J. Erik Connolly

Practice Areas

Erik Connolly serves as Managing Chair of Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group, where he leads one of the fastest growing and most respected litigation teams in the country. With a career spanning more than two decades, Erik has earned national recognition as a go-to trial lawyer for high-stakes, bet-the-company disputes that shape industries and protect reputations.

Erik’s work is defined by results. From securing dismissals of multibillion-dollar class actions to winning precedent-setting decisions, Erik has guided clients through some of the most complex litigation in U.S. history. Notably, Erik represented a beef producer in the $6 billion “pink slime” case against ABC News and currently leads Smartmatic’s $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News—cases that have captured national attention and set new benchmarks for holding the media responsible when they spread false information.

Clients turn to Erik for more than courtroom victories—they rely on Erik’s strategic insight and business-first approach. His counsel helps companies navigate litigation risk while preserving shareholder value and brand integrity. His clients range from Fortune 100 corporations and industry leaders to celebrities, family-owned businesses and philanthropic organizations around the country. He is trusted by global leaders in the technology, financial services, consumer goods, and manufacturing sectors, among others.

Track Record of Success

Erik and his teams are at their best when the stakes are highest, where the difference between winning and losing means billions of dollars and business lines operating or being shut down. In these cases, where grit and creativity make the difference, Erik has a recognized track record of success. For example:

• Won a directed verdict after more than 100 days of testimony in a $3 billion auditor liability trial following the HealthSouth scandal.

• Won summary judgment in a $2 billion securities fraud case on behalf of the largest set-top manufacturers in the world.

• Won summary judgment in a nine-figure trade secret case for the largest supplier of UPS solutions in the country.

• Defeated class certification in a multibillion-dollar commodities fraud case against one of the largest investment firms in the world.

• Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a $20 billion securities fraud claim for a Fortune 100 technology company after multiple amended complaints.

• Secured a landmark settlement in the $6 billion “pink slime” lawsuit after four weeks of trial, widely regarded as one of the most important defamation cases in U.S. history.

• Secured settlement of a nine-figure trade secret misappropriation claim for less than 1% of claimed damages following a series of successful pre-trial motions.

Diverse Practice

Beyond earning his reputation as a “notoriously tough” defamation lawyer by taking on the largest media companies in the world, Erik has spent his career litigating commercial disputes in courtrooms across the country.

• Business Torts: Representing Fortune 100 and 500 companies as plaintiffs and defendants in fraud, negligence and tortious interference claims against suppliers, competitors and customers – winning motions to dismiss and summary judgment.

• Contract Disputes: Representing industry leaders in consumer products, financial services, food and beverage, and technology as plaintiffs and defendants in claims valued at over $1 billion.

• Defamation: Representing companies and individuals in some of the largest, precedent-setting cases in the country – recovering hundreds of millions in damages, obtaining retractions, and securing injunctions.

• Securities Fraud: Representing Fortune 100 companies in securities fraud claims with damages ranging from $2 billion to over $20 billion – winning motions to dismiss and precedent setting summary judgment, securing voluntary dismissals with prejudice, and negotiating $0 cash settlements.

• Trade Secret Claims: Representing Fortune 100 companies and family-owned start-ups in trade secret misappropriation claims as plaintiffs and defendants – winning summary judgment, recovering lost profits (for plaintiffs), and forcing settlements with de minimis payments (for defendants).

• Vendor Disputes: Representing industry leaders and family-owned businesses in disputes with their suppliers, ranging from product defects and recalls to breaches and fraud – winning motions that eliminate the business disruption and negotiating resolutions to get the business restarted.

Erik and his team develop deep, institutionalized relationships with their clients so they can advise on every type of commercial matter – big and small. For several clients, they serve as an extension of the in-house team, handling everything from internal investigations, false advertising and consumer deception claims, regulatory compliance issues as well as every type of dispute with consumers, competitors, suppliers, and vendors.

First in Service Approach

Erik’s leadership philosophy centers on collaboration, accountability, and strategic growth. As Chair of the Litigation Group, Erik oversees more than 200 attorneys and professionals across multiple states. He emphasizes team empowerment and integration, driving initiatives in recruiting, client service, and cross-office collaboration. His approach combines high-performance expectations with mentorship, fostering a culture where attorneys are encouraged to innovate while maintaining rigorous standards of excellence.

Under his leadership, the Benesch Litigation Group has been recognized as one of the best in the country. The Group has been named a Highly Recommended Firm for Commercial Litigation by Benchmark Litigation, received national ranking for Commercial Litigation by Best Lawyers and U.S. News & World Reports, and ranked by Chambers for Commercial Litigation and related practices. BTI Litigation recognized the Group as a Litigation Leader for Commercial Litigation (top 7%) and Distinguished for Complex Commercial Litigation (top 12%).

Erik is known for being hands-on in complex cases—mastering the details while never losing sight of the big picture. His breadth of experience allows him to quickly understand business objectives, engage with business leaders on their terms, and give real “answers” instead of “overly conservative legal advice.” He and his teams “know what to do and how to navigate most anything.” They create the “perfect” outside counsel relationship. Erik’s attention to client service is “unmatched.”

Professional Memberships

Member, American Bar Association; Member, Illinois Bar Association; Member, Chicago Bar Association

Education