Illinois

Barack Ferrazzano is a Chicago-based law firm whose Litigation Group is regularly entrusted by some of the world's most prominent companies to handle their highest-stakes legal disputes. Founded in 1984 on a model built around lean, efficient teams rather than the traditional mega-firm approach, the firm has grown into a sophisticated practice serving a global client roster while retaining the responsiveness and cost-discipline that has defined it from the start.

The Litigation Group is built on seasoned partners paired with well-trained associates and litigation support teams, allowing the firm to staff even its largest matters efficiently. Rather than pursuing prolonged, expensive discovery as a default strategy, the group's attorneys are prepared to try cases when necessary but focus on achieving practical business resolutions as early and economically as possible. That efficiency is reinforced by the firm's in-house discovery technology and use of artificial intelligence to manage large volumes of data without inflating case teams.

The group's client base spans some of the most recognizable names in luxury goods, financial services, telecommunications, real estate investment trusts, motor vehicle manufacturing, private equity, and consumer goods. Its attorneys litigate in state and federal courts nationwide, at both the trial and appellate levels, and regularly draw on colleagues from the firm's corporate, real estate, and bankruptcy practices to build interdisciplinary teams for complex disputes — from shareholder rights litigation to takeover battles.

Key practice strengths include antitrust and commercial competition, biometric information privacy (including Illinois's BIPA), business litigation, class action defense, financial institutions litigation, insurance coverage disputes, intellectual property litigation, real estate disputes, and white collar defense and regulatory enforcement. The group also maintains a robust alternative dispute resolution practice, handling mediations, arbitrations, and settlement negotiations, alongside proactive strategic counseling aimed at minimizing clients' litigation exposure before disputes arise.

Recent successes reflect the breadth of that experience. The firm secured a full dismissal for Louis Vuitton and Loro Piana in a putative antitrust class action alleging wage-fixing among luxury retail employees, and won a Florida appellate reversal on behalf of Porsche. It also obtained dismissal of a BIPA class action against Christian Dior on statutory exemption grounds, and served as lead counsel for Audi and Volkswagen in a multi-year dealership rights dispute, prevailing across three separate appeals.

This track record has translated into sustained industry recognition. The Litigation Group holds an Illinois Band ranking from Chambers USA, national and Chicago-level recognition in Best Lawyers' "Best Law Firms," and has been named a Benchmark Litigation "Highly Recommended Firm," with a shortlist nod for Illinois Litigation Firm of the Year for multiple years. Individual partners have also appeared on Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under list in multiple recent years, underscoring the depth of talent behind the group's senior leadership.