Michael A. Ficaro

Mike is a highly acclaimed trial lawyer with extensive experience in all facets of litigation including administrative hearings, business licensing, business litigation, complex commercial litigation, class action plaintiff and defense, injunction practice, municipal law, shareholder disputes, tort actions, trust and estate litigation, as well as section 1983 plaintiff and defense litigation. His practice includes the representation of law firms and lawyers in disciplinary, malpractice, contempt, sanctions and fee disputes. He also has extensive experience involving criminal representation of corporate officers in white-collar criminal defense, as well as criminal environmental defense, and general criminal defense. In addition, his practice includes the specialty in the representation of corporations and individuals seeking gaming licensing, as well as casino license holders, owners, shareholders, as well as suppliers in licensing and regulatory matters before the Illinois Gaming Board and in litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country.

Highlights of Mike’s experience include:

• Extensive litigation and trial experience, including 100 jury trials, 1,000 bench trials, and over 300 grand jury investigations.
• Having served as First Assistant Attorney General of Illinois, Cook County Deputy State’s Attorney and Chief of Criminal Prosecution Bureau, and Special Assistant United States Attorney.
• Being appointed Special Prosecutor by the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court to investigate the State’s Attorney of Cook County.
• Serving as Director of Enforcement for the Illinois Attorney General’s Office where he was responsible for all enforcement actions on behalf of the State of Illinois.
• Brief and appellate argument before the United States Supreme Court (Illinois v. Lafayette) and other various appellate courts.
  

Representative Cases

Civil and Regulatory Litigation

• Successfully defeated at trial $134 million consumer class action.
• Successfully obtained ruling at hearing to allow Soldier Field stadium to be renovated.
• Obtained $66 million jury verdict wrongful death verdict and tortious interference with inheritance.
• Obtained $2 million jury verdict in civil rights case.
• Liquidated New Jersey insurance company for State Department of Insurance.
• Obtained summary judgment for public utilities in $7 billion tortious interference claim.
• At jury trial successfully minimized punitive damages against town official for civil rights violation.
• At hearing on behalf of a federal agency defeated $25 million legal fee claim.
• Successfully enjoined corporation from exercising “poison pill” to allow shareholder to acquire majority interest in corporation.
• Successfully obtained the transfer of artifacts of Harding Museum to Art Institute of Chicago.
• Successfully prevented disbarment and/or discipline for lawyer indicted for official misconduct.
• Successfully prevented disbarment and/or discipline for lawyer charged with breach of fiduciary duty to client.
• Defeated malpractice and breach of fiduciary claim for major law firm.
• Earned dismissal of malpractice suit against partner and major law firm.
• Successfully represented, at hearing, individuals and corporations in the dismissal of liquor license violations.

Criminal

Brief and argument in United States Supreme Court, Illinois v. Lafayette.

• Jury trial murder acquittal in murder for hire case.
• Acquittal of law student of felony charges for aggravated battery of a police officer and a federal agent.
• At trial acquittal of developmentally disabled individual charged with first degree murder.
• Dismissal of indictment against President of oil company for felony motor fuel tax violation.
• Dismissal of indictment against President of Corporation for felony sales tax violation.
• Dismissal of felony charges against President of Company for failure to pay withholding taxes.
• Dismissal of indictment for lawyer charged with official misconduct.
• Dismissal of charges for elderly husband who euthanized wife.
• Convicted company and corporate officer for calculated criminal disposal of hazardous waste.
• Convicted federal fugitive of capital murder of policeman.
• Convicted couple in kidnapping murder of media heir.
• In November 2010, successfully defended a Chicago Police Officer in a Federal criminal civil rights case in the Northern District of Illinois resulting in a not guilty jury verdict.

Gaming

Successfully acquired two of Illinois’ ten Riverboat Casino Licenses for clients.

• Obtained $50 million settlement of lawsuit counterclaim on behalf of casino managers.
• At trial successfully won $1.75 million verdict for shareholder excluded from distribution by casino owners.
• General representation of three of the ten Illinois licensed casinos.
• Secured Attorney General’s opinion for manufacturer to sell electronic gaming devices intrastate.
• Injunction against Gaming Board from implementing unconstitutional special legislation provision.
• Injunction against Gaming Board for unconstitutional gaming regulation.
• Successfully won at hearing, reversal of revocation by Gaming Board of casino manager’s license.
• Obtained settlement of lottery winners’ dispute.
• Settled multimillion dollar construction dispute – Casino and barge construction company.
• Successfully represented corporation seeking Supplier License under Illinois riverboat Gaming Act.
• Represent multiple individuals and corporation seeking license and renewal of license before the Illinois Gaming Board.
• Successful Appellate Court verdicts reversing Gaming Board decisions. 
• Settled dispute with Native American Tribe for client casino manager.

Noteworthy Accomplishments

• General Editor, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Prosecution of a Criminal Case
• A principal draftsman of numerous Illinois statutes, including:
• Charitable Trust and Solicitation Act of 1989
  • Crimes Against The Elderly
  • Criminal Damage to the Environment
  • Ethnic Intimidation and Institutional Vandalism (Hate Crime)
  • Home Repair Fraud Act
  • State Benefit Fraud Act
• Chairman of Criminal Law Committee of Chicago Bar Association
• Member Designee of the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority
• Distinguished Faculty Member of National Colleges of District Attorneys
• Published over 20 articles on trial techniques, as well as lectured on trial techniques to over 10,000 lawyers in 28 states
• Numerous awards in recognition of service to law enforcement and government