Department profile
Sidley Austin LLP

Litigation: Securities

USA Guide 2026 : Illinois


Sidley Austin LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Sidley Austin LLP

For more information on the Commercial Litigation and Disputes practice, please visit the practice's page at: https://www.sidley.com/en/us/services/commercial-litigation-and-disputes

For more information on the Securities and Shareholder Litigation practice, please visit the practice's page at: https://www.sidley.com/en/services/securities-and-shareholder-litigation/

For more information on the White Collar Crime and Government Investigations practice, please visit the practice's page at: https://www.sidley.com/en/services/white-collar-government-litigation--investigations

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: Securities - Illinois

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

Sidley Austin has a dominant and highly acclaimed practice that demonstrates outstanding expertise across the board in litigation, appearing in some of the most significant civil cases in the market. The firm boasts varied sector expertise in areas such as healthcare, financial services and defense, with significant capabilities in the securities space. It has an impressively deep bench of high quality practitioners who act on commercial matters for both domestic and international corporations. Recent involvement includes assistance with litigation associated with data breaches and cybersecurity issues.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Sidley Austin represented Health Care Service Corporation with a series of antitrust class actions and direct actions consolidated in an MDL alleging price-fixing conspiracy.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team is at the top of the list when it comes to responsiveness.

    Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • They fully and completely understand complex issues and are able to articulate their feedback in ways that make it easier for the business side of the company to understand.

    Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Sidley is one of the finest firms in the country and perhaps the very best. Their work is always at the forefront of legal thinking and as sophisticated as any in the nation.

    Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • The speed at which they absorb and understand the matter, which has its complexities, and the way they are able to distill it into easy to understand terms for the judge has been very impressive.

    Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Sidley's breadth of experience in product liability or product regulatory issues is impressive. They are efficient and provide knowledge and resources in understandable and practical ways that align with their client's financial and industry-specific needs.

    Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Bruce Braun
    Band 1Bruce Braun

    Bruce Braun

    Bruce Braun is widely recognized for his handling of complex commercial disputes for clients in the accounting, auditing and financial services sectors, among others.
    • He's an amazing adviser.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • He is the finest attorney I've worked with. Bruce works very efficiently. He comes in, assesses a problem and has a strategy from day one.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • He has the expertise in accounting and he is strategic.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 1Hille R Sheppard
    Band 1Hille R Sheppard

    Hille R Sheppard

    Hille Sheppard is highly respected for her representation of corporate clients facing big-ticket securities class actions and derivative suits, as well as advising on external investigations.
    • Hille is brilliant. She always understands the factual and legal issues deeply and then mapps and executes a strategy to deliver the best possible outcome for the client.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Hille has such a depth of knowledge. She is proactive, super smart and customer-focused.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is a very talented litigator.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is incredibly smart and a good strategic thinker.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 1Jim Ducayet
    Band 1Jim Ducayet

    Jim Ducayet

    Jim Ducayet has extensive experience acting for both corporate entities and individuals in disputes involving securities fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and shareholder litigation.
    • Jim's experience, knowledge and successes in the area of securities litigation are of the very highest rank. He always delivers outstanding results.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Jim is fantastic. He is incredibly smart and does a really good job of making complicated issues simpler.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 1Kristen Seeger
    Band 1Kristen Seeger

    Kristen Seeger

    Kristen Seeger excels in shareholder derivative and securities fraud disputes, often acting for large commercial clients and their directors.
    • Kristen is an outstanding lawyer who brings excellent judgment and creative, strategic thinking to every matter. She has the respect of clients, judges and adversaries, in even the most high stakes circumstances.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is an outstanding lawyer and always delivers excellent results for clients.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Kristen is a consummate professional with extraordinary legal skills. Beyond her commercial acumen, she displays the unique ability to distill complex issues with clarity and authority.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She effectively communicates with board directors, general counsels as well as junior employees.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 1Nathaniel Love
    Band 1Nathaniel Love

    Nathaniel Love

    Nathaniel Love is a trial and appellate lawyer with experience assisting clients navigate patent, trade secret and wider commercial disputes in the appellate courts.

