Stephen J. Landes

Steve Landes is well known for his work on cutting-edge cases; for example, for many years he represented defendants in novel land claims brought by Native Americans throughout the United States. Steve was lead trial counsel in the first case brought on behalf of a U.S. citizen under the Anti-Terrorism Act against funders of international terrorism, resulting in a jury verdict of $156 million. Within the Firm, Steve is a "lawyer's lawyer," advising the Firm's own attorneys and lawyers outside the Firm on complicated ethical and professional issues.

Steve represented a major UK industrial company on a variety of issues having to do with acquisitions and divestitures. He has counseled a broad range of companies on antitrust compliance and trade regulation issues. He also was national counsel to a major industrial concern for all asbestos-related litigation.

Steve's experience includes:

• Secured jury verdict of $156 million in first private action against domestic supporters of terrorism under the federal Anti-Terrorism Act. The verdict was upheld in a precedent setting en banc decision by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in December 2008. Boim v. Holy Land Foundation, 549 F.3d 685 (7th Cir. 2008)
• Represented Money Station in challenge in Federal Reserve Board and D.C. Circuit to Electronic Payment System's acquisition of National City Corporation's ATM business. The DC Circuit vacated approval of the transaction in a rare reversal of the FRB. Money Station, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 81 F.3d 1128 (D.C. Cir. 1996)
• National coordinating defense counsel in asbestos litigation, representing a major manufacturer and managing tens of thousands of cases; as the developer of a national litigation strategy, including trial preparation and interaction with local counsel coast to coast, has achieved dismissals of thousands of cases, with no significant damages against the client
• Acted for major law firm in the defense of malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims; complete defense verdict after five-week jury trial
• Representation of a multinational company that, after purchasing businesses in 10 locations from a major U.S. company, had substantial post-acquisition disputes over the retention of environmental liabilities; lawsuits filed in federal court in Chicago and in state court in New York were settled right before trial
• Provides counsel to and establishes programs for companies on antitrust compliance issues, including dealing with their distributors, maintaining the integrity of product lines and protecting them from misuse of intellectual property
• Represents companies and individuals in alleged violations of antitrust laws, frequently negotiating on behalf of clients with various federal and state agencies, including the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission and state antitrust authorities
• Successfully defended equipment supplier in suit brought in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims
• Represented landowners in the defense of novel land claims throughout the United States by Native American tribes, resulting in the maintenance of the integrity of land owners' property rights
• Achieved positive outcome via bench trial in the representation of a financial institution in defense of claims by minority shareholders alleging that the refinancing terms were unfair
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of a client who, after closing a factory, was sued in federal court by hundreds of individual discharged workers claiming age discrimination