Michael J. Philippi

As an Executive Committee member and the Chairman of Ungaretti & Harris’ Litigation Department, Mike tries cases, argues motions and appeals, and mediates cases to resolution for clients in state and federal courts across the country. Mike represents business clients in situations ranging from medical device defense to commercial disputes and most claims in between. He works closely with regional and local counsel on a regular basis. Mike has been featured in The American Lawyer and Lawyers Weekly USA for his work in helping to secure a defense verdict in a high profile medical device case. The verdict was cited by The National Law Journal as one of the Top Twenty Defense Verdicts for 2002.

In addition to helping clients resolve lawsuits, Mike works with public and private companies in helping them avoid litigation when possible or at least manage it effectively if it cannot be avoided.

Mike’s recent experience includes:

• Successfully tried a two week fraudulent conveyance trial in which a multibillion dollar Capitol Fund sought a $15 million dollar recovery against our client sounding in 15 counts, resulting in a defense finding on each count and an 86 page opinion impacting the “collapsing” doctrine in leveraged buy out situations.
• Successfully tried a FINRA arbitration resulting in a zero recovery in a claim seeking $3.4 million from our client.
• Regularly represents management in real estate litigation relating to commercial transactions and property management issues.
• Favorably resolving a multimillion dollar commercial claim against our foreign client after obtaining an award for discovery sanctions of over one million dollars.
• Obtaining the dismissal of a federal claim and favorable resolution of a selected state claim between two Fortune 50 companies for a fraction of the demand.
• Gaining summary judgment in an earnout case in which the principals of an acquired lab sought several millions of dollars in damages.
• Successfully trying a two week arbitration involving the calculation of an earn out provision in a medical device company acquisition case.
• Serving as National Counsel to negotiate settlements in several hundred mass tort cases effectively closing out the tort.
• Successfully defending Baxter Healthcare Corporation in a defective design and failure to warn case against allegations that their latex gloves caused a plaintiff to suffer from latex allergy. The five-week jury trial was the first federal trial of approximately 2,000 in multi-district litigation.
• Serving as lead counsel in a one-day binding mediation of a multi-million dollar commercial dispute between two Fortune 100 companies.
• Serving as National Coordinating Counsel for recurring products liability litigation for a Fortune 100 company and resolving hundreds of cases in a period of several months.
• Representing financial institutions in litigation involving commercial paper, guaranties, real estate workouts, and commercial foreclosures.
• Coordinating and resolving over 100 environmental claims in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska for a major oil company.

Mike has been with Ungaretti & Harris since 1985. He and his family live in the Beverly neighborhood on the Southwest Side of Chicago. Mike reviews Chicago-area restaurants in his monthly column appearing in Chicago Lawyer Magazine.

Quoted

• Quoted, Illinois Bar Journal, "Beyond the Billable Hour," February 2012, regarding the use of alternative fee arrangements
• Quoted, Crain's Chicago Business, "Flat-fee advocates find that alternatives to the billable hour can be a tough sell," February 2011, regarding the use of alternative fee arrangements
• Quoted, Chicago Lawyer, “The right fit,” May 2009, regarding the appeal and benefits of a midsize law firm
• Quoted, Chicago Lawyer, “Lawyers learn how to cross the communication divide," December 2007, regarding the use of consultants to develop good communication practices
• Quoted, Chicago Lawyer, “Career choices: Attending a top law school can open more doors for new lawyers,” September 2007, regarding the pros and cons of attending top-tier law schools
• Quoted, Chicago Lawyer, “Growing Ranks of Contract Lawyers try to Make it Work,” January 2005, regarding law firms' use of contract attorneys in litigation