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Christine Skoczylas, Chicago Lawyer
OVERVIEW

Christine E. Skoczylas

Partner

Chicago

One N. Wacker Drive
Suite 4400
Chicago, IL 60606-2833

P 312-214-5613

F 312-759-5646

A fierce and effective advocate, trial and appellate attorney, Christine Skoczylas focuses on limiting the impact of lawsuits on businesses by managing costs, minimizing distractions and keeping her clients informed at each step of a case. She focuses on achieving positive outcomes so her clients can focus on what matters to them – their businesses.

OVERVIEW

A fierce and effective advocate, trial and appellate attorney, Christine Skoczylas focuses on limiting the impact of lawsuits on businesses by managing costs, minimizing distractions and keeping her clients informed at each step of a case. She focuses on achieving positive outcomes so her clients can focus on what matters to them – their businesses.

Christine specializes in helping clients in a wide range of industries deal with diverse commercial and class action disputes. She takes the time to understand her clients’ businesses so she can deliver her services with efficiency and value.

She understands that litigation of any type – from nuisance suits to nationwide class actions and high-stakes commercial cases – can have a profound impact on both business operations and the bottom line. Christine fights hard for her clients and treats their businesses as if they are her own, giving them confidence that their lawyer is not only battle-tested, but has their backs.

Christine triages threats by managing spend, swiftly solving issues, and minimizing impact to a business while pursuing a successful outcome. She has taken bench and jury trials to verdict and represented clients in mediation and arbitration settings across the country. She brings experience as first and second chair in high-stakes trials and has the requisite stamina to go the distance on her clients’ behalf. This is best illustrated by the fact that she second-chaired a marathon 60-plus day bench trial and first-chaired a four-week jury trial in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois. Christine’s appellate victories show that, when it comes to her clients, she’s all in.

Christine understands the internal pressures on in-house attorneys and business executives to solve situations in a timely and cost-effective manner – all while protecting the company’s reputation. Her actions are in lock-step with the needs of the business, rather than letting litigation be the tail wagging the dog. Most of all, she believes being responsive to her clients’ needs is not just important, it’s everything.

Prior to her legal career, Christine worked as a research biologist with a focus on cancer biology and neurobiology. Notably, Christine has published four articles in leading scientific journals, including a review of the molecular mechanisms involved in virally-induced mesothelioma. In her law practice, Christine applies the logic, focus, and discipline she learned in the laboratory to her cases, integrating complex sets of facts into the strong legal arguments.

Professional and Community Involvement

President, Board of Directors, Chicago Volunteer Legal Services 

Member, American Bar Association Section of Litigation

Member, Illinois State Bar Association

EXPERIENCE
Experience
  • Represents consumer litigation funder as national litigation counsel in class action cases alleging consumer fraud, usury and violations of state banking laws. Has achieved full dismissals of claims and negotiated favorable state class action settlements.
  • Represented high-frequency trading firm in membership dispute of more than $100 million. Co-first-chaired a four-week jury trial and achieved a favorable settlement including removal of inactive member prior to closing arguments.
  • Represented pharmaceutical distributor in arbitration brought by healthcare product manufacturer alleging breach of the parties’ distributor agreement. Turned plaintiff’s $3.4 million damages claim into a $4.6 million arbitration award in client’s favor on counterclaim.
  • Represented large contract manufacturer in lawsuit brought by boutique granola bar company seeking more than $10 million in lost profits for alleged failure to satisfy purchase orders. Second-chaired weeklong jury trial and achieved favorable verdict awarding minimal incidental damages to plaintiff.
  • Represented municipality in Section 1983 case brought by nonprofit water association that alleged that the municipality infringed its federal right to supply water in the surrounding area. Defeated the plaintiff’s claims in summary judgment and delivered oral argument before the Seventh Circuit, defeating plaintiff’s appeal.
  • Represented large energy utility in arbitration brought by landfill alleging breach of the parties’ landfill gas purchase agreement’s take-or-pay requirements. First-chaired weeklong arbitration hearing and achieved favorable verdict awarding landfill less than 20% of its claim based on force majeure events that negated payment obligations.
  • Represented an international petrochemical manufacturing corporation in an arbitration to recover millions of dollars in property damages and lost profits arising from a plant-wide power outage caused by the negligence and breaches of contract of its cogeneration facility. Achieved a favorable settlement at mediation.
  • Represented wealth management company in lawsuit brought by trust beneficiary alleging mismanagement of investment funds. Obtained dismissal of all claims on procedural grounds and delivered oral argument before the Seventh Circuit, defeating plaintiff’s appeal.
  • Represented Global 500 hair care company in nationwide litigation to terminate distributors who diverted salon-exclusive products into the grey market. Achieved a favorable settlement on the eve of trial.
  • Represented local grocery store operator and restaurateur in lawsuit brought by investors claiming breaches of fiduciary duty, conversion and fraud. Obtained voluntary dismissal of all claims.
  • Represented a major U.S. municipality in litigation to void an unauthorized contract for the long-term use of city land and disgorge defendants of unjustly obtained profits. Second-chaired the more than 60-day bench trial.
  • Represented an international hotel corporation and related entities in a wrongful death and personal injury case brought by victims of a terrorist bombing in Amman, Jordan. Obtained dismissal for lack of personal jurisdiction and on forum non conveniens grounds and succeeded in defeating plaintiffs’ appeal of the trial court’s personal jurisdiction ruling.
  • Represented one of the largest U.S. hospitality corporations in a complex contract and accounting dispute against a major league athletic team to recover payment for millions of dollars of food, beverage and concessions services provided at a sports arena. Achieved favorable settlement for client at mediation.
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