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  1. Professionals

Michael Skokna

Partner

Chicago

+1 312-558-5138

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  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights & News

Michael concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation, class actions, white-collar criminal defense, and corporate internal investigations. He has significant experience in all aspects of litigation, including trials in state and federal court and hearings before arbitration panels.

Michael has represented clients in a variety of contractual disputes, including matters involving earn-out or milestone payment obligations, restrictive covenants, and the enforcement of alternative dispute resolution provisions. He has also represented clients in a variety of industries, including life sciences, financial services, and insurance. During the course of several complex commercial litigation matters, Michael has worked closely with outside damages experts to develop damage theories, valuate and prove losses, and counter opposing damage calculations.

Key Matters

  • Member of a team that obtained an US$84.5M policy-limits verdict in the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County in favor of a pharmaceutical company and against certain London-based insurers who provided product recall insurance to our client. Michael also helped successfully defend the verdict on appeal.
  • Member of multiple teams that conducted internal investigations concerning, and on some occasions subsequently filed lawsuits arising out of, the alleged theft and misappropriation of our clients’ trade secrets and competitively sensitive information. During these matters, Michael has worked closely with outside computer forensic experts to uncover and develop evidence of the alleged thefts and misappropriations, including by developing digital trails of the thefts and identifying where and how misappropriated information has been relocated and misused. In one such matter filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, following extensive briefing and a two-day evidentiary hearing, the court granted a preliminary injunction in favor of our client and against the alleged wrongdoers.
  • Member of two small teams that tried major white-collar criminal cases to jury verdict in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He assisted in the preparation of witnesses, cross examinations, opening and closing statements, and post-trial motion arguments.
Recent Experience
Secured Settlement for Fox on Brink of Trial in High-Profile Defamation Litigation Brought by US Dominion Voting Systems

In his pro bono practice, Michael has successfully secured asylum for clients forced to flee Kenya and Egypt as a result of religious persecution. Following a successful appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals, he also secured asylum for a client forced to flee Guatemala as a result of political persecution by gangs.

Capabilities

Litigation/Trials
Commercial Litigation & Disputes
White Collar & Government Investigations
Class Actions & Group Litigation

Key Matters

  • Member of a team that obtained an US$84.5M policy-limits verdict in the Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County in favor of a pharmaceutical company and against certain London-based insurers who provided product recall insurance to our client. Michael also helped successfully defend the verdict on appeal.
  • Member of multiple teams that conducted internal investigations concerning, and on some occasions subsequently filed lawsuits arising out of, the alleged theft and misappropriation of our clients’ trade secrets and competitively sensitive information. During these matters, Michael has worked closely with outside computer forensic experts to uncover and develop evidence of the alleged thefts and misappropriations, including by developing digital trails of the thefts and identifying where and how misappropriated information has been relocated and misused. In one such matter filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, following extensive briefing and a two-day evidentiary hearing, the court granted a preliminary injunction in favor of our client and against the alleged wrongdoers.
  • Member of two small teams that tried major white-collar criminal cases to jury verdict in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He assisted in the preparation of witnesses, cross examinations, opening and closing statements, and post-trial motion arguments.
Recent Experience
Secured Settlement for Fox on Brink of Trial in High-Profile Defamation Litigation Brought by US Dominion Voting Systems

Credentials

Education

Michael received a J.D., magna cum laude, in 2009 from Notre Dame Law School, where he was executive issues editor of the Notre Dame Law Review. He received a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in 2006.

    Admissions
    • Illinois

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    Capabilities

    Litigation/Trials
    Commercial Litigation & Disputes
    White Collar & Government Investigations
    Class Actions & Group Litigation
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