People: Louis S. Chronowski, Partner

Louis S. Chronowski

Partner

Chicago
Direct: (312) 460-5891
Fax: (312) 460-7891
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Mr. Chronowski is a partner in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. He is currently the national chair of Seyfarth Shaw’s Franchise, Dealer & Distributor Disputes group and a member of the firm’s Lawyer Development Committee and Pro Bono Committee. He has 12 years of trial and appellate experience representing companies in the areas of motor vehicle manufacturer-dealer, franchisor-franchisee, intellectual property, trade secret, and restrictive covenant disputes. His practice includes all aspects of pre-litigation counseling and litigation in the above areas. Mr. Chronowski has represented motor vehicle manufacturers, franchisors, sporting good manufacturers, health care product manufacturers, financial institutions, and others.

Over the past 12 years, Mr. Chronowski has authored articles on franchise and dealer law that have been published in the American Bar Association’s Franchise Law Journal. Mr. Chronowski is a member of the ABA’s Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise Association. Mr. Chronowski also is a member of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association’s Lawyers’ Committee. Prior to joining Seyfarth Shaw in 1999, Mr. Chronowski marketed and sold computer equipment to financial institutions at a Fortune 500 company for nine years.

Mr. Chronowski is a partner in the Commercial Litigation Practice Group of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. He is currently the national chair of Seyfarth Shaw’s Franchise, Dealer & Distributor Disputes group and a member of the firm’s Lawyer Development Committee and Pro Bono Committee. He has 12 years of trial and appellate experience representing companies in the areas of motor vehicle manufacturer-dealer, franchisor-franchisee, intellectual property, trade secret, and restrictive covenant disputes. His practice includes all aspects of pre-litigation counseling and litigation in the above areas. Mr. Chronowski has represented motor vehicle manufacturers, franchisors, sporting good manufacturers, health care product manufacturers, financial institutions, and others.

Over the past 12 years, Mr. Chronowski has authored articles on franchise and dealer law that have been published in the American Bar Association’s Franchise Law Journal. Mr. Chronowski is a member of the ABA’s Forum on Franchising and the International Franchise Association. Mr. Chronowski also is a member of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association’s Lawyers’ Committee. Prior to joining Seyfarth Shaw in 1999, Mr. Chronowski marketed and sold computer equipment to financial institutions at a Fortune 500 company for nine years.

Education

  • J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology (1999)
    high honors
    Order of the Coif
  • M.B.A., DePaul University (1995)
    with distinction
  • B.S., Purdue University (1990)
    with distinction

Admissions

  • Illinois

Courts

  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (trial bar)
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Affiliations

  • American Bar Association (Forum on Franchising)
  • Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (Appointed member, Lawyer's Committee
  • Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana (Board member, 2008 to present; Chair, Marketing Committee, 2009-present)

Representative Engagements

  • JM Vidal, Inc. v. Texdis USA, Inc. and Distex, Inc., C 08-485, U.S.D.C., Western District of Washington, Seattle, September 2011 (franchisor/franchisee dispute).
  • Philip Kile v. Cumberland International Trucks, Inc. Tennessee, Davidson County, September 2011 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute)
  • Labor Finders, Inc. v. Rundle, et al. U.S.D.C. Northern District of Illinois, June 2011 (franchisor/franchisee dispute)
  • North Star International Trucks, Inc. and Astleford International Trucks, Inc. v. Navistar Inc. and Boyer Ford Trucks, Inc. Minnesota, Hennepin County, January 2011 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute)
  • Manteca Trailer and Camper Sales v. Roadtrek Motorhomes, Inc. California New Motor Vehicle Board, July 2009 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute)
  • Manteca Trailer and Camper Sales v. Roadtrek Motorhomes, Inc. U.S.D.C. Eastern District of California, July 2009 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute)
  • Shannon Clemmons v. Ron Smith and Precious Moments, Inc. U.S.D.C., Middle District of Tennessee, November 2008 (copyright infringement).
  • Andco Inc., d/b/a Anderson Motors v. Workhorse Custom Chassis, LLC and Workhorse Sales Corp., CA-07-159-T-LDA, U.S.D.C., District of Rhode Island, February 2008 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Schaeperkoetter Sales and Service Co. v. International Truck and Engine Corp., 07-0655 FV, Adminstrative Hearing Commission, State of Missouri, February 2008 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute)
  • C.F. Schwartz Motor Co., Inc. v. International Truck and Engine Corp., 03-C-5011, Superior Court of the State of Delaware, Kent County, January 2007 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • International Truck and Engine Corp. v. Dow Hammond, 02-C-3460, U.S.D.C., Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division; U.S.D.C. Eastern District of California and California New Motor Vehicle Board, January 2003 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Patriot International Trucks, LLC v. John E. Anderson, et al., 06-3850, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 2007 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Emigrant Mortgage Company, Inc. v. Guaranteed Financial Mortgage Services, Inc., 03-M1-105020, Circuit Court of Cook County, January 2007 (mortgage broker dispute).
  • International Truck and Engine Corporation v. Kile International Trucks, Inc., 04-L-580, Eighteenth Judicial Circuit, DuPage County, September 2006 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Kile International Trucks, Inc. v. International Truck and Engine Corp., U.S.D.C., Middle District of Tennessee, 2005 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Kile International Trucks, Inc. v. International Truck and Engine Corp., Tennessee Motor Vehicle Board, 2004-2006 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Marton Trucks, Inc., t/a International Trucks of Central Jersey v. International Truck and Engine Corp., 07-CV-441, U.S.D.C., District of New Jersey, September 2007 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Shipman et al. v. Case Handyman Services, LLC et al., 06-CV-0235, U.S.D.C., Northern District of Illinois, September 2006 (franchisor/franchisee dispute).
  • Ward Transportation Services, Inc. v. IC Bus, LLC, CV 08-284, Circuit Court of Faulkner County, Arkansas, Second Division, pending (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • West Coach Corporation v. IC Corporation and Navistar Financial Corporation, 07-7020, U.S.D.C., Central District of California, Eastern Division; State of California, New Motor Vehicle Board, PR 2089-07, December 2007 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Wilson Sporting Goods Co. v. Hillerich & Bradsby, 05-1103, U.S.C.A., Federal Circuit, April 2006 (patent infringement).
  • Emigrant Mortgage Company, Inc. v. Chicago Financial Services, Inc., 03-M1-105022, Circuit Court of Cook County, December 2005 (mortgage broker dispute).
  • Golden Bear International, Inc. et al. v. Wilson Sporting Goods Co., C2-03-338, U.S.D.C., Southern District of Ohio, May 2004 (trademark infringement).
  • Cooleys, Inc. v. International Truck and Engine Corporation, TR-03-0019, Wisconsin Division of Hearings, December 2003 (motor vehicle manufacturer/dealer dispute).
  • Shen Wei (USA) Inc. and Medline Industries, Inc. v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, 02-CV-5196, U.S.D.C., Northern District of Illinois, October 2002 (patent infringement).
  • Benetton Sportsystem USA, Inc. v. Wilson Sporting Goods Co., 94-1726 (GEB), U.S.D.C., District of New Jersey, September 2000 (patent infringement).

Presentations

  • "Avoiding the Smoking Gun: Transforming E-mail from a Dangerous Weapon into a Useful Tool," International Franchise Association Annual Legal Symposium, Washington, DC (May 2009)