Todd Jacobs

Career

Todd Jacobs is the Chair of the firm’s Complex Litigation and Restructuring Group and the founding partner of our Chicago office.

He brings to the firm more than 35 years of experience resolving high-stakes disputes. Todd has been lead counsel to some of the most sophisticated legal consumers in America in their most sensitive matters and currently serves as National Coordinating Counsel for two of the world’s largest insurance companies with respect to sexual abuse claims - including dozens of pending Chapter 11 bankruptcies across the country. Over the course of his career, Todd has handled complex litigation matters encompassing many areas of the law - ranging from the first internet privacy class actions filed in the United States to the first 524(g) mass tort bankruptcy.

As the former Chicago managing partner for two leading litigation firms - one a multi-office international firm and the other a boutique - Todd possesses a seat at the table understanding of the Chicago legal market. He has also been a member of the Northern District of Illinois’ Trial Bar for more than two decades and represented numerous pro bono clients at the Court’s request including through jury trials.

Practice Areas

Commercial Disputes

Business Torts & Unfair Competition

Insurance Coverage Litigation

Consumer Class and Mass Action Defense

Bankruptcy, Restructuring & Creditor Rights

Intellectual Property & Restrictive Covenants

Mass Tort Insurance Coverage and Bankruptcy

Privacy & Data Security

Professional Memberships

Chicago Bar Association

U.S. Advisory Board for the Institute for Consumer Antitrust Studies, Loyola University Chicago

Publications

Contributor, "Parker Hudson Steps Into Chicago With Bradley Riley Duo," Law360 (May 17, 2023)

Co-Chair, Perrin Chicago Class Action Litigation Conference (September 2018)

Co-Chair, Perrin Chicago Class Action Litigation Conference (May 31, 2017)

Presenter, "Spotlight on Personal and General Jurisdiction Trends in Class Action Practice," American Conference Institute (June 9-10, 2016)

Co-Chair, Perrin Chicago Class Action Litigation Conference (May 17, 2016)

Presenter, "Challenges to Ascertainability and ‘Fail-Safe’ Classes and Challenges to Article III Standing and the Issue of Absent Class Member Injury," Challenges to Class Membership seminar, Chicago Bar Association (May 14, 2015)

Co-Chair, Perrin Chicago Class Action Litigation Conference (May 6-7, 2015)

Presenter, Legal Ethics and Social Media (May 18, 2014)

Co-Author, “Enforcing Clickwrap Agreements,” National Law Journal (March 11, 2002) (with Gary Miller)

Work Highlights

Currently National Coordinating Counsel for an international insurer in respect of sexual abuse claims. Cases pending in state and federal courts in California, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Learn more: Wall Street Journal and Law360.

Currently representing two additional leading insurers with respect to sexual abuse claims in pending west coast bankruptcies.

Currently representing two international insurers in respect of alleged coverage for environmental contamination and PFAS claims.

Currently representing an international insurer in New York state court and a simultaneous JAMS mediation in respect of alleged coverage for asbestos claims.

Experience

Currently National Coordinating Counsel for an international insurer in respect of sexual abuse claims. Cases pending in state and federal courts in California, Delaware, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Learn more: Wall Street Journal and Law360.

Currently representing two additional leading insurers with respect to sexual abuse claims in pending west coast bankruptcies.

Currently representing two international insurers in respect of alleged coverage for environmental contamination and PFAS claims.

Currently representing an international insurer in New York state court and a simultaneous JAMS mediation in respect of alleged coverage for asbestos claims.

Currently representing a major technology provider in putative class action litigation in the Northern District of Illinois and the Circuit Court of Cook County under the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act.

Represented a prominent plaintiff's class action firm in proceedings on remand from the Ninth Circuit Court’s reversal of a post-certification class action settlement. Briseño, et al. v. M. Todd Henderson v. Conagra Foods, Inc., 998 F.3d 1014 (9th Cir. 2021).

Represented an international insurer in respect of Covid-19 business interruption claims. Case dismissed with prejudice on motion to dismiss. Great River Entertainment, LLC v. Zurich American Insurance Co., 3:21-cv-00035 (N.D. Iowa Apr. 16, 2021) Learn More

Defended the Executive Manager of a Chicago-based derivatives trading firm in a 7-day Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitration (by Zoom during pandemic) alleging breach of fiduciary duty. Defense judgment obtained and attorney’s fees awarded.

Represented Amazon.com in N.D. Ill. putative class action concerning alleged improper charges for Amazon Prime accounts.

Represented Microsoft in N.D. Ill. putative class action concerning alleged improper charges for Xbox Live accounts.

Represented Zebra Technologies in trade secret litigation in Massachusetts federal court in respect of real time sports and tracking technology provided to the National Football League.

Industry Sector Expertise

Insurance

Education