Boutique commercial litigation, Chicago

We try cases
other firms settle.

Twelve trial lawyers who handle high-stakes contract, partnership, and intellectual property disputes for mid-market companies. We are retained when the outcome matters more than the invoice ~ and when the courtroom, not the conference room, will be the deciding venue.

2008
Founded by partners from Sidley & Jenner
12
Attorneys ~ admitted in IL, NY, DE, DC
$2.4B
In matters tried since 2014
10%
Top decile of AmLaw firms by appeals win rate
AV
ABA-rated AV Preeminent ~ every partner
What we handle

Three practices. One bench.

Every matter is staffed by a partner and an associate from day one. We do not run pyramid teams, and we do not pad files. The first hour you pay for is spent on your case.
~ I.

Commercial
Litigation

Contract disputes, fraud claims, and post-closing M&A breaches in state and federal court ~ from term sheet through Seventh Circuit appeal.

  • Contract & UCC disputes
  • Post-acquisition indemnification
  • Business tort & fraud claims
Learn more ~ Practice
~ II.

IP & Trade
Secrets

Trade secret theft, restrictive covenant enforcement, and patent infringement matters ~ including emergency injunctive relief within 72 hours of retention.

  • Trade secret misappropriation
  • Non-compete & non-solicitation
  • Patent & trademark litigation
Learn more ~ Practice
~ III.

Partnership
Disputes

LLC and partnership dissolutions, buy-outs, and minority oppression claims ~ tried in the Delaware Chancery Court and Illinois Chancery Division.

  • Member & partnership exits
  • Buy-sell agreement disputes
  • Fiduciary breach & oppression
Learn more ~ Practice
The bench

Twelve trial lawyers. Eight pictured.

Every partner has first-chaired a federal jury trial. Every associate has second-chaired one. The remaining four attorneys are listed in the firm directory.
~ PartnerEST. '08

Margaret Halloran

Founding Partner

Lead trial counsel on contract and post-closing disputes; seventeen federal jury verdicts.

JD Yale '06 ~ clerked DC Cir.
~ PartnerEST. '08

Daniel Rooke

Founding Partner

Heads the IP and trade-secret practice; twice argued before the Federal Circuit.

JD Chicago '04 ~ clerked Fed. Cir.
~ PartnerJOINED '12

Elena Vasquez

Partner ~ Appellate

Builds and argues the appeal in every matter the firm tries to verdict.

JD Stanford '09 ~ clerked SCOTUS
~ PartnerJOINED '14

James Thorne

Partner ~ Chancery

Practices exclusively in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Illinois Chancery Division.

JD Penn '08 ~ clerked Del. Ch.
~ CounselJOINED '17

Aisha Chen

Of Counsel

Former federal prosecutor; handles parallel civil and criminal matters in regulated industries.

JD Harvard '11 ~ AUSA, N.D. Ill.
~ Senior Assoc.JOINED '19

Michael Kowalski

Senior Associate

Drafts and argues dispositive motions in commercial and partnership matters.

JD Columbia '15 ~ clerked 2d Cir.
~ Senior Assoc.JOINED '20

Priya Shah

Senior Associate

Lead second chair in the firm's trade-secret and non-compete docket.

JD NYU '16 ~ clerked 7th Cir.
~ AssociateJOINED '22

Robert Beaumont

Associate

Discovery management and witness preparation across all three practice groups.

JD Michigan '20 ~ clerked N.D. Ill.
Selected results

Outcomes, on the record.

A representative sample of recent matters tried to verdict, judgment, or settlement on the firm's terms. Client identities redacted in accordance with confidentiality stipulations.
~ Case No. 1:21-cv-04428 ~ N.D. Ill.

$340M contract
dispute

Plaintiff verdict on 14 of 16 claims after a 23-day jury trial; affirmed in full by the Seventh Circuit on cross-appeal.

Verdict
Industry ~ Industrial manufacturingTried ~ October 2023
~ Case No. 2022-0916-LWW ~ Del. Ch.

$88M partnership
buy-out

Negotiated dissolution of a 14-year holding company on the eve of trial after summary judgment was denied to the majority.

Settled
Industry ~ Real estate holdingsResolved ~ March 2024
~ Case No. 1:23-cv-08812 ~ S.D.N.Y.

Trade secret
injunction

Preliminary injunction granted within 19 days of filing against four departing engineers and their new employer.

Verdict
Industry ~ Enterprise softwareGranted ~ July 2024
~ Case No. 21-cv-2240 ~ N.D. Ill.

$112M post-closing
indemnification

Recovery in excess of policy limits secured for the buyer after a six-day bench trial on accounting irregularities.

Judgment
Industry ~ Healthcare servicesEntered ~ February 2025
Your Business is the firm we call when the matter is going to be tried.
~ General Counsel, Fortune 500 industrial holding company ~ Chambers USA, 2024