’s breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims against franchisor of martial-arts infused fitness programs.
Obtained favorable settlement of wrongly terminated employee’s claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act against former employer.
Obtained favorable settlement of claims brought by shareholder son against majority owner father in lawsuit regarding family-owned interior design business.
Successfully moved for reconsideration of trial court’s order denying motion to dismiss claims against publicly traded accounting firm, which ultimately led to client’s dismissal from case.
Successfully moved for dismissal of claims for negligence and breach of contract brought by homeowner against home inspection firm.
Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of homeowners in lawsuit against contractor for negligent construction and improper billing.