Charles B. Leuin focuses his practice on a range of complex commercial litigation matters, including contract litigation, business torts, employment litigation, professional negligence and fiduciary litigation, adversary proceedings in bankruptcy and other creditor's rights matters, class action defense, real estate litigation, intellectual property litigation, and franchise and distribution litigation. He possesses wide-ranging trial and appellate experience and has appeared in state and federal courts throughout Illinois and across the nation.
In addition to his courtroom advocacy, Charles is an experienced business advisor and counselor to his clients, helping them anticipate and prevent problems and avoid major disputes.
Charles is dedicated to learning the day-to-day business concerns of his clients and to providing practical strategies in down-to-earth business language. He frequently works with mid-sized companies, counseling their executive-level officers. He also works closely with numerous Fortune 500 companies, partnering with their in-house legal counsel and staff.
Areas of Concentration
ˇ Litigation involving contract disputes in a wide variety of industries, including Uniform Commercial Code litigation
ˇ Trade secret and restrictive covenant litigation including emergency litigation
ˇ Representation of business clients in cases involving unfair competition, tortious interference, and other business torts, as well as Lanham Act and Deceptive Trade Practices Act claims
ˇ Representation of financial institutions and other consumer businesses in consumer class actions and litigation brought under various statutory schemes applicable to consumer and financial transactions
ˇ Adversary proceedings, preference litigation, claim disputes, and other litigation in the bankruptcy courts
ˇ Real estate litigation, often involving commercial note and mortgage holders
ˇ Copyright, trademark, and patent infringement litigation
ˇ Dispute avoidance, contracting practices, and employment counseling
Significant Representations
ˇ Obtained summary judgment and affirmance of judgment on appeal for a financial institution client in a seven-figure priority dispute in bankruptcy court.
ˇ Obtained no liability judgment in favor of client following bankruptcy court trial of a high six-figure preference and fraudulent conveyance claim.
ˇ Obtained preliminary injunction and affirmance of injunction on appeal for technology industry client against former employee and new employer for breach of restrictive covenant and misappropriation of trade secrets.
ˇ Obtained no liability judgment following trial on behalf of former bank executives accused of trade secret misappropriation and other business torts.
ˇ Obtained no liability judgment following the arbitration of an indemnity claim under an asset purchase agreement with an eight-figure potential exposure for a manufacturing client.
ˇ Negotiated nuisance value settlement following significant favorable initial court rulings in a case seeking $7 million for alleged fraud in real estate transaction.
*Certain of the above representations were handled by Charles prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Professional & Community Involvement
ˇ Member, Chicago Bar Association
ˇ Member, American Bar Association
Awards & Recognition
ˇ Team Member, Law360 "Employment Practice Group of the Year" (2011)
Articles, Publications, & Lectures
Articles
ˇ Co-author, "Sanctions Under Supreme Court Rule 137," Suing and Defending Professionals in Illinois, Illinois Institute for CLE, 1997
Books
ˇ Contributing author, "Habeas Corpus: Conflicts Between State and Federal Courts," The Attorney's Guide to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, State Bar of Wisconsin, 2d ed., 1996
Lectures
ˇ Moderator, "Effectively Integrating Franchise Brand and Operating System," International Franchise Association, 2002