Steven J. Thompson

Steve is an experienced commercial trial lawyer and appellate advocate, and has successfully represented clients in state and federal courts and arbitral forums across the United States. He represents clients in complex matters including commercial litigation, product liability and mass tort, professional liability, securities, antitrust, intellectual property, sports and governmental relations. His experience includes trials, arbitration, and mediation as well as business solutions in a wide variety of commercial situations. Steve is also experienced in the representation of professional and amateur athletes in contract negotiations and other legal matters.

His experience includes:

• Multi-state litigation of product claims on behalf of a US chemical company regarding allegedly contaminated drug products containing client’s products.
• Acting as principal trial counsel in FINRA securities arbitration matters involving customer disputes and inter- and intra-company disputes.
• Representing a plastic furnace vent pipe manufacturer in multi-district litigation in claims of plastic failure, including successful mediation of cases involving plaintiffs and joint defendants, the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, and the Canadian government.
• Representing NCAA member institutions in matters pending before the NCAA Committee on Infractions; including arguing successful defense of a Division I men’s basketball program subject to repeat violator provisions of NCAA legislation and facing allegations of major recruiting violations and lack of institutional control.
• Acting as lead counsel to a major aluminum producer in its opposition to the merger of Alcoa and Reynolds Metals Company, including lobbying at the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Union's Directorate General for Competition, lobbying members of the U.S. Congress and Department of Defense, and federal litigation securing additional concessions for the firm’s client.
• Acting as lead counsel in the case of Matt Lindland v. United States Olympic Committee, securing a spot on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team for wrestler and silver-medalist Matt Lindland, after successful arbitrations, multiple federal court appeals, litigation in the international Court of Arbitration for Sport, and a petition for stay pending certiorari to the United States Supreme Court.
• Representing and managing a nationally recognized team of mixed martial arts competitors in contract negotiations, endorsement and sponsorship deals, matchmaking and other legal matters.
• Acting as principal trial counsel representing athletes in Olympic selection disputes against national governing bodies at the invitation of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
• Acting as principal counsel representing athletes in drug policy enforcement matters pending before the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).
• Acting as lead trial counsel defending claim for accounting based on allegations of mismanagement of 30-year real estate partnership.
• Prosecuting and defending equitable claims seeking temporary and permanent injunctive relief.
• Prosecuting claims of patent misuse and antitrust violations in federal actions in the Northern District of Illinois.
• Representing a major drug manufacturer as national coordinating counsel in asthma drug product litigation.
• Defending a major Chicago bank in a ten-week trial relating to construction failures at a suburban shopping center.
• Representing oil and natural gas interests in claims involving environmental contamination, and division of profits of a natural gas processing plant in Louisiana, Texas and Kentucky, including trials and multi-party mediations.