Biography

Scott has litigation, arbitration and counseling experience involving a wide range of complex commercial contract disputes and business torts, including matters arising from breach of contract disputes, manufacturing and distribution issues, trade secret appropriation, fraud, insurance disputes, and various UCC issues.  Scott currently serves as lead counsel for several commercial product manufacturers and distributors and has represented a broad range of clients, such as manufacturers of industrial, electronic and consumer products, commercial product distributors, financial services companies, governmental entities, commercial transport companies, and insurance companies.  His clients range from small business owners to Fortune 100 companies.

Scott is a member of the Trade Secrets Group and currently serves on the group’s National Steering Committee.  As a member of the Trade Secrets Group, Scott has successfully obtained and defeated temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions in several jurisdictions throughout the United States for clients involved in the technology, securities and financial services, transportation, electronics, health care, and consumer products industries.  Some of the representative matters Scott has had primary or substantial responsibility include:

• Represented Fortune 100 electronics manufacturer in enforcing a non-competition agreement signed by its former Chief Financial Officer. 
• Represented commercial insurance carrier in defeating temporary restraining order brought against carrier by a competitor alleging employee raiding and misappropriation of trade secrets.
• Defeated temporary restraining order brought by a former employer (commercial products manufacturer) against two employees who left for a competing business.
• Represented commercial products manufacturer in defeating temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction brought by competitor for alleged appropriation of trade secrets and employee raiding.
• Successfully prosecuted preliminary injunction on behalf of health care company against former employee who violated his non-competition agreement.
• Represented Fortune 500 logistics company in litigation against former owners of an acquired company for corporate espionage, improper acquisition of computer software, and breach of non-competition agreements.
• Represented financial institution before the National Association of Securities Dealers in order to enforce non-solicitation and competition agreements signed by former employees.
• Counseled senior executives and high net worth individuals regarding non-competition, non-solicitation and other restrictive covenant provisions contained in various separation agreements.

In addition to his trade secrets work, Scott’s practice is also focused on commercial and business related litigation involving complex commercial contract disputes and other business torts.  Representative matters on which Scott has had primary or substantial responsibility include:

• First chaired three jury trials, two of which resulted in not guilty verdicts for his clients.  The third jury trial resulted in the court dismissing the claims made against Scott’s client at the conclusion of the other side’s case.
• Represented clients at arbitrations involving various contract, construction, transportation, financial and corporate insurance disputes.
• Successfully prosecuted a Directors and Officers Declaratory Judgment action on behalf of commercial insurance carrier.
• Briefed and argued an insurance coverage dispute before the First District Appellate Court of Illinois.
• Conducted discovery and evidence depositions in complex commercial contract and financial disputes, insurance matters and other business litigation.
• Defended consumer products supplier in RICO, consumer-fraud and alter-ego litigation.
• Represented and advised national electronic and consumer product manufacturers and distributors in contract negotiations with other manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and sophisticated, high-end consumers.  
• Conducted discovery and pre-trial preparation, as well as briefed and argued summary judgment and discovery motions, for complex commercial contract matters, business disputes, and insurance claims.
• Represented two fortune 500 companies in shareholder derivative and securities fraud class actions.
• Handled breach of consignment and supply agreements on behalf of an industrial manufacturing client.
• Advised consumer product manufacturer in implementation of strategic plan to reduce mold liability.
• Defended consumer product broker at trial against claims made by government and other corporate entities regarding spoliation of food products.
• Deposed and presented medical, educational, metallurgical, vocational, scientific, psychological, financial, insurance and economic experts in various commercial contract, business torts, and insurance disputes.

While attending law school, Scott clerked in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.  Under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711, he conducted various felony bench trials while interning in the Night Narcotics Unit and Felony Trial Division.

Education

M.B.A., Northwestern University, Kellogg Graduate School of Management (2002)

J.D., John Marshall Law School (1997)

Dean's List

B.A., Wittenberg University (1993)

Order of Omega Honorary

Admissions

• Illinois

Courts

• Illinois Supreme Court
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)