Crain's List: 2005's Big Litigation

For its second annual law firm feature, Crain’s Chicago Business searched for the biggest cases Chicago lawyers worked on in 2005.  Kirkland & Ellis attorneys worked on several of the top 25 cases.

Crusius v. Illinois Gaming Board

• The Lawyers: James Sprayregen (Kirkland & Ellis LLP), Terrance Norton (Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP), Illinois Solicitor General Gary Feinerman
• The Clients: Emerald Casino (Kirkland & Ellis LLP), Philip Crusius (Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP), Illinois Gaming Board (Illinois Solicitor General)
• Venue: Illinois Supreme Court
• Result: Taxpayer Philip Crusius challenged the constitutionality of a law that would allow bankrupt Emerald Casino to move its operation from East Dubuque to Rosemont.  Emerald can proceed with a deal to sell its license to another casino and investors could get their money back if the Illinois Supreme Court upholds the law.

In re Daewoo Motor Co. Ltd. Dealerships

• The Lawyer: Richard Godfrey (Kirkland & Ellis LLP)
• The Client: General Motors Corporation
• Venue: U.S. District Court, Orlando
• Result: Daewoo Motor America is appealing a federal judge’s decision to dismiss cases the company and more than 100 U.S. Daewoo dealers brought against GM.  The plaintiffs claim that their business was harmed when GM purchased the Korean parent company’s core assets, but did not include the U.S. operations in the deal.

U.S. v. Philip Morris USA

• The Lawyers: David Bernick (Kirkland & Ellis LLP), Dan Webb, Thomas Frederick (Winston & Strawn LLP)
• The Client: Brown & Williamson
• The Venue: U.S. District Court, Washington, D.C.
• Result: The government alleged that the tobacco companies engaged in a 50-year scheme to cover up the health risks of smoking from the public.  The nine-month trial ended in June and the parties are now awaiting the ruling.