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Representative Experience

• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of US$20m claim for tortious interference with contract, professional negligence, breach of fiduciary duty, and other causes of action on behalf of international risk management and insurance brokering client. Case dismissed prior to the commencement of discovery. Affirmed, Santa Rose Mall, LLC v. Aon Risk Services Cent., Inc., No. 221352, 2023 WL 4672106 (Ill. App. 1st Dist.)
• Obtained defense judgment in jury trial in favor of mobility and transportation service provider and its employee defeating wrongful death and vicarious liability claims.
• Obtained defense judgment in bench trial in favor of insurance brokerage firm defeating claims for breach of contract. Case affirmed on appeal. Altman Mgmt. Co. v. AON Risk Ins. Servs. W., Inc., No. 328593, 2016 WL 5122109 (Mich. Ct. App. Sept. 20, 2016), appeal denied, 893 N.W.2d 632 (Mich. 2017).
• Attained a temporary restraining order on behalf of Tier 1 automotive supplier client against its customer OEM, compelling the OEM to conduct a recall of certain vehicles to replace certain emissions-related components.
• Obtained a jury verdict in a premises liability matter for a leading national retailer. Plaintiff claimed permanent head injuries and sought US$6.5m. As liability was admitted, the matter only concerned damages. The jury awarded plaintiff US$150,000. After setoff from a settling defendant, the client’s liability was reduced below US$65,000 — less than the last settlement offer before trial and only 1% of plaintiff’s claimed damages.
• Obtained a preliminary injunction against a former employee after he nefariously obtained confidential and trade secret information from the client after the employee’s termination.
  Secured US$13.09m award on behalf of a private equity client in a post-transaction working capital adjustment arbitration.
• Obtained a US$2.55m arbitration award in a post-transaction working capital adjustment for a scrap metal recycling client.
• Granted a motion for judgment on the pleadings prior to the start of discovery in defense of a purported consumer class action against a large international retailer.
• Defeated a motion for class certification in the defense of a heavy equipment manufacturer in a purported nationwide class action lawsuit alleging breach of express and implied warranties, and negligent misrepresentation.
• Granted class certification in a pro bono habeus corpus proceeding in an action challenging the indefinite detention of foreign citizens ordered removed from the United States. Kazarov v.
• Achim, No. 02 C 5097, 2003 WL 22956006 (N.D.Ill. Dec. 12, 2003).
• Granted judgment after a bench trial of a contested US$33m breach of contract and express warranty claim. Judgment affirmed, In re Comdisco, Inc., 434 F.3d 963 (7th Cir. 2006).
• Successfully urged the Illinois Appellate Court to adopt a new standard for the protection of non-party litigants from the discovery of their confidential business information. Int’l Truck & Engine Corp. v. Caterpillar, Inc., 814 N.E.2d 182 (Ill. App. Ct. 2nd Dist. 2004).
• Awarded claims dismissal brought pursuant to the Commodity Exchange Act by the Commodity Futures Trade Commission because the CFTC did not have jurisdiction over the foreign currency transactions at issue. Case affirmed, CFTC v. Zelener, 373 F.3d 861 (7th Cir. 2004).
• Granted judgment after a two-week arbitration before a panel of three arbitrators arising from breach of warranty-related claims. The client, a small engine manufacturer, was originally sued for more than US$24m. The arbitration panel found entirely for the client in ruling them not liable.
• Obtained summary judgment in a class action lawsuit on behalf of a corporation alleged to have violated its articles of incorporation. In re Sunstates Corp. Shareholder Litigation, 788 A.2d 570 (Del. Ch. 2001).

