| John
C. Sciaccotta Shareholder
John C. Sciaccotta focuses his practice on litigation, arbitration and business counseling matters with a special emphasis on complex civil trial, and appellate cases brought in federal and state courts throughout the nation. He is a Shareholder and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and the Marketing and Client Development Committee.
John has been appointed by the American Arbitration Association as an Arbitrator and Lawyer Neutral to adjudicate various claims and disputes in arbitration.
For many years John has provided results-oriented and value-driven legal counsel to public and privately held businesses, lenders, employers, and individuals.
In these and other concerns, John has experience dealing with numerous industries and business activities. His litigation services at trial and in business counseling have included:
Counseling and representing corporations and limited liability companies, partnerships, and their owners in issues involving corporate control, valuation, corporate squeeze-outs, minority oppression, and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
Representation of property owners in various types of litigation against municipalities.
Interpretation of, and litigation involving, complex contracts in construction negligence, commercial real estate, Title Insurance, and Mechanic’s Lien matters.
Prosecution and defense of doctors, accountants, engineers, architects, and real estate and insurance brokers in professional negligence and business fraud cases.
Advocating for various companies and individuals in antitrust, trade secret misappropriation, and other unfair competition disputes.
Coordinating the investigation of business frauds, with the ultimate recovery of substantial sums of money.
Representing property owners in zoning and land use controversies.
Defense of Fortune 100 company employees in employment discrimination claims.
Defense of business entity and its owners in criminal investigations.
John has been involved in many appellate court decisions in which his clients have prevailed.
EDUCATIONJD, 1987, DePaul University College of Law
BSBA, 1984, Creighton University
BAR ADMISSIONSIllinois Supreme Court
United States Supreme Court
U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (including Trial Bar)
U.S. District Courts for the:
- Western District of Kentucky
- Southern District of Louisiana
- District of Massachusetts
- Eastern District of Ohio
- District of Colorado
Pro Hac Vice State Admissions:
Texas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Colorado,
Kentucky
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Court of International Trade
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTSFacilitator, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Law School Orientation Program at DePaul University School of Law, August 2012
Moderator and host, Chicago ABA Section of Litigation, September 2006
Business Torts Committee Regional CLE Program Successful Strategies When Pursuing Equitable Remedies and Extraordinary Writs
RECENT REPRESENTATIONSSuccessfully represented and obtained a favorable settlement in arbitration on behalf of a publically traded business entity in a dispute involving the contractual obligations for the sale and purchase of heavy duty construction equipment.
Represented and counseled business owners in the asset sale of a closely held business entity to a publically traded business entity. As part of the business sale, John was able to thwart and defend a significant threat of litigation involving the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets by the sellers that would have prevented the sale of the business.
Represented the largest Japanese Hotel owner/operator, with 242 hotels under its marquee, in negotiating and securing City of Chicago approvals and property re-zoning necessary for the construction of a 23 story, 615 room hotel. The client intends to develop 150 hotels in the United States.
Secured a favorable outcome on behalf of a Lender under a Title Insurance Policy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court pursuant to Fraud and Equitable Subordination and Subrogation Theories.
Represented and obtained a significant settlement on behalf of a professional sports league in a lawsuit involving insurance broker fraud and negligence in the procurement of Worker’s Compensation insurance.
Represented and secured a favorable settlement for three entrepreneur inventors in a lawsuit involving alleged trade secret misappropriation and breach of fiduciary duty related to a patented device.
Obtained a multimillion dollar judgment in a fraud investigation involving the embezzlement of a closely-held business and reported the investigation results to federal authorities, resulting in the ultimate filing of a federal indictment.
Successfully defended a business entity and its owner in a breach of contract and shareholder control litigation.
Successfully defended various business entities and their owners against fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and conspiracy allegations involving the alleged fraudulent inducement of an investment transaction and the recovery of the investment funds.
Represented and secured a favorable defense and settlement of a Trustee and Co-Guardian of a Trust and a disabled person in an action to remove said Trustee and Co-Guardian based upon allegations of fraud and breaches of fiduciary duties.
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC AFFILIATIONSAmerican Bar Association
- Section of Litigation
-Business Torts Committee
- CLE Regional Seminar Chair, 2006
- Member, 2006-Present
Federal Bar Association
- Member
Illinois State Bar Association
- Judicial Evaluation Committee,
1999-2006
- Assembly Member, 1995-2007
Illinois Bar Foundation
- Gold Fellow Donor Recognition Society
Chicago Bar Association
- Golf Committee, Chair, 2009-Present
- Bench & Bar Committee, Vice Chair, 2006-2007; Chair, 2007-2008
- Membership Committee, 2006-2007
- Commercial Litigation Committee, 2004-2008
- Volunteer Mentor for the CBA Pathway for the Profession Mentoring Program
Chicago Bar Foundation
- Member, Board of Trustees
- Member, Abraham Lincoln Circle of Justice
- Member, CBF/CBA Pro Bono & Public Service Awards Luncheon Steering Committee
- CBF Investing in Justice Campaign, Vice Chair and Steering Committee, 2007-Present
Fenwick High School Bar Association
- Founder
- President, 2011-2012
- Member, Accipiter Award Law Alumni Committee
Fenwick High School
- Member, Board of Trustees
Justinian Society of Lawyers
- President, 2004–2005
- Executive Committee, 1999-2008
Cook County Committee for Retention of Judges
- Member, 2005-Present
Coalition of Illinois Bar Leaders
- Founder
Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago
- Member, Board of Directors
Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc.
- Member, Board of Directors, 2009-2011
Civic Federation
- Member, Board of Directors
Italian American Chamber of Commerce, Midwest Chapter
- Legal Advisor, 2005–Present
- Member, Board of Directors, 2005–Present
National Italian American Foundation
- Member, Legal Council
- Member, 2007 Italian Ambassador’s Gala Committee
- Midwest Area Coordinator for Chicago
National Italian American Bar Association
- Member, Board of Directors
The Chicago Inn of Court
The Lawyers Club of Chicago
The City Club of Chicago
Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
- Member, Board of Directors
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation
- Member, Board of Directors, 2008-2010
Illinois Fatherhood Initiative
- President, 2009-2010
- Member, Board of Directors
Creighton University
- Edward & Mary Lucretia Society Donor Recognition Member
Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity
- Member, Chicago Alumni Association
Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity
- Chicago Alumni Association Member
United Sports Organizations of Barrington, Inc. (Illinois): Lake Barrington Field House
- President, 2007-Present
- Member, Board of Directors
Field House Club Sports Academy, Inc.
- Founder
- President, 2009-Present
DePaul University College of Law
- Member, Public Interest Board
Jesse White Tumblers, Inc.
- Member, Board of Directors, 2008-2010
The 100 Club of Chicago
- Member, Board of Directors
Active contributor to numerous civic, social and charitable organizations, including his former long-time service as a Director of Barrington (Illinois) Youth Baseball, Inc.
John has been awarded an AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability. John is a member of the Leading Lawyers Network, which consists of the top 5% of Illinois Lawyers, as selected by his peers. In addition, John was named to the Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition in the area of Business Litigation, 2005-2011.
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