Overview

Bill counsels clients through a wide variety of complex commercial challenges, from helping navigate pre-litigation disputes and demands to litigating active matters through trial and the appellate process. He litigates in federal and state courts across the country, handling real estate litigation, indemnification claims, shareholder disputes, breach of contract, trade secrets, business dissolution litigation, mass and class actions. He has also handled internal corporate investigations.

Bill has first chaired trials arbitrations, and administrative hearings, and has second-chaired dozens of other trials and arbitrations. He also has extensive experience working with clients to understand their business needs to achieve the best resolution regardless of the litigation phase, including pre-suit negotiations, motion practice, fact and expert discovery, depositions, trials, and appeals.

Experience

Bill has represented clients in the following matters:

Representative Trials and Arbitrations

  • First-chaired bench trial in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado in a commercial dispute regarding claims for breach of a shareholder agreement.
  • First-chaired arbitration in state court action in Illinois in a claim between a retailer and its former vendor for a breach of the vendor agreement and claims under the Illinois Uniform Commercial Code.
  • Second-chaired three bench trials for national retailer in Illinois state court defending against claims for breach of commercial lease guaranties and contractual liquidated damages.

Representative Class and Mass Actions

  • Represented national and international provider of for-profit higher education in series of class actions, mass actions, and arbitrations involving allegations of consumer fraud. Included first- and second-chairing numerous consumer arbitrations.
  • Successfully represented insurer against claims made on property insurance policies for damages caused by COVID-19 government shutdowns in 25+ cases pending in the District of New Jersey.
  • Represented a Major League Baseball team in class action pending in Northern District of Illinois alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act with respect to its online ticketing process.
  • Represented past and present owners of a chemical treatment facility in a class action pending in the Northern District of Florida where plaintiffs have alleged diminished use and enjoyment of properties surrounding the facility due to air emissions and groundwater contamination.
  • Achieved dismissal of more than 80 claims as part of an interstate mass tort claim currently pending in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
  • Represented petroleum transporting and marketing entities in multidistrict mass tort wrongful death action relating to a petroleum train derailment in Canada.
  • Pro Bono class action representing individuals incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections seeking injunctive relief to alter delivery of medical care in Illinois prison system.

Additional Representative Commercial Litigation Matters

  • Representing a real estate company in litigation involving claims of stolen trade secrets and violations of the civil RICO statute.
  • Represented clothing retailer in multiple commercial real estate disputes over contractual obligations under commercial leases.
  • Represented investor in commercial mortgage foreclosure action pending in Illinois.
  • Represented an American toy, clothing, and baby product retailer in litigation under Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code over recognition of foreign proceedings invoked to avoid pending litigation obligations in the United States.
  • Represented online shoe retailer in multiple actions in Delaware, Illinois and Minnesota state courts seeking to impose alter ego liability on buyer of brick-and-mortar retailer’s assets at a U.C.C. Article 9 sale.
  • Represented apparel retailer in high-profile claim of false imprisonment brought by Telenovela actress against the store.
  • Represented the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in over a dozen actions brought by former Sheriff’s Deputies seeking to overturn employment terminations. Representation included evidentiary proceedings in front of Administrative Law Judges; administrative review actions in Cook County, Illinois courts; and appellate practice in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the Court of Appeals for the First District of Illinois.
  • Pro Bono representation of displaced Ukrainian student seeking Temporary Protected Status.
  • Pro Bono representation of an individual who was denied ability to view or rent apartment based on her status as a rent-reduction voucher holder.

Representative Appeals    

  • Successfully argued in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on behalf of an academic institution involving a claim of discrimination pursuant to Title III, §309 of the Americans with Disabilities Act in administering a certification exam.
  • Successfully argued in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in a claim against a law firm and its lawyers involving allegations of Title 28 U.S.C. § 1983 and the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution.
  • Briefed and won an appeal in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals affirming, with costs, the trial court’s dismissal of a claim for breach of an international telecommunications contract.
  • Briefed and won an appeal in the Illinois Appellate Court, First District, on behalf of an international financial services company; the appellate court affirmed the trial court’s dismissal of a claim for improper disbursement of segregated funds.

Honors & Recognitions

  • Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial, Illinois, 2021-2024
  • Best Lawyers in America, “One to Watch,” Commercial Litigation, 2021 - 2022

Professional Activities

  • Board of Trustees, National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Greater Illinois Chapter, 2018 – Present
  • Writing Mentor, Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, 2020-Present

Education

Bar Admission

Court Admissions

Insights

Education

Bar Admission

Court Admissions

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