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Band 3
Provided by J. Erik Connolly
Erik Connolly serves as Managing Chair of Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group. Erik represents clients in high stakes, complex commercial litigation. Cases featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNN, MSNBC, The Daily and dozens of other publications. Cases where the difference between winning and losing means billions of dollars and business lines operating or being shut down. In these cases, where experience matters, Erik and his teams have a recognized track record of success.
Of all his work, Erik is best known as a “notoriously tough” defamation lawyer, who companies turn to when their reputation and products have been unfairly attacked. He represented a beef producer in the $6 billion “pink slime” litigation against ABC. The case has been called the largest defamation case in U.S. history, and it was resolved favorably for Erik’s client after four weeks of trial. He is currently representing a voting machine company in multiple lawsuits stemming from defamatory statements made about the company after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election, including a $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox. From litigation to counseling, “there is a reason” companies caught in the media’s crossfire retain Erik.
Beyond defamation, Erik’s experience includes a variety of “bet the company” cases ranging from securities fraud to trade secret misappropriation to breach of contract. In these cases, Erik and his teams have prevailed in marathon length trials, secured precedent setting summary judgment rulings, defeated class certification in multi-billion-dollar cases, and obtained dismissal of complaints alleging nine and ten figure damages.
Erik’s industry experience is as varied as his subject matter experience. He has represented Fortune 50 banking and financial institutions in securities fraud and other market manipulation cases. He has represented Fortune 100 and 500 technology companies in consumer protection, fraud, breach of contract and trade secret cases. He has represented large publicly traded consumer product companies as well as privately held companies that are industry leaders in fields ranging from agriculture to precious metals to wealth management to accounting and auditing.
Member, American Bar Association; Member, Illinois Bar Association; Member, Chicago Bar Association
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
J.D.
Northwestern University
B.A. (With Honors)
Provided by Chambers
As chair of the litigation group and co-chair of the securities litigation practice at Benesch, Erik Connolly possesses a broad base of disputes expertise. His experience spans defamation, securities fraud and breach of contract suits.
Provided by Chambers
Erik is a an effective oral advocate. He has a good style with both the judge and jurors.
Erik provides excellent customer service. He is attuned to what we need and look for.
Erik is a an effective oral advocate. He has a good style with both the judge and jurors.
Erik provides excellent customer service. He is attuned to what we need and look for.