Firm Profile > Jenner & Block LLP > Chicago, United States

Copyright Tier 1

NBCUniversal, Warner Bros and Warner Bros are just some of the household names that engage the 'very deep and talented' team at Jenner & Block LLP. Andy Bart leads the practice and acted for EMI in its litigation against the now bankrupt online music site MP3tunes. He also acted for Jay Z in a dispute concerning his song Big Pimpin', which sampled music from the Egyptian composer Baligh Hamdi, whose heir claims that he owns the rights to the composition rather than EMI. Another key figure is Susan Kohlmann, who acted for author John Steinbeck's stepdaughter Waverly Scott Kaffaga in litigation alleging that the author's son and daughter-in-law prevented the production of films based upon the author's works. Also recommended is Rick Stone,  who represented 20th Century Fox in a copyright lawsuit brought by a writer who alleges that the movie Gone Girl infringes upon one of the writer's works.

Restructuring (including bankruptcy): municipal Tier 1

Insurance: advice to policyholders Tier 1

Jenner & Block LLP is best known for advising on general, D&O and professional liability, as well as property, employment, business interruption, cyber coverage and mass tort claims for policyholders. Chicago partners John Mathias and David Kroeger teamed up with Jan Larson in Washington DC to advise Mondelez International on its loss claim against Zurich arising from a malware incident. Insurance liability specialist Brian Scarbrough, also based in Washington, leads the practice together with Mathias and Kroeger following the departure of former practice lead Matthew Jacobs to Jones Day in mid-2018. Civil litigator Jennifer Senior is another key member of the team in Chicago.

Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 1

At Jenner & Block LLP, noted for its experience in complex regulatory and litigation matters, universal service and disability access expert Rebekah Goodheart is acting for Sorenson Communications before the FCC in advocating for the reform of the FCC's provisions under the Americans With Disabilities Act, as well as advising CTIA in connection with the FCC's mobility fund phase II auction. Former FCC transaction counsel John Flynn chairs the group along with Samuel Feder, a former FCC general counsel who focuses on representing clients before federal regulatory bodies. Feder is assisting Charter in connection with regulatory proceedings concerning net neutrality, as well as in related litigation, while Flynn is advising wireless power company Ossia on obtaining the required FCC approvals for the sale of its product, assisted by special counsel David Didion, who provides clients with compliance and policy advice. Other key names in the practice include former FCC general counsel Howard Symons, a federal regulatory expert, and of counsel Roger Sherman, who focuses on wireless regulatory strategies and served as the FCC wireless bureau chief. A specialist in voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communication and new technologies, Luke Platzer continues to represent Charter Communications in the appeals process arising from its suit against the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission concerning the authority of state regulators over VoIP services.

Appellate Tier 2

Jenner & Block LLP’s group secured a crucial victory for appellant Exelon Corporation in proceedings at the Seventh Circuit concerning the State of Illinois’ Zero Emissions Credit program; Matthew Price led the team and presented the argument. Price also successfully defended the State of New York’s Zero Emissions Credit program at the Second Circuit. At the Eight Circuit, Ian Gershengorn prevailed in arguing the case for the appellant in Charter Advanced Services v Lange, concerning VoIP services and the interpretation of 'information service' under Minnesota’s state regulation. Led by Matthew Hellman and Chicago-based Geoffrey Davis at the US Supreme Court, the team represented the petitioner in Marinello v United States, and convinced the court to reverse a Second Circuit decision regarding the application of section 7212(a) of the Internal Revenue Code to tax law obstruction-of-justice charges. Adam Unikowsky argued for the petitioner in Sveen v Melin, in which the US Supreme Court rejected a constitutional challenge to Minnesota’s revocation-on-divorce statute. On another occasion, the US Supreme Court sided with Unikowsky’s client-petitioner Stephanie Artis, a former DC health inspector, in proceedings brought against the District of Columbia; the case shed light on the doctrine of supplemental jurisdiction and the statute of limitations period under state law. Jessica Ring Amunson and Chicago-based Michael Brody are also recommended.

Trade secrets (litigation and non-contentious matters) Tier 2

Jenner & Block LLP regularly works on high-profile trade secret disputes. Practice co-head Rick Richmond is based in Los Angeles and acted for healthcare software company Epic Systems in a $940m corporate espionage case against India-based Tata Consultancy Services. Also leading the team is Chicago-based Debbie Berman, who represented Methode Electronics in a trade secret theft case against a former vice president of one of its subsidiaries. Litigator Richard Stone is also recommended.

