Andrew Staes

Partner

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Andy has recently retired after a long and distinguished career as one of the preeminent lawyers in Chicago.

Stephen Scallan

Partner

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Practice Areas

High stakes commercial litigation in federal and state courts, including complex shareholder disputes, fraud claims, RICO actions, breach of contract, professional liability, and fraudulent transfer claims.

Federal criminal law, including the areas of health care fraud, and tax.

Appeals from federal and state court judgments.

Admissions

Illinois, 1995

Trial Bar United States District Court, Northern District Illinois, 2002

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 2002

Education

University of Notre Dame Law School, 1995
Northwestern University (Bachelor of Arts), 1992

Representative Matters

McKinney v. Panico, 21 cv-4602, 22 WL 4551695 (N.D. Ill. Sept 29, 2022)
(secured Rule 12(b)(6) dismissal of RICO claims).

Represented owner of carpeting stores in connection with his disputed with major carpet supplier. Matter resolved after defendant’s motion to dismiss denied.

Obtained verdict for plaintiff in a contempt proceeding stemming from defendant’s having sold an expensive boat while subject to a citation.  The verdict was obtained by demonstrating at trial that defendant had backdated numerous documents.  Bankruptcy court ruled that the obligation was non-dischargeable.

Secured successful settlement for defendant in long running multi-million dollar partnership dispute involving multiple entities, multiple lawsuits and an arbitration action.

Secured verdict for client who authored a prudence opinion for the Illinois Student Assistant’s Commission in connection with its investment in the South Shore Bank.  Client had been accused of malfeasance and fraud in connection with the transaction.

Representation of individual accused by Sentinel Bankruptcy Trustee of having received millions of dollars in fraudulent transfers. Matter settled after we filed for summary judgment.

Successful representation of supplier of copy equipment in   matter that involved protracted trial court proceedings, two Seventh Circuit Appeals and a referral of a certified question to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Represented real estate investor plaintiff in RICO action against developer and obtained favorable settlement.

Represented Illinois Department of Insurance in RICO action against persons who defrauded insurance carrier. Action settled after defendants’ motions to dismiss were denied.

Seventh Circuit reversal of attorney fee award under international treaty and the court’s inherent authority against Maurice Lenell Cooky Co. and successful opposition to certiorari petition.

Successful resolution of patent ownership dispute.

Successful representation of father in trust litigation brought against him by his sons.

Summary judgment for University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics on patient’s claim of sexual assault by hospital psychologist.

Successful defense of phen/fen claim brought against University of Chicago Hospitals and Clinics.

Seventh Circuit affirmance of suppression of evidence in racketeering case.

Seventh Circuit affirmance of suppression in extortion case resulting in dismissal of all charges.

Obtained judgment on the pleadings for Village Mayor who had been sued under Federal Wiretap Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and Stored Communications Act.

Obtained summary judgment for Village Mayor who had been sued under Title VII and 42 USC §1983.

Professional Awards

Illinois Super Lawyer 2018-2021

Martindale Hubbell AV Preeminent rated

Selected for inclusion in Irish Legal 100 since 2015

Personal Biography

I grew up in the Northern suburbs of Chicago. I attended New Trier High School where I played on the varsity tennis team. I attended Northwestern University and subsequently Notre Dame Law School.  I am married with four teenage sons.

Since as long as I can remember, I wanted to be an attorney. I enjoy the competition of helping litigants with serious problems successfully resolve their litigation problems. I am always looking for ways to amicably resolve disputes but equally enjoy taking a case to trial and through the appellate process.

Our firm is a small but brand name Chicago firm that routinely works alongside and against government entities and the largest law firms in the county.