Representative Matters

In his role as an advocate, Chuck has extensive litigation and settlement experience in a wide variety of areas, including:

Accounting Finance
• • Representation of a large financial institution in a dispute over investments by a third party in solar finance securitizations
  • Representation of several of the country’s largest financial institutions in litigation and government investigations related to securitization of mortgage loans, including negotiation of a multibillion-dollar settlement with the Department of Justice and SEC, of litigation brought by federal regulators, institutional investors and quasi-governmental entities
  • Representation of a nationally recognized valuation firm in litigation and related government investigations regarding valuation of non-liquid assets
  • Representation of an international accounting firm in securities and derivative litigation arising from a restatement by a manufacturing company
  • Representation of a payments software firm in investigating two end-of-quarter revenue recognition issues and related discussions with auditors
  • Representation of a senior executive at a pharmaceutical company in an SEC investigation related to cross-border accounting issues
  • Representation of an insurance company in evaluating revenue recognition issues
  • Representation of a senior executive at an animal products company in an SEC investigation related to revenue recognition issues
  • Representation of the chief accounting officer of a large consulting firm in an SEC investigation related to a restatement
Antitrust & Competition
• • Representation of a financial services firm in litigation involving allegations of collusion and monopoly behavior in clearing services
  • Representation of an airline in industry-wide antitrust litigation
Appellate
• • Represented a state social services agency in successful challenge to federal regulation in the United States Supreme Court
  • Represented a major airline in appeal of merger-related litigation in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • Represented a manufacturing company in bankruptcy-related appeals in the Eighth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel and the full Eighth Circuit
  • Represented a multi-line insurer in appeal in the Illinois Appellate Court related to a shareholder derivative action regarding alleged breaches of fiduciary duty
Banking
• • Representation of a bank and its senior management in securities and derivative litigation arising from an investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  • Trial representation for a financial institution in a dispute with investors in mortgage-backed securities
  • Representation of a large national bank in litigation, regulatory investigations and settlement negotiations that led to a multibillion-dollar settlement with federal and state regulators related to the financial crisis
  • Representation of several large national and international banks in litigation related to mortgage-backed securities
  • Representation of a bank in a dispute with investors in solar loans securitized by a bank affiliate
  • Representation of a bank in responding to litigation and demands related to a proposed merger with another financial institution
Bankruptcy
• • Representation of a leading jewelry retailer in litigation matters arising in its Chapter 11 case
  • Representation of a large, diversified retailer in litigation matters and regulatory investigations related to its Chapter 11 case
  • Trial counsel for a foreign bank as lender to a Russian oil company in obtaining dismissal of a U.S. bankruptcy filing
  • Representation of a men’s clothing company in litigation related to its Chapter 11 case
Business Commercial
• • Representation of one of the largest medical device companies as plaintiff and defendant in several disputes arising from M&A transactions
  • Representation of a food service equipment manufacturer as plaintiff in a federal jury trial involving alleged fraud and breaches of representations and warranties by the seller in an M&A transaction
  • Representation of an international food service equipment manufacturer as plaintiff in Delaware state court in a case alleging fraud and breaches of representations and warranties by the sellers in an M&A transaction
  • Representation of a food service equipment manufacturer as defendant in post-merger litigation
  • Representation of a home goods company in a dispute against a consulting firm that installed an enterprise software system
  • Representation of a large insurance company in a dispute involving installation of an enterprise software system
  • Representation of a private equity firm in two post-M&A dispute jury trials in Illinois state court
  • Representation of one of the largest airlines in an arbitration related to a computerized reservation system
  • Representation of a leading food service equipment manufacturer in arbitration related to vending machine cooking technology licensing
  • Representation of a multinational food service equipment company in an arbitration over licensing of oven technology
  • Representation of an airline holding company in trial court and appeal of union effort to enjoin an M&A transaction
  • Representation of an investment bank in resolving a dispute over the alleged wrongful death of an employee
  • Representation of an airline as plaintiff in a dispute with a provider of in-flight technology services
  • Representation of an online shopping services company in a contract dispute with a large software company
  • Representation of a pharmaceutical manufacturer as settlement counsel in resolving a high-profile case brought by the State of Illinois related to the opioid epidemic
  • Representation of a lighting manufacturing company as plaintiff in disputes with its founder and CEO
  • Representation of a lighting manufacturing company as settlement counsel to resolve a dispute related to an arbitration ruling
Civil Rights
• • Representation of a state child welfare agency (including as trial counsel and on appeals in the United States Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of the United States) in a series of groundbreaking class actions that challenged virtually every aspect of the state’s child welfare system
  • Representation, pro bono, of two state election workers in a defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress case against an online publication
  • Representation, pro bono, of a coalition of community groups in litigation that challenged Illinois’ implementation of its motor voter law (including negotiation of a national precedent-setting settlement)
  • Representation, pro bono, of a railroad employee in a race discrimination case against his employer
Class Action & Mass Tort
• • Representation of a major auto insurance company in class action litigation over specifications of aftermarket auto parts
  • Representation of a nationally recognized valuation firm in class action litigation related to valuation of illiquid assets
  • Representation of an international accounting firm in shareholder litigation arising from a restatement
  • Representation of a leading financial services firm in class action litigation related to alleged antitrust violations in brokerage services
  • Representation of a bank and its senior management in shareholder litigation arising from a regulatory investigation
  • Representation of a bank in litigation and related demands concerning disclosures and other issues in an M&A transaction
  • Representation of a state agency in a series of class actions related to provision of social services, including in a federal trial, in two federal appellate court proceedings and in the Supreme Court of the United States