Transport: aviation and air travel - regulation Tier 2

Jenner & Block LLP has ‘an extraordinary team of experienced aviation lawyers’, who handle a range of regulatory matters across the aviation and aerospace sector. Marc Warren provides regulatory advice to several companies seeking to conduct commercial UAS operations and recently advised two NFL teams - the Los Angeles Rams and the Las Vegas Raiders - on obtaining FAA approval to build new stadiums near major airports. Cargo Airline Association, UPS Airlines, NetJets and Regional Airline Association (RAA) are also clients. Warren, Thomas Newton Bolling and Abby Bried jointly lead the team. Special counsels Paul Alp and Amna Arshad are also recommended. Named lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Energy litigation: conventional power Tier 3

Jenner & Block LLP's Chicago office welcomed a group of eight lawyers from now dissolved energy boutique Rooney Rippie & Ratnaswamy LLP in April 2019; among them is litigator Glenn Rippie. In addition to consistent activity in commercial and environmental litigation, 2018 saw the firm play a major role in two high-stakes 'zero emission credit' cases. Matthew Price and others successfully represented Exelon at the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in defense of the state's zero emission credit program, which subsidizes distressed nuclear power plants on the grounds that they do not emit carbon dioxide. The estimated value of the credits won over ten years totals $2.3bn. Price also led a group which acted for Commonwealth Edison Company before the Illinois Supreme Court, arguing that the client qualified as a 'public utility' under state law so as to exercise the right of eminent domain. Also recommended are Randy Mehrberg  (Chicago), Suedeen Kelly, David DeBruin and Max Minzner. Named attorneys are based in DC, unless otherwise noted.

ERISA litigation Tier 3

Jenner & Block LLP's ERISA litigation practice has expertise in a range of disputes involving matters such as union multi-employer benefit plans, bankruptcy proceedings and anti-cutback rules. Amanda Amert and Craig Martin represented Northwestern University in a class action suit challenging administrative and investment management fees of its 403(b) retirement plan. Further, a team including Christopher Rillo is representing clients including CenturyLink Investment Management, Morningstar and Associated Industries Management Services in fiduciary breach lawsuits. Martin (who became chair of the firm in January 2019) and Amert are based in Chicago, and Rillo is based in Los Angeles.

General commercial disputes Tier 3

The 400-strong team of trial, regulatory and investigations lawyers at Jenner & Block LLP acts for companies across myriad industries, including education, aviation, media and technology. Department head Craig Martin and a team acted for key client Northwestern University in a class action concerning the university's retirement plan; the motion to dismiss was granted and the case has been appealed to the Seventh Circuit. Elsewhere, Debbie Berman is acting as lead counsel for an electronics company in a series of cases relating to the theft of the company's confidential information. Among the litigators who made partner in 2018 were Clifford Berlow and Christine Bowman and New York-based Laura MacDonald. Partners are based in Chicago unless otherwise stated.

M&A: middle-market ($500m-999m) Tier 3

Jenner & Block LLP's corporate practice is well known for its representation of Fortune 500 companies; it also regularly assists middle-market companies as well as private equity funds and their portfolio companies. It acted for Lonza Group, a Swiss multinational, chemicals and biotechnology company, in the $630m sale of its Water Care business and operations to American private equity investment firm Platinum Equity. Chicago-based Thomas Monson and Kurt von Moltke chair the M&A practice, Joseph Gromacki chairs the firmwide corporate and transactional practices, Michael Wolf co-chairs the Chicago corporate practice, Kevin Collins is co-New York corporate chair, and Carissa Coze is co-Los Angeles corporate chair. Other key advisers are Edward Prokop and Jason Casella in New York, where Robert Rawn  was hired from Winston & Strawn LLP, and Mercedes Hill left for premium spirits company Beam Suntory.

