Litigation
Trial and Appellate Advocates
We have a national trial and appellate practice committed to resolving clients’ most pressing disputes. Collectively, we have tried hundreds of cases in state and federal courts. As part of our national litigation practice, we field a team of seasoned appellate lawyers. Our lawyers have briefed and argued matters in the U.S. Supreme Court, nearly every federal court of appeals, and state courts across the country and throughout the State of Illinois. We regularly represent clients at trial, on appeal, in arbitration and mediation, and in responding to government investigations and regulatory actions. Our experience includes:
- Class Action Defense
- Commercial/Contracts
- Construction
- Creditors’ Rights
- Employment
- Estates & Trusts
- Fraud, including Consumer, False Claims Act and Shareholder Claims
- Internal Investigations
- Intellectual Property/Copyright/Trade Secrets
- Insurance Recovery
- Regulatory Matters
- Shareholder/M&A
- Real Estate
We work closely with clients to strategically position their cases for early and effective resolution. And where trial is the best path forward, our seasoned trial attorneys are committed to going the distance. Our trial strategy is aided by our deep appellate experience, which enables us to shape the record and ensure that issues are properly presented and preserved for appeal.
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Rathje Woodward’s experienced attorneys and staff are ready to help you with all your litigation needs.
In 2008, our company faced multi-million dollar claims in MDL litigation in federal court in Chicago. At the outset, Rathje Woodward developed a winning strategy and executed on it perfectly. The result? Every claim against us was dismissed. We never paid a dime in judgment or settlement, and our legal fees were far below what we had expected. Thanks, Rathje Woodward.
Litigation News and Events
Rathje Woodward Secures Victory in Illinois Court of Appeals
Quoting Rathje Woodward’s briefing, the Court of Appeals explained “The clear, plain, and unambiguous language of section 8 of the Act required the Department to provide YAC with written notice of its intent to recover the grant funds, and the Department was required to forward this written notice to YAC’s current business address. The Department failed to do this and therefore failed to fulfill the statute’s notice mandate.”
Rathje Woodward LLC Secures a Trial Victory in DuPage County
After a three-day bench trial in February 2025, Rathje Woodward secured a complete defense judgment in favor of its client, Kathleen Zellner. In that case, Suisse Bancorp, Inc. v. Zellner, et al., Suisse Bancorp sought more than $20 million allegedly due on loans...
Rathje Woodward LLC Prevails in Connecticut Supreme Court
On April 8, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in favor of Rathje Woodward clients Commonwealth Legal Group and Commonwealth Client Services. The Connecticut Supreme Court accepted Rathje’s argument that the Department of Banking lacked the...