Awards and Recognition

• Peer Review Rated as AV® Preeminent®, the highest performance rating in Martindale- Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™
• Midwest Immigrant & Human Rights Center and Chicago Bar Association – Young Lawyers Section’s Pro Bono Leadership Award (for his success in obtaining the release of immigrants indefinitely detained by the federal government)
• JD Supra’s Reader’s Choice 2017 Top Author on Driverless Cars (for his work on Foley’s Dashboard Insights blog)

Community Involvement

• Former member, Foley’s national Pro Bono Committee
• Former chairman, Foley Chicago office’s Pro Bono Committee

Presentations and Publications

• Co-presenter, “Supply Chain Agreements: Consequential Damage Disclaimers, Indemnity, Force Majeure, Termination, Warranty Provisions,” Strafford Webinars (November 14, 2024)
• Co-presenter, “Critical Terms In Supply Chain Agreements,” Lorman Webinar (September 26, 2024)
• Presenter, “,” CLE Training hosted by Quimbee Webinars (August 2023)
• Co-author, “OEMs Expanding Supplier Responsibility for Ordinary Warranty Claims – Top Legal Issues Facing the Automotive Industry in 2022,” Foley Automotive White Paper (March 17, 2022)
• Co-presenter, “Structuring Risk Allocation Through Remedies Clauses: Special, Indirect, and Consequential Damages; Waivers; Indemnification; Insurance,” Strafford Webinars (Nov. 22, 2021)
• Speaker, “” Strafford Webinars (Sept. 30, 2020)
• Co-author, “Blockchain May Solve Privacy Problem” WardsAuto (Feb. 13, 2020)
• Co-presenter “,” Lorman Education Services Webinar (July 29, 2019)
• Author, “Here comes the US-Mexico trade agreement,” Automotive World (Sept. 4, 2018)
• Author, “As Automation Expands, Driver Error Persists,” WardsAuto (July 24, 2018)
• Presenter, “Supply Chain Agreements: Consequential Damage Disclaimers, Indemnity, Force Majeure, Termination, Warranty Provisions,” CLE Training hosted by Strafford Webinars (June 19, 2018)
• Quoted, “” Supply Chain Dive (Feb. 26, 2018)
• Author, “S. Paris Accord Withdrawal Shouldn’t Change Auto Industry’s Approach,” WardsAuto (July 25, 2017)
• Co-author, “Paris or No Paris, Auto Emissions May Fall,” Daily Journal (June 22, 2017)
• Featured, “” The Lexblog Network (October 13, 2016)
• Presenter, “An Ounce of Prevention – Be Ready for PL Claims Now,” The 12th Annual IPSLP Product Safety & Liability Prevention Conference (July 27 and 28, 2016)
• Presenter, “Protect Yourself! How to Supply Into the Land of Lawsuits,” Foro Automotriz Querétaro 2016 in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico (June 23 and 24, 2016)
• Co-author, “Reducing Risk With Contracts, Warranties and Safety Programs,” Westlaw Automotive Journal (March 23, 2015)
• Co-author, “Three Privileges That Can Help You In US Product Liability Litigation,” Business Law Journal, a LexisNexis Japan journal (May 2015)
• Author, “Preempting and Mitigating Product Liability Claims,” Practical Law (November 6, 2014)
• Speaker, “Opportunities and Challenges in Mergers and Acquisitions,” Directors Roundtable (May 7 and 9, 2013)
• Presenter, “Strategic Considerations in Working Capital Disputes – The Role of the Neutral Arbitrator,” Foley Web Conference in coordination with FTI Consulting (June 8, 2011)
• Presenter, “Purchasing Law: Effective Contract Negotiation & Management In Times of Financial Uncertainty,” Lorman Education Services (April 26, 2010)
• Presenter, “What Every Lawyer Should Know About Post-Closing Working Capital and Earnout Disputes,” CLE Training hosted by ��������; Lardner LLP (September 15, 2009)
• Presenter, “Reading, Interpreting, and Litigating Complex Commercial Contracts: Strategies for Success,” CLE Training hosted by ��������; Lardner LLP (August 28, 2008)
• Presenter, “Supplier Relationships: Where the Breakdowns Occur” and “The Litigation Process,” Purchasing Law Boot Camp hosted by the National Association of Purchasing Management, Chicago, IL (May 7, 2008)

Certifications

• Trial Advocacy Teacher (National Institute of Trial Advocacy)