Media and entertainment: litigation Tier 3

The content, media and entertainment practice at Jenner & Block LLP led by New York-based Andrew Bart boasts impressive litigation capabilities, particularly in intellectual property disputes. Recent work highlights include Bart's successful representation of EMI and EMI Music Publishing in a long-running copyright infringement claim against MP3tunes for the distribution of EMI’s copyrighted works without permission, and the defense of FanDuel, led by a team around Washington DC-based Kenneth Doroshow, in a class action relating to the use of athletes' names and game performance data to determine the outcomes of their fantasy sports contests. David Singer is a name to note for motion picture and television sector matters; he and antitrust and competition expert Richard Stone (both based in Los Angeles) successfully defended Twentieth Century Fox and other parties in a copyright infringement claim alleging that the movie Gone Girl infringed the plaintiff’s screenplay Out of the Blue. The group, which also includes Susan Kohlmann and Alison Stein in New York and Washington DC-based Steven Englund, counts Jay Z, The Walt Disney Company and Nintendo of America among its clients. Changes to the team include the departures of Jared Freedman and Daniel Rozansky to an in-house role at Recording Industry Association of America and Stubbs Alderton Markiles LLP respectively.

Telecoms and broadcast: transactional Tier 3

At Jenner & Block LLP, Samuel Feder heads the firm's Washington DC-based practice, which is 'a contender with fresh ideas', noted for its strong track record as regulatory counsel in telecoms transactions, and 'should be on every general counsel's list' in bet-the-company matters. Feder advised SoftBank Group, the controlling shareholder of Sprint, in connection with the FCC approvals required for its merger with T-Mobile, along with John Flynn. Flynn is a former FCC commissioner with significant experience in wireless issues, and also acts for key client TENGA on transactional issues. Telecoms provider Altice recently retained the firm in connection with its reorganization, and its spin-off of Altice USA from its European operations. Rebekah Goodheart, who has worked at both the FCC and DOJ, is another key name at the practice, and has significant experience acting as antitrust and strategic counsel. Other key clients for the firm include Comcast, Armis and Windstream. Associate Elliot Tarloff has experience in transactional matters, including structuring and regulatory advocacy. Flynn and Feder, along with former FCC general counsel Howard Symons and wireless specialist Roger Sherman, are lauded by clients for their 'breadth and range of experience', that 'matches any other telecom firm in DC'.

Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 4

Jenner & Block LLP's team is chaired by Craig Martin and Reid Schar in Chicago, Anthony Barkow and Katya Jestin in New York, and Christine Braamskamp in London. Together, it handles the spectrum of transatlantic white-collar matters, government investigations, criminal prosecutions and civil enforcement proceedings for both corporates and individuals. In one standout matter, Barkow and Chicago's Anton Valukas assisted General Motors with an investigation into events leading up to certain recalls of faulty ignition switches; they also represented the client in a related investigation by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, culminating in a deferred prosecution agreement. In recognition of the firm's capabilities, New York's Neil Barofsky was appointed as Credit Suisse's monitor by the New York Department of Financial Services, as part of the bank's $715m settlement with the agency.  In March 2019, the New York office welcomed Charles Riely from the SEC's enforcement division.

Cyber law (including data privacy and data protection) Tier 4

Jenner & Block LLP’s areas of strength include privacy and data security issues, policy audits related to relevant legislation, customized compliance programs as well as investigations, enforcement and litigation. Key clients are companies from the media and entertainment, advertising, gaming and financial sectors. The names to note are Washington DC’s David Bitkower, who specializes in investigations, compliance and defense; litigators David Saunders and David Layden, who are based in Chicago; and Washington DC’s Keisha Stanford, who assists clients with compliance, white-collar criminal defense, government enforcement and internal investigations. Former practice head Nancy Libin moved to Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in September 2018.

Environment: litigation Tier 4

Jenner & Block LLP is ‘extremely organized and willing to share its information directly with the client’. It represented Olin in an environmental insurance case against Lamorak regarding coverage for over a dozen contaminated sites which ended in a settlement; Allison Torrence led on this case. It is also assisting Bath Iron Works in a claim made by Occidental Chemical Corporation to recover response costs relating to the Lower Passaic River and the Diamond Alkali Superfund site; Steven Siros and of counsel Andi Samuels Kenney worked on both cases. Siros co-chairs the practice with Gabrielle Sigel, who is valued by clients for her expertise and her discernment of clients’ needs and of opponents’ strategies. All named lawyers are Chicago based. Lynn Grayson left for Nijman Franzetti.

