Craig Martin > Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP > Chicago, United States > Lawyer Profile

‘Relentless strategists, creative problem-solvers, and fierce advocates’, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP has achieved a strong reputation among clients for its ‘mastery of the art of winning’ in securities litigation and derivative shareholder actions in trial, state and appellate courts throughout the country. Lauded by one client as ‘one of the greatest legal minds and securities litigators of his generation’, litigation chair Tariq Mundiya has an ‘ability to balance legal strategy with business practicality’, ensuring he is a very popular choice to represent clients when faced with high-stakes matters. Todd Cosenza is central to much of the team’s success on behalf of both corporates and banks when faced with securities class actions in the aftermath of stock drop prices following IPOs, and co-heads the securities litigation offering alongside Antonio Yanez. Chicago-based Craig Martin is also recommended. All named practitioners are located in New York, unless otherwise indicated.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP specializes in resolving high-stakes disputes, representing employers and ERISA fiduciaries in courts across the US, both in individual and class action lawsuits. The team has been active in ERISA plan fee litigation, reimbursement rights, recovery of pension overpayments, as well as ERISA estoppel and ESOP reimbursement rights and Taft-Hartley litigation, including claims for contributions to multi-employer benefits plans. Craig Martin acts as lead counsel in trials and appeals in state and federal courts for leading companies and families, while Amanda Amert represents employers and ERISA plan providers in federal courts around the country. Kimberley Jones, who joined the firm from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath in October 2024, is experienced in employee benefit claim denials and breaches of fiduciary duty on all types of ERISA plan defendants, while Matthew Basil advises Fortune 500 companies on work ranging from commercial disputes to ERISA and breach of fiduciary duty litigation. All lawyers mentioned are based in Chicago.

Craig Martin chairs Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP ‘s Midwest practice out of Chicago, with a trial practice that spans both state and federal courts and arbitration proceedings. He is frequently instructed by Provisur Technologies, which he represented in several patent disputes against Weber, Inc. in both an appeal before the federal circuit in June 2024, in addition to appearing for it in several patent proceedings in Germany and the European Patent Office.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP excels in handling white-collar matters, offering expertise in corporate and individual representations, internal investigations, and cross-border issues. The firm’s experience spans federal, state, and international jurisdictions. William Stellmach , who specializes in government-facing investigations and regulatory defense, and Timothy Heaphy, with expertise in crisis management and government investigations. Michael Schachter, a renowned trial lawyer, defends corporations and executives in high-stakes cases, while Craig Martin  in Chicago advises boards and leads complex trials and arbitrations. Michael Li-Ming Wong, based in San Francisco, focuses on white-collar criminal matters, civil litigation, and global investigations, while Soumya Dayananda specializes in government investigations and crisis management. Lawyers are in New York unless otherwise stated.

Boasting a ‘powerhouse roster of exceptional commercial litigators’, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP draws on its national network to represent clients in trials and appeals before state and federal courts. The firm has a strong track record representing tech clients, as well as companies, investors and individuals. The practice encompasses class actions, enforcement proceedings and arbitrations. Tariq Mundiya in New York chairs the litigation department, leveraging his expertise in internal investigations, securities and corporate litigation, and M&A and transactional disputes. Chicago-based Craig Martin is chairman, Midwest is a go to for leading companies, law firms and families for representation in state and federal courts and domestic and international arbitration. Alex Weingarten in Los Angeles chairs the entertainment litigation practice. New York-based Jeffrey Korn is an active member of the team, alongside Sameer Advani and Michael Gottlieb in Washington DC. Ben Hur  and Simona Agnolucci  have left the firm.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP specializes in patent infringement cases between competitors in the technology and biotechnology fields, typically litigating in district courts and before the PTAB. The team also demonstrates expertise in defending its clients against non-practising entities. The department is led by Chicago-based Sara Tonnies Horton, a first-chair technology patent litigator, and Krista Schwartz, who is located in San Francisco and is well-regarded for her trial and settlement success for technology patent disputes. The ‘strategically impressive’ Craig Martin, also based in Chicago, is highly experienced in IPR and appellate proceedings. In Washington DC, Aliza Carrano is lauded as ‘an excellent source of knowledge’ in PTO and trial proceedings for various technologies, including electronics, software and medical devices.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP advises on transaction-related data issues, regulatory compliance and litigation representation. The firm additionally advises on emerging technologies including on the data and privacy implications of generative AI. Based in Washington DC, Daniel Alvarez specializes in data transfer contracts and policy drafting, while Laura Jehl is an expert on the collection use and storage of data. In Illinois, Craig Martin supports clients in internal investigations. ‘Highly effective’ Susan Rohol supports pharmaceutical companies and entertainment agencies in cybersecurity and privacy matters. Ben Hur  has left the firm.