Overview
John is a seasoned litigator whose practice focuses on complex business disputes, including contractual, fiduciary, and attorney professional responsibility matters. With extensive first-chair trial and appellate experience in both state and federal courts, as well as commercial arbitration forums, John has handled a wide range of high-stakes litigation. His cases include multimillion-dollar commercial disputes, multistate class and shareholder litigation, ERISA fiduciary defense, trust disputes, and conflicts involving litigation funders. He also frequently serves as local counsel in Chicago-area courts, bringing strategic insight and familiarity with local procedures.
John places strong emphasis on finding creative, cost-effective solutions, working closely with clients to determine when and how to engage in litigation. His practice extends to legal ethics, where he advises attorneys and clients on professional responsibility and fee disputes, including law firm partnership conflicts.
John is a former chair of the ABA Section of Litigation’s Ethics and Professionalism Committee and the Chicago Bar Association’s Professional Fees Committee. He has served on the ABA Ethics 20/20 Working Group on Alternative Litigation Finance and has written and presented extensively on legal ethics topics such as attorney fees, liens, advertising, and third-party financing. Before private practice, he clerked for Judge Suzanne B. Conlon in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Education
- J.D., University of Chicago
- B.A., Yale University
Admissions
- State Bar of Illinois
- United States Appeals Courts, Second, Seventh, and Eighth Circuits
- U.S. District Courts, Northern, and Central Districts of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Significant Engagements
- Obtained declaratory relief on summary judgment, as well as compensatory and punitive damages after trial, in claims brought against the trustee of a family trust who improperly distributed funds to himself and his siblings while ignoring the interests of John’s client. See Gearhart v. Gearhart, 2020 IL App (1st) 190042.
- Obtained defense verdict in jury trial, affirmed on appeal, in claim against home seller and broker alleged to have committed fraud and violated the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Act by failing to disclose material defects purportedly discovered by the purchasers.
- Successfully defended direct and derivative claims brought against members of a condominium board of managers in actions brought by a unit owner, with dismissal affirmed on appeal. See Geraci v. Cramer, 2017 IL App (1st) 151555-U; Geraci v. Union Square Condominium Association, 2017 IL App (1st) 162856-U.
- Secured dismissal of tortious interference with testamentary expectancy and breach of fiduciary duty claims brought against trustee of testamentary trust. See Clark v. Heckes, 2016 IL App (1st) 162210-U.
- Won summary judgment for radiology practice whose exclusive reading contract was breached by medical provider following an asset sale.
- Obtained dismissal of claims brought against lawyer by member of client LLC who asserted lawyer had colluded in removal of member’s management authority.
- Successfully defended at trial a claim brought against client by former law firm seeking fees incurred in defiance of client’s instructions.
- Counseled lawyers in firm separation agreements, ensuring compliance with professional duties owed clients and addressing contractual/fiduciary duties owed firm.
Publications, Recognitions and Speaking Engagements
Selected by peers as a Leading Lawyer in: Commercial Litigation (2009-2017)
Professional Affiliations
- Chair, Chicago Bar Association Professional Fees Committee (2015-2016)
- Co-Chair, American Bar Association Section of Litigation Ethics and Professionalism Committee (2010-2013)
- Member, ABA Ethics 20/20 Working Group on Alternative Litigation Finance