Press Release

Kirkland & Ellis LLP Captures Victory for BASF After Seven-Week Jury Trial

Kirkland & Ellis LLP announced today that a jury in Morris County, N.J., has ruled in favor of client BASF, in a contract dispute lawsuit against Lyondell Chemical.

Following a seven-week trial, the jury deliberated for three days before ordering Lyondell to pay BASF $170 million in damages.  BASF had sued Lyondell for overcharging it for propylene oxide, a compound that BASF uses to make polyols, a substance used in making all sorts of goods, from foam to gym floors to adhesives.

The Kirkland trial team was led by Washington, D.C. partners Eugene F. Assaf and Daniel T. Donovan.  Other key members of the team included associates Jennifer K. Hardy, Christopher C. Posteraro, Bridget K. O'Connor and B. Michael Ortwein III.  Partners Gregg F. Locascio and Rebecca Ruby Anzidai also assisted during the case.

Opposing counsel were Lee Godfrey and Vineet Bhatia of Susman Godfrey in Houston.

About Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Kirkland & Ellis LLP is a 1,300-attorney law firm representing global clients in complex litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration, corporate, restructuring, tax and intellectual property and technology matters. The Firm has offices in Washington, D.C., Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York and San Francisco.