MoloLamken LLP > Chicago, United States > Firm Profile

MoloLamken LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

National dispute resolution boutique MoloLamken LLP continues to strengthen its formidable record before the US Supreme Court; it argued three SCOTUS cases during the 2022/23 term, despite the Court’s shrinking docket overall. The firm’s emphasis on high-profile appeals involving IP, energy, telecoms and sovereign immunity also ensures that it is frequently engaged to represent clients before various courts of appeals. Highlighted by sources as a ‘great senior partner’, appellate chair Jeffrey Lamken has argued twenty-seven cases before SCOTUS. Among Lamken’s recent cases, he represented The Humane Society of the United States before the US Supreme Court in a successful defense of California’s Proposition 12 against a constitutional challenge. Next-generation partner Lucas Walker recently argued—and won—his first case before SCOTUS, when he represented Abitron Austria in a precedent-setting trademark case holding that US trademark law is not extraterritorial and applies only to uses of trademarks within the US. The team also includes experienced appellate litigator Michael Pattillo, who is noted for his record in patent appeals before the Federal Circuit; Robert Kry, whose practice spans trial and appellate litigation; and Rayiner Hashem, who focuses on appellate and patent litigation. Named attorneys are based in Washington DC.

Dispute resolution > Securities litigation: plaintiff Tier 2

MoloLamken LLP is a national litigation boutique that handles a broad range of complex litigation, ranging from securities fraud cases to white-collar defense matters. Steven Molo in New York leads the practice and is known as a compelling courtroom advocate, which helps him to reach significant settlements, often on the eve of trial. He recently achieved a $14m settlement in a long-running 10b-5 securities fraud stockholder class action against Dakota Plains, which transported oil developed from fracking in North Dakota to the coasts. Molo and Washington DC-based partners Robert Kry  and Lauren Weinstein are currently representing Deutsche Bank National Trust Company in one of more than a dozen suits that the firm is handling for securitization trustees against sponsors and originators of defective subprime mortgage loan securitizations in federal and state courts. In this case, investors lost more than $495m. New York-based Justin Ellis worked with Molo to assist Contrarian Capital Management LLC with its breach of contract actions arising out of the failure by Venezuela and its state-owned oil company, PDVSA, to pay principal and interest on debt in excess of $1bn.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 3

MoloLamken LLP houses a strong team of litigators that caters to a wide client base, which includes investors, boards, senior executives, and companies. Leading the team in New York, Steven Molo has a wealth of experience defending individuals who are facing allegations of corruption, health care fraud, insider trading, and financial misconduct. Justin Shur is ‘an excellent white-collar practitioner’ based in Washington DC. Shur routinely represents clients before the SEC and DOJ who are being investigated for FCPA violations, tax offences, money laundering, and national security concerns. Also located in Washington DC, Caleb Hayes-Deats handles government and congressional investigations. Considered a ‘a go-to white collar practitioner in Chicago’, Megan Cunniff Church is recommended for sensitive internal investigations.

Dispute resolution > Leading trial lawyers Tier 3

Dispute resolution > General commercial disputes Tier 4

The ‘incredibly efficient’ team of litigators at MoloLamken LLP is adept at handling complex business disputes and IP disputes as well as white-collar defense and investigations. Practice leader and former prosecutor Steven Molo is based in New York and serves as a reputed contact for representing senior executives and government officials in white-collar matters. ‘Renowned professional’ Robert Kry practices from Washington DC and primarily focuses on trial and appellate matters, including in relation to corporate and securities litigation.

Intellectual property > Patents: litigation (full coverage) Tier 4

National litigation boutique MoloLamken LLP is ‘incredibly effective‘ and has extensive experience in patent disputes, standing out in particular for its ability to handle appellate IP matters before the Supreme Court and Federal Courts of Appeals. Seasoned appellate practitioner Jeffrey A. Lamken is based in Washington DC and has comprehensive experience representing clients in the pharma, telecoms and tech industries in patent appeals at the Federal Circuit. The group also includes the ‘energetic and experienced attorney‘ Ben Quarmby in New York, who specializes in trial and appellate litigation related to patent, trademark, trade secret, and tech licensing disputes, and Washington DC-based patent litigator Michael Pattillo.