International arbitration Tier 4

Jenner & Block LLP's 'strong' arbitration team spans the firm’s Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington DC and New York offices, and is active in arbitration across the financial services, technology, aviation and defense sectors, where it is often acting for blue-chip multinational clients. Recent highlights include representing Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation in cross-border post-award enforcement litigation; Michael Doornweerd in Chicago led this matter. In New York, department co-chair Richard Ziegler is noted for providing ‘comprehensive and insightful’ advice, and Elizabeth Edmondson is also ‘highly rated’. Having previously held a position with the US Department of State, Patrick Pearsall chairs the firm's public international law group in Washington DC, and is recommended for his expertise in advising governments and private entities. Pearsall recently advised the United Kingdom’s Department of International Trade on an investment arbitration dispute. Further, the team was strengthened by arrival Mélida Hodgson in New York, who joined from Foley Hoag LLP.

Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: design Tier 5

Jenner & Block LLP’s Chicago-based practice group acts as external counsel to clients such as General Dynamics, Hertz, SPX and Olin, which it advises on the full range of employee benefits and executive compensation matters. Sarah Haddy is advising The Budd Company’s Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA), which was established following the company’s Chapter 11 proceedings, on all aspects of the trust’s maintenance including investment, administration and fiduciary compliance. Matthew Renaud heads the practice group, and Raymond Sinnappan comes recommended for pension de-risking strategies. Tony Ling left the team for Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP.

Employee benefits, executive compensation and retirement plans: transactional Tier 5

Matthew Renaud heads the Chicago-based team at Jenner & Block LLP, which advises on public spin-off transactions and executive compensation compliance in the context of M&A, including issues such as 409a and 162(m) considerations. Highlights included Renaud advising General Dynamics on its $9.6bn acquisition of IT solutions company CSRA; Raymond Sinnappan and Sarah Haddy were also involved in that matter. Additionally, the team advised snack foods company Snyder’s-Lance on its $4.9bn acquisition by Campbell Soup. Tony Ling left the firm in February 2018.

Securities litigation - defense Tier 5

Jenner & Block LLP acts for both plaintiffs and defendants in securities enforcement and litigation, and its defense work encompasses acting for public and private companies, including hedge funds and foreign banks, in class actions, derivative shareholder litigation and tender offer matters. Stephen Ascher in New York, Thomas Newkirk in Washington DC and Howard Suskin in Chicago are the practice co-chairs. Suskin secured the dismissal with prejudice of a putative class action against Equus Total Return, and he saw a Third Circuit panel affirm the dismissal of a 1934 Act case against Hertz Global Holdings, which alleged the company made false and misleading statements about its financial results, internal controls and future earnings projections. Charles Riely, former assistant regional director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement, joined the New York office.

Leading trial lawyers Tier 6

Leading trial lawyers Tier 6

Restructuring (including bankruptcy): corporate Tier 6

Possessing ‘a strong bankruptcy practice’, Jenner & Block LLP focuses mainly on the creditor side, particularly litigation. The ‘extremely practical, very responsive and efficient’ practice is led by New York-based Richard Levin, and Catherine Steege in Chicago, who has ‘particular experience in employee-related matters’. The team also includes the ‘commercial and very user friendly’ Vincent Lazar in Chicago, who has ‘a wealth of bankruptcy knowledge and exercises great judgment’. The team represented Frederick J. Grede, the liquidation trustee of Sentinel Management Group, in matters relating to a $1bn investment adviser fraud case; the team prevailed three times in the Seventh Circuit, which adopted the arguments concerning a $300m fraudulent transfer and claim against Bank of New York Mellon. The firm is also acting for Ronald R. Peterson as the Chapter 7 trustee in 19 cases relating to the failed Lancelot and Colossus hedge funds. Other key clients include Caesars Entertainment Corporation, ArcelorMittal USA and Westinghouse Electric.

US taxes: non-contentious Tier 6

Jenner & Block LLP’s primary areas of activity include corporate M&A, fund formation and portfolio transactions and SALT matters. Geoffrey Davis in Chicago has ‘the business acumen to counsel an entire in-house business development team, providing critical bench strength to his corporate colleagues’; he and corporate lawyer Kevin Collins in New York are advising longstanding client Lonza Group on the tax aspects of a significant transaction with Platinum Equity. The team also acted for Snyder’s-Lance in its $6bn sale to Campbell Soup Company. Christian Kimball in Washington DC co-heads the practice alongside Davis.