Experience

Dismissal of Claims and Favorable Settlements in Representation of Real Estate Investment Firm

Represented real estate investment firm in disputes against lessees and former executives and secured dismissal of claims and favorable settlements.

Representation of Private Investor in Fraud, Veil-Piercing Claims

Represented private investor in fraudulent transfer and corporate veil-piercing claims in the Northern District of Illinois.

Representation of Corporate Client in Multi-Party Litigation Alleging Fraud Claims

Represented corporate client in complex multi-party litigation involving cross-claims of fraud in the Chancery Court of Delaware.

Prevailed on Motion for Judgment for Private Investor Client

Represented private investor in breach of promissory note action and prevailed on a motion for judgment on the pleadings against corporate defendant in the Northern District of Illinois.

Settlement Agreement for Cannabis-Related Dispute

Obtained favorable settlement agreement for landlord in breach of contract suit against cannabis manufacturing and dispensing company that violated its lease agreement after failing to obtain Illinois cannabis permits.

Vacated Default Judgment for Pro Bono Client

Successfully obtained an order vacating a default judgment against pro bono client which allowed her to have her driver’s license reinstated.

Settlement Agreement in Closely Held Company Dispute

Obtained favorable settlement agreement for a construction company in a closely held company shareholder dispute involving multiple family members.

Subpoena Duces Tecum for Commodity Trading and Logistics Company

Represented an energy industry client in negotiating a limited response to an overly broad and unduly burdensome subpoena duces tecum.

Successful Objection to Massive Class Counsel Fee Request

On mega-settlement of antitrust action, obtained a judgment order reducing class counsel’s fee award by eight-figures – notwithstanding our client’s prior written agreement to the higher amount class counsel requested in fees.

Summary Judgment on Challenge to Association Bylaws

Prevailed on summary judgment for directors of a leading national professional association on a challenge to a bylaws amendment brought in a derivative action by association members who were also leaders of a rival professional association that opposed the amendment.

Successfully Defended Health Care Consultants and Health Care Attorney in Multiple Civil, Bankruptcy and Investigative Proceedings

Successfully defended a health care consulting firm and a health care attorney in multiple civil, bankruptcy and investigative proceedings relating to disputed process and handling fees paid to physicians by testing laboratories.

Judgment for Commercial Real Estate Owner, Voiding Rejected Purchase Contract

Obtained a judgment order for a commercial real estate owner that held a property sales contract void under an attorney modification clause and dismissed the buyer-plaintiff’s claim with prejudice.

Litigation Success Leads to Negotiated Victory for a National Hotel Operator

After substituting in as counsel for a commercial tenant in an eviction action, amended to add claims that the landlord and its affiliate had breached the lease's territorial-exclusivity covenant and sought discovery on the affiliate’s profits from the forbidden competition with our client. After the court ordered our opponents to provide the discovery, the landlord relented and entered into a 50-year lease that ceded operational control of the property to our client, reversing the landlord’s longstanding opposition to such terms.

Appellate Victory Affirming Court-Ordered Removal of Illegal Billboard

The Illinois Appellate Court affirmed a summary judgment order we obtained, compelling the removal of an illegal billboard that stalled completion of a shopping center development.

Arbitration Award and Federal Court Judgment Free Energy Company to Sell Overseas Assets

Obtained both an arbitration award and a federal court judgment in favor of subsidiaries of a publicly held energy company, restraining frivolous multimillion-dollar litigation in Guatemala, which freed our client to sell its assets in that country.

Complete Victory for Defendant/Counterclaimant at Trial, Affirmed on Appeal

Defeated all claims against a building owner at trial and obtained a seven-figure judgment on the owner’s counterclaim against the contractor and its principals, including on veil-piercing theories and an award of attorney’s fees. The victory was affirmed on appeal.

Representation of World’s Largest Hourly Cost Maintenance Program for Private Jets

Represented the world’s largest independent hourly cost maintenance program for private business jets in numerous business disputes.

Representation in $22 Million Breach of Contract Action

Represented national truck lessor in breach of contract action for more than $22 million.

Representation of Transportation Trade Association in Regulatory Matter

Represented transportation trade association against the state of Illinois in claims that certain state regulations were unconstitutional and otherwise void and unenforceable.

Representation of Employee Benefits Consultant in Misrepresentation, Fraud Case

Defended multimillion-dollar claims against employee benefits consultant for negligent misrepresentation and fraud.

Representation of Numerous Clients in Embezzlement Claims

Represented numerous clients in claims against former employees or officers for embezzling millions in corporate funds.

Contract and Fraud Case Involving Foreign Manufacturer

Represented a large foreign manufacturer in a contract and fraud dispute against two American companies, including a large American retailer. Secured a multimillion-dollar judgment after a two-week federal jury trial.

Post-COVID-19 Lease Dispute

Represented a global e-commerce company in a commercial lease dispute.

Summary Judgment for Commercial Real Estate Lender

Secured a victory in the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, on behalf of a commercial real estate lender. A borrower and guarantors sought to void multiple loan, mortgage, note and guarantee agreements by claiming that the agreements were unconscionable and induced by fraud. The trial court granted summary judgment dismissing the claims and granting the client’s counterclaims for foreclosure. The Appellate Division affirmed, following which the trial court issued a final judgment of foreclosure and sale.

Multimillion-Dollar Judgment for Manufacturing Clients Affirmed on Appeal

Secured opinion from the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirming a judgment in favor of manufacturing clients who brought breach of contract and fraud claims against sales representative. At trial in federal court in Chicago, the jury awarded over $3 million in contract damages, $400,000 in fraud damages and just over $900,000 in punitive damages. The District Court awarded additional amounts for unjust enrichment and interest for a total judgment over $5.6 million.

Secured Immediate Release for Incarcerated Pro Bono Client

Represented a pro bono client through the Washington, D.C., nonprofit Second Look Project who had been incarcerated for more than 31 years. Following an evidentiary hearing, including a written submission and testimony from three witnesses, the judge immediately granted the client’s motion and resentenced him, giving credit for time served and resulting in his immediate release from prison. Without this motion, the client would not have been eligible for parole for another 10-15 years.

Defeated Putative Class Action Against Streaming Media Clients

Represented streaming media companies in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in a lawsuit brought by an Illinois city claiming video streaming companies owed fees pursuant to an Illinois statute. The Court of Appeals upheld the District Court’s dismissal of the matter.

Successfully Defended University, Individual Against Missouri Human Right Act Claims

Secured a full defense verdict for a university and individual on multiple claims alleging violations of the Missouri Human Rights Act. After a one-week trial in the City of St. Louis Circuit Court, the jury returned verdicts in favor of our client on all counts.

Dismissal in Multimillion-Dollar Qui Tam Case

Represented a health care client in a qui tam action involving alleged violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act and equivalent state-level laws. The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey dismissed the complaint with prejudice.

Defense Verdict for Public Entity in Vendor Contract Dispute

Obtained a full defense verdict in a jury trial in Jackson County, Missouri, on behalf of a public entity regarding a contract dispute with a vendor. The plaintiff alleged representations from the public entity's leadership induced performance in support of a claim for breach of warranty ex contractu. The jury agreed with our defense that the representations did not happen and that the plaintiff did not prove damages.