Lee B. Muench

Experience:

Complex Commercial Litigation

• Election technology and services company: representing global provider of election and voting technology and support services in a defamation suit seeking over $2 billion against Fox News and others.
• Global energy company: Representing the company in an action in which a former supplier sought over $100 million in damages for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Illinois Trade Secrets Act. Obtained dismissal of all of the supplier’s claims at summary judgment.

• Individual directors: Represented directors of a Fortune 500 corporation in a shareholder derivative suit challenging alleged misrepresentations and omissions made in a proxy solicitation. The suit was dismissed, and the dismissal was upheld on appeal.
• Automotive parts manufacturer: Represented the manufacturer in an action against its supplier for the supplier’s refusal to perform under the parties’ long-term supply agreements. The parties settled after the court granted the manufacturer’s motion for temporary restraining order.
• Clearing firm: Represented securities clearing firm in federal and state courts and in arbitrations in connection with its alleged participation in a broker dealer’s Ponzi scheme.
• National bank: Represented the bank in actions brought by foreign bond traders alleging that the bank failed to ensure the traders’ proper licensure and registration with FinCEN. The trial court dismissed all claims.
• Underwriter group: Represented a group of underwriters in a class action alleging violations of federal securities laws stemming from a vehicle manufacturer’s initial public offering.
• Managed care provider: Represented the company in an action to terminate a services agreement with one of its providers.
• Toy manufacturer: Represented the manufacturer in a suit against its product testing company, following a high-profile consumer product recall of the manufacturer’s popular children’s toy.

Products Liability

• Fortune 500 medical device manufacturer: represented the manufacturer in product liability suits alleging claims for design defect, manufacturing defect, strict liability, failure to warn, and breach of warranty.
• Drafted and presented continuing legal education class, “How to Exclude an Expert Witness: A Products Liability Case Study,” to litigation associates.

Internal Investigations

• Closely held corporation: Represented a closely held corporation and individual in a criminal investigation arising from an allegedly fraudulent sale of personal protective equipment to a state government during the 2020 pandemic.
• Publicly traded company: Conducted an internal investigation into allegations that a former director of a publicly traded company was unlawfully terminated for engaging in conduct protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
• Managed care company: Conducted an internal investigation into allegations that a managed care company’s customer representatives were violating federal and state anti-kickback laws.
• Conglomerate: Conducted an internal compliance investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by employees and contractors of the conglomerate’s subsidiaries.