Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, Educator

Irving B. Levinson, Law Office, 2014-Present: Of Counsel, K&L Gates, 2012-2014; Partner, K&L Gates LLP, 2005-2012, Partner, DLA Piper LLP, 1999-2004; Partner, Rivkin Radler LLP, 1982-1999; Associate, Katten Muchin, 1977-1982.

Forty-one years as a business dispute trial lawyer. <br/><br/>Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Northwestern University School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Mediation and International Arbitration at DePaul.<br/><br/>Represented publicly owned companies, private companies and individuals in litigation and dispute resolution in the following types of disputes: securities litigation, contract disputes, intellectual property disputes, banking and financial disputes, construction disputes, real estate disputes, employment disputes, unfair trade practices claims, trade secret litigation, libel and slander, accounting disputes, insurance coverage disputes, cases arising from the sales of businesses or business segments, commercial fraud claims, intentional interference with business claims, termination of distribution and franchise agreements, claims for injunctive relief in business disputes, products liability claims, and class action and qui tam litigation.<br/><br/>Due to the nature of business litigation representation in these claims. Approximately 50% of representation was on plaintiff's' side and 50% on defendants' side.<br/><br/>Handled appellate representation of clients in state and federal appellate courts, including the United States Supreme Court.

Experience as a mediator includes a variety of business-related matters including disputes between manufacturer and distributor, supplier and customer, franchisor and franchisee, seller and buyer of a business or line of business, employer and employee, and parties to intellectual property, real estate and construction disputes. Matters include disputes in health care industry, computer and software industry, securities and high tech industries.

Issues mediated include those issues arising from the sale of a business, the operation of a partnership or joint ventures, rights and obligations pertaining to trade secrets and other intellectual property, division of property issues, unfair competition and securities claims and complex case-specific factual issues.

A mediator should be an active facilitative proponent, advancing the following objectives:<br/>1. Creating tailored processes designed to fit the dispute and party specific parameters in a fashion that optimizes the likelihood of success<br/>2. Actively assisting parties in finding common sense solutions to their disputes<br/>3. Actively assisting parties in finding creative and value-added solutions to their disputes<br/>4. Easing intransigence and hostility on all sides of a dispute<br/>5. Being a staunch neutral, supporting the parties in finding ways to move forward when impasse and stalemates seem impossible to overcome

Loyola University School of Law (JD-1974);<br/>University of Chicago, Graduate School training in Political Science (1970-1971) (unfinished);<br/>Washington University of St. Louis (AB,1969).<br/>

Admitted to the Bar, Illinois (1974); <br/>U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois; <br/>U.S. Court of Appeals: Seventh Circuit;<br/>United States Supreme Court.

Association of Attorney Mediators; Association of Conflict Resolution.

- "Powerful Tools for Mediating Troublesome Business Disputes Effectively," International Arbitration Webinar, June 8, 2010<br/>- Mediator Practice Panel Speaker, DePaul Law School Annual Litigation Symposium, March 19, 2010<br/>- "A Trial Lawyer's Thoughts on Mediating Effectively," Circuit Court of Cook County Mediation Training Session, March 11, 2010<br/>- "The 360 Mediation," Chicago Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee, January 15, 2010<br/>- "Managing the Mediation Process: Effective Tools for In-House Counsel," Corporate Counsel Forum, October 29, 2008<br/>- "Innovative Strategies for the Electronic Courtroom," Corporate Counsel Forum, January 31, 2008 (chair)<br/>- "Taking Control of Electronic Discovery," Corporate Counsel Forum, April 19, 2007 <br/>- "Successful Strategies for Managing Complex Corporate Litigation," Corporate Counsel Forum, November 30, 2006 (chair)<br/>- "Strategies for Corporate Counsel - How to Manage Mediation," October 30, 1997<br/>- "Blueprinting Litigation Management: An Intensive Litigation and ADR Workshop," Corporate Legal Times, April 1-2, 1996 (co-chair)<br/>- "Litigation Management: Controlling Litigation Costs," Corporate Legal Times Roundtable, March 1996<br/>- "How to Win the Lawsuit that Arises from the Sale of a Business," February 1, 1996 <br/>- "Blueprinting Litigation Management: An Intensive Litigation and ADR Workshop," Corporate Legal Times, October 23-24, 1995 (co-chair)<br/>- "101 Ways to Control the Cost of Outside Counsel," May 5, 1995 and April 6, 1995<br/>- "Prosecuting and Defending Claims of Misrepresentation Arising from the Purchase or Sale of a Business," Price Waterhouse's General Counsel Forum, January 19-20, 1995 <br/>- "Protecting Against Unfair Competition by Present and Former Employees," March<br/>- "Presentation on Examination of Expert Financial Witness," Illinois CPA Society, July 24, 1992<br/>- 101 Effective Ways to Mediate, Corporate Legal Times, July 1999<br/>- The Art of Arbitration Diplomacy: Strategies for Winning Commercial Arbitration, Trial Diplomacy Journal, May/June 1997<br/>- Coaching the Client Before Mediation, Legal Times, December 1995<br/>- How to Win the Lawsuit that Arises from the Sale of a Business, Trial Diplomacy Journal, November/December 1995<br/>- Ten Ways to Cut Litigation Costs with Technology, CCM, June 1995 <br/>- 101 Ways to Cut Outside Legal Expenses, May 6, 1993

$400 Per Hour

English

United States of America

Highland Park, IL