Mark Premo-Hopkins, P.C.
Overview
Mark Premo-Hopkins is a trial partner in Kirkland’s Chicago office. Mark serves as trial counsel for his clients as both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of business disputes, handling complex litigation matters for some of the world’s largest technology, pharmaceutical and chemical companies. Recent examples include:
- After parachuting in months before a federal jury trial, Mark and his team won a zero damages judgment for his client in the face of a $55 million damage claim arising out of contract and business tort claims brought by a former JV partner in a software development project. The American Lawyer selected Mark and his partner as Litigators of the Week based on the win.
- Mark and his team won a jury trial in Delaware state court, where the court entered judgment of more than $100 million for his client based on defendants’ fraud in the sale of a clinical trial software business. The American Lawyer selected Mark and his partner as Litigators of the Week based on the win.
- Mark and his teams won confidential awards as lead trial counsel for his clients in two arbitrations — one for a crop protection company vindicating its rights in an R&D joint venture worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and another for a technology company pursuing substantial damages arising out of a complex hardware supply contract.
Mark also has deep experience on behalf of private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, and his clients benefit from the unique perspective and strategic insights he gained during four years as a successful plaintiff’s attorney.
When he’s not trying cases, Mark is an avid golfer and guitarist who loves coaching youth sports for his local Park District.
Experience
Representative Matters
Commercial Cases
- Endless River Tech. v. TransUnion (N.D. Ohio): Hired by TransUnion as lead trial counsel in months leading up to federal jury trial, after court issued adverse ruling at summary judgment in $150+ million business dispute arising from jointly-developed online software platform. After substantially limiting verdict damages at trial, and successfully winning dismissal of 5 claims before the jury rendered its verdict, ultimately won zero damages judgment for TransUnion on all claims through post-trial motions.
- In re Bracket Holding Corp. Litigation (Del. Superior): Won $100+ million fraud judgment in jury trial as co-lead counsel for plaintiff Bracket Holding Corp. The jury found defendants committed fraud in selling a clinical trial software business by misrepresenting the financial condition of the company, causing Bracket to overpay for the company and suffer a substantial shortfall in working capital.
- Confidential Computer Hardware Arbitration (AAA): Won confidential award as lead trial counsel for plaintiff technology company in dispute over supply agreement.
- Confidential Crop Protection Arbitration (AAA): Won confidential award as lead trial counsel for plaintiff agrichemical company in dispute over R&D joint venture.
- iBio v. Fraunhofer (Del. Chancery): Lead trial counsel for plaintiff iBio, Inc. in dispute alleging former development partner secretly used iBio’s plant-based protein technology, breaching its contracts with iBio and willfully misappropriating trade secrets. Case settled favorably on the eve of trial.
- DaVita Healthcare vs. Baxter Healthcare (Colo. St. Ct.): Trial counsel for Baxter Healthcare in breach of contract suit over dialysis supplies. Reduced Baxter’s potential damage exposure by 97% at summary judgment and won dismissal of treble damages claim. Case settled favorably between closing argument and court ruling.
- Citadel vs. Malyshev (Ill. St. Ct. and Arbitration): Litigation counsel for Citadel LLC in preliminary injunction and related arbitration against former employees who formed competing electronic trading firm. Won preliminary injunction enforcing non-compete agreements, $2.2 million in sanctions for destruction of evidence, and arbitration award.
- AbbVie v. Williams (Ill. St. Ct.): Trial counsel for AbbVie Inc. Won temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against former employee who secretly joined competing pharmaceutical company. After a week-long evidentiary hearing, the court granted AbbVie’s requested preliminary injunction in full barring defendant’s employment at competitor.
- APTIM Corp. v. Allied Power Mgmt. (ND. Ill.; La. St. Ct.): Litigation counsel for Allied Power in case brought by energy services competitor alleging theft of confidential information and unfair business practices. During deposition discovery, sought and won a stay of the preliminary injunction proceeding on behalf of Allied. Case settled favorably during stay.
- BankDirect v. Capital Premium Financing (N.D. Ill): Lead counsel for Capital Premium Financing in breach of contract/trade secret dispute related to marketing and funding of insurance premium finance products, and option to purchase Capital Premium’s business. Case settled favorably after winning sanctions ruling from magistrate.
Mass Tort/Product Liability Cases
- 3M Earplug Litigation (MDL): Lead trial counsel in multiple bellwether trials where plaintiff alleged that defective ear plugs caused servicemen and women to suffer hearing injuries.
- In re Paraquat Products Liability Litigation (MDL; Ill St. St.): Trial counsel for Syngenta in nationwide mass tort suits alleging exposure to herbicide caused farmers to develop Parkinson’s Disease.
- In re Heparin Products Liability Litigation (N.D. Ohio; Ill. St. Ct.): Trial counsel for Baxter Healthcare in nationwide mass tort suits regarding contaminated heparin. Obtained dismissal of hundreds of cases on summary judgment. Three-week jury trial of bellwether case resulted in verdict totaling less than 5% of plaintiff’s requested damages.
- Dow Louisiana Groundwater Litigation (La. St. Ct.): Represented Dow Chemical Company in class action seeking additional remediation of groundwater in aquifer. After a five-week trial, the court adopted Dow’s existing clean-up plan and rejected plaintiffs’ claims for $130 million pump-and-treat remedy.
Antitrust Cases
- Universal Hospital Services vs. Hill Rom Company (W.D. Tex.): Litigation counsel for Hill-Rom Company in antitrust monopolization suit challenging Hill-Rom’s contracts for the sale of hospital beds and rental of hospital equipment to group purchasing organizations. Case settled favorably during expert discovery.
- In re Plasma Derivative Protein Therapies Litigation (N.D. Ill.): Litigation counsel for Baxter Healthcare in antitrust class actions alleging an agreement to restrict output of plasma therapies. Obtained dismissal of secondary purchaser suit on pleadings, later settled. Direct purchaser suit settled favorably during class-certification briefing.
Pro Bono Cases
- Monroe v. Ill. Dept. Corrections (S.D. Ill): Counsel for statewide Illinois class of transgender prisoners in Section 1983 action. Won permanent injunction against IDOC officials for on-going violations of transgender prisoners’ constitutional rights, including illegal strip searches, as well as repeated misdiagnoses and deliberate indifference towards serious medical conditions. Court issued immediate oral ruling at close of trial, followed by a written ruling in what is recognized as the first instance of injunctive relief granted on behalf of a certified class of transgender inmates in the United States.
Clerk & Government Experience
Honorable Emilio M. GarzaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit2007–2008
More
Recognition
Litigator of the Week — Litigation Daily, January 2023
“40 & Under Hot List” — Benchmark Litigation, 2020–2022
Rising Star (General/Business Litigation) — Illinois Super Lawyers, 2017–2021
Litigator of the Week — Litigation Daily, June 2019
“40 Under 40” — Chicago Lawyer and The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2018
Rising Star (General/Business Litigation) — Colorado Super Lawyers, 2014–2015
E-Discovery — The Legal 500 U.S., 2021
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2008Illinois
- 2012Colorado
Courts
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- United States District Court for the District of Colorado
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Education
- University of Chicago Law SchoolJ.D.with Honors2007
Editor-in-Chief, University of Chicago Legal Forum
Donald E. Egan Scholarship
Ann Watson Barber Outstanding Service Award
- University of AlabamaB.A., Religious Studiesmagna cum laude2003