Benchmark Litigation

Minnesota

Review

Dispute resolution
Barack Ferrazzano

Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg, based in Chicago and Minnesota, is a litigation group that specializes in the motor vehicle and luxury goods industries. The firm keeps its teams lean with an eye toward achieving the client’s goals without delays. The firm’s in-house eDiscovery technology allows it to manage data while reducing client costs. Clients include financial institutions, manufacturers, REITs, hedge funds, law firms, and consumer goods companies.

Robert Shapiro is among the firm’s multi-disciplined litigators and has experience in intellectual property, antitrust, and commercial competition disputes. He focuses on serving clients in the fashion and luxury retail sectors. Shapiro recently defended Sephora in a class action in the U.S. District Court, claiming that “Clean at Sephora” labels are misleading because some products with that language contain synthetic and/or allegedly harmful ingredients. Shapiro argued that the label isn’t misleading because “Clean at Sephora” is conspicuously defined to mean that only certain and specific ingredients are natural. The court found in Sephora’s favor.

Shapiro and Maile Hitomi Solís, a co-chair of the firm’s litigation group, are lead counsel defending luxury designer brand Christian Dior in a Biometric information Privacy Act (BIPA) lawsuit alleging that the “virtual try-on” feature for eyewear collects BIPA-regulated biometric information in violation of the law. The team obtained a dismissal at district court, and it was ruled that the feature was not in violation of BIPA. 

Solís acts as national counsel to Louis Vuitton and joined the team, led by Owen Smith, in defense of the luxury client against a putative class action. The lawsuit alleged antitrust claims, specifically that Vuitton’s “no-hire agreements” impede competition and compensation for employees within the high-end retail market. Solís and Smith took the lead in the briefing with the co-defendants and secured a dismissal with prejudice earlier this year. A decision from the Second Circuit is pending.

Smith also chairs the motor vehicle group that specializes in handling litigation for industry-leading motor vehicle companies. In Illinois, Smith is challenging the constitutionality of the Multiplier Act, an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Franchise Act that changed how much manufacturers must reimburse dealers for warranty services and restricts them from recovering costs associated with the act. The case is being litigated, and Smith is seeking an injunction and a declaration that the amendment is unconstitutional on behalf of Volkswagen.

Connor Grant’s complex litigation experience includes class actions and contract disputes. He joined Solís and Smith in the Louis Vuitton case and teamed up with Shapiro in the defense of Christian Dior Perfumes in a false advertising Class Action. Dior sold two foundation products that referenced “24H Foundation” and “24H Wear” on its front packaging. The plaintiff alleged that consumers were misled into believing that the sunscreen would also last for 24 hours. The judge dismissed all claims with prejudice. 

Husch Blackwell

Husch Blackwell 

Husch Blackwell is nationally recognized for handling complex, high-stakes disputes across industries including healthcare, energy, real estate, and financial services. The firm is trusted by clients to manage everything from class actions and multidistrict litigation to sensitive regulatory investigations and appeals. Clients describe the firm as possessing a team of “very experienced litigators who know the courts, judges, etc.”  adding that “they are very detailed-oriented regarding the substance of the litigation.” Another client describes them as providing “excellent advice and direction to prepare [us] for all eventualities.” Clients continue to sing the firm’s praises, citing “Husch's leading partners and supporting attorneys are experts in their field, provide exceptional customer service, and respond quickly when called upon.”  

St. Louis partner Rudy Telscher is representing Motion Control in a patent infringement case involving prosthetic hands where Vincent Systems GMBH alleges that a glued and welded finger component is axially moveable and infringing the claims of their patent. Due to an adverse ruling in Germany which was recently partially reversed, the matter became further complicated and required careful consideration of the international implications and value of the case.  The matter is scheduled to go to a Markman hearing. Fellow St. Louis partner Sonni Nolan is a highly regarded commercial litigator with a specialization in employment discrimination matters. She is described as a “rock star and a fabulous team leader.” Springfield partner Bryan Wade is described as “very knowledgeable, very responsive and [a] well communicated individual, while DC partner Brian Waagner is described as “professional, thorough, and provides superior customer service. He is accessible and always responds promptly when needed.” Kansas City partner Beau Jackson represents Altronic who initiated an action in January 2024 seeking ITC relief against their top competitor, Motortech GmbH and Motortech Americas, who import and sell ignition control systems alleged to infringe an Altronic patent. A client described Jackson as providing “excellent communication and case strategy development.” Minneapolis-based partner Richard Morgan was part of the lead team who secured summary judgment in Missouri state court on behalf of the Nalco Company in a toxic exposure matter brought by employees of a compressor factory in Lebanon, Missouri who alleged that exposure to contaminated metal working fluid resulted in numerous injuries including decreased respiratory function, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, interstitial lung disease, cancer, and death. Omaha partner Marnie Jensen was selected to represent the Nebraska Legislature in a constitutional showdown involving the separation of powers between Nebraska’s Executive and Legislative branches. After the issuance of an Attorney General Opinion in August 2023, the Legislature sought Jensen as outside counsel to advise it regarding compliance with statutory regimes involving the independent Inspectors General for Child Welfare and Corrections. Jensen’s representation is ongoing and involves litigation preparation, advising the Executive Board of the Legislature regarding all aspects of the opinion and statutory compliance, and statutory revisions. California-based partner Mhare Mouradian represented Vivotein in a suit filed against the City of Ontario, California, for unlawful taking of business, conversion of personal property, abuse of discretion, and ordinary write of mandate. Vivotein sought an injunction against the City for enforcing abatement warrant and declaratory relief. Mouradian filed suit on Vivotein’s behalf and reached an agreement that the parties would not go to court.