    • He is a brilliant IP lawyer with tremendous appellate experience.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 1Nilofer Umar
    Band 1Nilofer Umar

    Nilofer Umar

    Nilofer Umar has a broad practice that sees her defend corporate and individual clients in claims such as derivative litigations, class actions and breach of fiduciary duty proceedings.
    • She is extremely strategic and really appreciates the economic realities of a case.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Nilofer's ability to know and be on top of a very large volume of information in detail is incredible.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Nilofer is exceptionally responsive, strategic and an excellent counsellor. Her advice that is spot-on and she is laser focused on the question we are asking. She makes our jobs easier.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Nilofer is great all-around. I also know that when I put her in front of our CEO or board, that she instills trust and confidence in them. She is articulate, concise and can speak their business language.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is a bright, aggressive and strong litigator.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 1Tacy Flint
    Band 1Tacy Flint

    Tacy Flint

    Tacy Flint is an accomplished appellate litigator with experience acting in major commercial and constitutional cases before state and federal courts.
    • Tacy is the smartest and most pragmatic appellate lawyer in Chicago. She has a keen way of simplifying complex issues and distilling arguments to their most critical elements.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is simply the best lawyer I have ever worked with.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • No one understands the Supreme Court better than Tacy Flint.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is a gifted litigator who has keen appellate insights.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 2David Gordon
    Band 2David Gordon

    David Gordon

    David Gordon has experience across a range of commercial disputes, including large-scale, cross-border mandates involving accounting concerns.

    • David really gets to know his clients at a deep level so he becomes a better advocate. He is both a litigation tactician, but more importantly, a true counselor to his clients.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • He is extremely accomplished in all areas of litigation, including securities litigation.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • David is fabulous. He is smart, has good judgment and a very nice style.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 2John Skakun
    Band 2John Skakun

    John Skakun

    John Skakun represents notable corporates and their executives in various matters, including derivative lawsuits, securities fraud litigation and internal investigations.

    • John sees the entire chess board when he is approaching a matter and is always thinking several steps ahead. He also has seemingly encyclopedic knowledge of the securities laws.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • John is super smart. He has a calm demeanor and can explain complex legal issues.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • He’s thoughtful, detail-oriented and creative. I have never seen someone with such good EQ managing a client relationship, while also being in the weeds of the details in a way which ensures nothing is being missed.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • He is very responsive and knowledgeable.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • He has the ability to crystallize issues into effective written and oral advocacy.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 2Michelle Ramirez
    Band 2Michelle Ramirez

    Michelle Ramirez

    Michelle Ramirez defends pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers as trial counsel in complex product liability matters and consumer class actions.

    • I trust Michelle to be able to listen, understand and quickly develop a strategic approach while leading me through it.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is very thorough and communicative.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is a really incredible attorney.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 4Karim Basaria
    Band 4Karim Basaria

    Karim Basaria

    Karim Basaria offers considerable strength in representing notable professional service firms in high stakes disputes, such as securities litigation.

    • Karim is a really smart attorney.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • He really calms people.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Band 4Matthew Devine
    Band 4Matthew Devine

    Matthew Devine

    Matthew Devine is a go-to trial lawyer and is noted for his sophisticated representation in class action defense, trade secrets and breach of contract-related litigation.

    • He just has a really exceptional ability to communicate effectively with senior business executives. He is an exceptional listener.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • What I really appreciate about Matt is that he is a real trial lawyer. He is fantastic in court.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • He delivers extraordinary results and is commercially-oriented.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Matt is an incredible lawyer. He is incredibly business-oriented and keeps the clients' objectives top of mind.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Up and ComingBrienne Letourneau
    Up and ComingBrienne Letourneau

    Brienne Letourneau

    Brienne Letourneau is noted for her experience representing clients in a range of complex litigation, such as class action defense and contractual disputes.

    • Brienne is a wonderfully talented litigation attorney. She is highly intelligent, very committed to her client's interests and works remarkably well as a team player.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She brings together intelligence, thoughtfulness and a high level of professionalism and responsiveness.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Brienne is a really strong trial lawyer. She is responsive, communicates well with clients and has a great presence in the courtroom.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • She is very good at really digging in and understanding what is driving the business and she gives her advice accordingly.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Brienne is an all-star lawyer. I would trust her with my high profile cases to deliver great work product and legal advice.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
  • Up and ComingCaroline Wong
    Up and ComingCaroline Wong

    Caroline Wong

    Caroline Wong has a growing reputation for her adept handling of securities litigation on behalf of companies and their senior figures.

    • Caroline is confident, assured and able to lead.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Caroline is one of the best writers I've ever seen. Her client skills are also excellent as well as her ability to persuade in a low key way and gain the trust of clients at all levels.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA
    • Caroline is an exceptionally talented attorney who is laser-focused on the specific needs of her clients. She is tough when she needs to be, and always practical and strategic.

      Litigation: Securities respondentUSA

Ranked Individuals at Sidley Austin LLP (14)

Illinois

Members

Provided by Sidley Austin LLP

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