John concentrates his practice in general business counseling and disputes. John has tried and mediated cases in Chicago-area courts and throughout the country. In the past two years, John has tried four cases including a week-long trial that ended in a successful jury verdict for a Fortune 200 company specializing in global medical products and services. In 2012, John will argue three appellate cases (two before the Seventh Circuit and one before the Illinois Court of Appeals) and defend his client's victories in the trial courts.
John also serves as the Chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee, and has been cited in the Chicago Tribune for his pro bono work.
His recent professional experience includes:
Intellectual Property Disputes
John serves as counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants in their efforts to protect their intellectual property rights and to ensure that his client’s competitors properly limit the scope of their intellectual property claims. Some recent examples include:
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Representing medical device companies in various patent, trademark, and trade secret claims.
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Counseling multiple bicycle component manufacturers and their U.S. affiliates in the resolution of patent litigation.
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Representing a leading manufacturer and supplier of reusable plastic containers in its defense against various patent claims.
- Assisting a government contractor and its subsidiaries in various patent and trade secret matters.
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Representing manufacturers and component suppliers for the automobile industry in various intellectual property disputes.
Business Disputes
John represents companies of all sizes in their business disputes. John’s substantial experience has aided his client’s efforts to identify the key issues and resolve cases in a timely manner to their benefit. And, when resolution is not an acceptable option, John has successfully arbitrated and tried numerous cases. Some recent examples include:
- Obtaining dismissal of $10+ million breach of warranty and strict liability claims against a client.
- Obtaining a defense verdict for a Fortune 500 company against claims of national origin discrimination.
- Resolving a $25 million lawsuit relating to the sale of a sophisticated machine tool.
- Defending a client in the dismissal of a $4 billion government qui tam case.
- Leading a 5-day bench trial in defense of a breach of contract lawsuit.
- Obtaining an award for an insurance company in a AAA arbitration for breach of contract after a multi-day hearing.
- Settling a breach of contract claim against a client involving claims payments with a future revenue stream in his client’s favor after opening statements.
Construction and Real Estate Disputes
John represents lenders, owners, and property management companies in a variety of construction and real estate disputes throughout the United States. This experience has assisted his client's successful efforts to avoid and defeat brokers and mechanics liens early on in a dispute through identification of defects in a lien claim, negotiation, and motion practice. Some of John’s recent, representative experiences include:
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Representing a debtor-in-possession in a contested 5-day lift stay hearing in which the Court found a valuation of $81.5 million and a large equity cushion.
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Representing a debtor-in-possession in a contested 5-day DIP Loan hearing that resulted in the allowance of the Debtor's projected costs going forward and allowed the client to move forward in bankruptcy and with its development plans.
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Representing a Fortune 500 company in their construction defect and delay claims against the architect and builder for a major project.
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Obtaining summary judgment for a lender holding a $2 million mortgage claim against lien claimants.
- Representing owners and secured lenders in foreclosures of residential and commercial real estate.
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Counseling property owners in lease negotiations and disputes both in and out of bankruptcy proceedings.
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Representing property management companies relating to their various contractual and statutory responsibilities.
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Assisting various clients with commercial construction projects and problems throughout the United States.
Employment Agreements and Trade Secrets Disputes
John regularly counsels both employers and departing employees about their contractual agreements and other pertinent responsibilities. Some recent experiences include:
- Obtaining a TRO on behalf of a firm client against former employees for their breaches of their contractual agreements and fiduciary duties, violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and misappropriation of trade secrets.
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Preventing a TRO against a firm client relating to its employment agreements and bylaws.
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Resolving a claim against departing employees from an insurance brokerage firm.
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Representing various technology companies in their hiring of employees from previous employers.
Before joining Ungaretti & Harris, John was associated with Jenner & Block.