  • Representation of plaintiff interest groups and individuals in federal class action litigation challenging Illinois’ implementation of its motor voter law (and negotiation of a groundbreaking settlement)
  • Representation of an annuity company in several class action lawsuits throughout the country challenging sales practices
  • Representation of the CEO of a leading insurance company in federal securities and derivative litigation related to auto claims
  • Representation of an international accounting firm in class action litigation related to a restatement
  • Representation of a public, non-traded REIT in shareholder class action litigation related to liquidity issues
  • Representation of a multinational manufacturing company in securities litigation arising out of alleged misconduct by its CEO and founder
Cybersecurity & Privacy
• • Representation of a leading derivatives-industry participant in a series of investigations by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, including related to a cybersecurity incident
  • Representation of a manufacturing company in responding to a successful international phishing attack and the related efforts to recover funds
Employment Law
• • Representation of a large accounting firm in negotiating issues related to the departure of its CEO
  • Trial counsel for an international manufacturing company in litigating alleged noncompete and trade secret violations by an incoming executive
  • Representation as plaintiffs’ counsel for a worldwide manufacturing company in enforcing various noncompete, confidentiality, trade secret and nonsolicitation agreements by key employees
  • Representation of a medical device company in evaluating noncompete and trade secret issues for an incoming executive
  • Representation of a grocery chain in investigating possible wrongdoing by a senior executive
  • Representation of a large law firm in matters related to partners who moved to other firms
  • Representation of a software company in an SEC investigation related to alleged options backdating in executive compensation
  • Representation of a railroad employee as plaintiff in a race discrimination case against his employer
Financial Markets
• • Representation of a large broker-dealer in various FINRA and SEC enforcement matters related to mutual fund share classes and advertising restrictions
  • Representation of a leading derivatives market firm in numerous CFTC matters
  • Representation of an individual subject to a public company bar by the SEC in seeking reinstatement
  • Representation of a manufacturing company in discussions with an exchange regarding possible delisting
Health Care
• • Representation of a pharmacy benefit manager in a regulatory investigation
  • Representation of a leading medical device manufacturer in numerous M&A due diligence and post-M&A dispute matters arising from a series of transactions
  • Representation of one of the world’s largest retailers in renegotiating its contract with a leading medical supply company, as well as related disputes
  • Representation of an innovative imaging services firm in post-M&A disputes over alleged breaches of representations and warranties
Insurance
• • Representation of an annuity company in sales practices litigation in state courts throughout the country
  • Representation of an annuity company and its senior executives in an SEC enforcement action
  • Representation of the CEO of a large insurance company in federal securities and shareholder derivative litigation related to auto claims frequency
  • Representation of an auto insurance company in nationwide class action cases related to aftermarket auto parts
Intellectual Property
• • Arbitration counsel for a manufacturing company in a cross-border matter claiming breach of intellectual property licensing agreement related to cutting-edge technology
  • Arbitration counsel for a manufacturing company accused of breach of an intellectual property license agreement
  • Advised clients on intellectual property licensing litigation risks in many M&A transactions
International & Cross Border
• • Represented a leading automaker in a worldwide DOJ and SEC investigation of alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Trial counsel for a foreign bank as lender to a Russian oil company in obtaining dismissal of a U.S. bankruptcy filing
  • Testified in a Swiss arbitration regarding termination of an exclusive international distributor agreement by a German manufacturing company
  • Represented a multinational manufacturing company in an FCPA investigation by the DOJ and SEC related to alleged bribery in South America
Professional Liability
• • Representation of an appraisal affiliate of a large accounting firm in litigation over the valuation of a trophy hotel
  • Representation of an international accounting firm in litigation and regulatory enforcement matters related to a revenue recognition issue at a client of that firm
  • Representation of a leading professional services firm in matters related to the departure of certain partners
  • Representation of a valuation firm in federal litigation, SEC investigations and other disputes challenging its valuation of non-liquid assets
Real Property
• • Representation of a senior living company in arbitration related to termination of a management contract
  • Representation of a senior living company in a dispute with a real estate developer regarding development of a new facility
  • Representation of a public, non-traded REIT in derivative litigation and SEC investigation arising out of efforts by certain shareholders to obtain liquidity
  • Representation of a public, non-traded REIT in disputes over construction of a student housing project
Securities
• • Representation of a large regional bank and its senior executives in securities and derivative litigation arising from a CFPB investigation
  • Representation of an international lighting company in securities and shareholder derivative litigation, as well as related SEC and DOJ investigations, arising from a dispute between the company’s founder/CEO and then-current general counsel
  • Trial counsel for a Swiss bank sued by investors in mortgage-backed securities
  • Counsel for a bank in a variety of federal and state securities litigation, investor suits and investigations by federal and state regulators related to the collapse of the market in mortgage-backed securities
  • Representation of a bank as settlement counsel to resolve various federal and state investigations related to the mortgage crisis
  • Representation of U.S. and German financial institutions in U.S. securities litigation related to a securities offering by a Greek shipping company
  • Representation of an airline holding company in securities litigation related to a stock drop
  • Representation of the CEO of a leading insurance company in securities litigation related to claims frequency
  • Representation of a media company and its executives in securities and derivative litigation arising from acquisition of the company by its founder and a private equity firm
  • Representation of a media company in an SEC and DOJ insider trading investigation related to trading by the then-CEO’s husband
  • Representation of a manufacturing company in shareholder derivative litigation arising from a merger
  • Representation of a financial institution in resolving threatened securities and shareholder derivative litigation related to a merger with another bank
  • Representation of a public, non-traded REIT in derivative litigation related to its failure to authorize a liquidity event