September 1993
Seventeen lawyers leave Kirkland & Ellis to found Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP. On the new firm’s first day, they try a case in federal court in Chicago.
Firm History
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Sep 1993
Dec 1993
December 1993
In Wagner v. Anzon (NL Industries), the firm wins a complete defense verdict in a toxic tort products liability class action involving lead factory. The firm also wins a complete defense verdict in a $150 million patent infringement claim involving blood analysis technology in Ortho v. Miles. Both victories are National Law Journal Top Defense Verdicts of the Year.
Dec 1995
December 1995
Bartlit Beck defends United Technologies in an antitrust case involving the repair of jet engine parts. The case involves over 200 depositions and millions of documents. After a four-month trial in Texas state court, the jury returns a verdict in United Technologies' favor, awarding no damages. This case, Chromalloy v. Pratt & Whitney, and the firm’s victory in Technology Innovations v. United Technologies, were both named by the National Law Journal as honorable mentions for 1996’s top defense verdicts of the year.
May 1996
May 1996
Bartlit Beck represents Titanium Metals Corporation in its $380 million initial public offering of its shares of common stock.
1996
1996
In Howray v. Alpha Therapeutic, Bartlit Beck successfully defends a $300 million products liability case involving claims that the client’s medicine used to treat hemophiliacs, which was made from a concentrate of human blood plasma, infected the hemophiliac population with HIV. The jury returns a verdict in Bartlit Beck’s favor, finding that Alpha had not been negligent.
Aug 1997
August 1997
Bartlit Beck represents Tejas Gas in a midstream energy merger with Shell Oil Company - a transaction worth $1.45 billion.
Nov 1997
November 1997
Bartlit Beck prevails for Texas billionaire Harold Simmons in jury trial seeking to remove him as trustee of $1.5 billion in family trusts.
1998
1998
Bartlit Beck takes over a case for Dresser Industries after Dresser had lost a state court trial in Chicago in which the jury awarded plaintiffs $54 million on account of Dresser’s fraud in the sale of a business. The appellate court remands for a new trial on compensatory damages. On remand, the jury awards just $1 in damages.
Nov 1998
November 1998
Bartlit Beck negotiates EchoStar Communications Corporation's acquisition of the United States direct broadcast satellite business of The News Corporation Limited and MCI WorldCom.Inc. ($1.5 billion) in connection with the settlement of litigation.
Dec 1998
December 1998
Northwestern University opens the Fred Bartlit Center For Trial Strategy, in honor of Bartlit Beck's founder.
Jan 1999
January 1999
In Viskase v. American National Can, Bartlit Beck secures a $165 million judgment in a patent infringement case on behalf of plaintiff Viskase, which had a patent on shrink wrap used in meat packing. Bartlit Beck is hired after the trial court threw out a jury verdict in Viskase’s favor. Bartlit Beck moved for summary judgment seeking reinstatement of the original damages award. The Court granted the motion, and the case settled shortly thereafter. At the time, the award is one of the largest patent infringement judgments ever.
Feb 1999
February 1999
The Canadian Department of Justice selects Bartlit Beck to represent it against the large tobacco companies for illegally avoiding taxes on cigarettes by exporting them to the U.S. and then smuggling them back into Canada. This matter is considered the most significant civil lawsuit in Canada's history.
Jan 2000
January 2000
Bartlit Beck represents Willis Stein & Partners in its $360 million leveraged public company acquisition of Aavid Thermal Technologies.
Apr 2000
April 2000
Bartlit Beck handles the merger of Celestial Seasonings, Inc. and The Hain Food Group, Inc. to form Hain Celestial Group ($330 million).
May 2000
May 2000
Bartlit Beck wins the first product liability case to go to trial against the lead paint industry, in Parker v. NL Industries. Jury returns a complete defense verdict, and awards none of the $35 million in damages sought.
Oct 2000
October 2000
Bartlit Beck represents George W. Bush in the presidential election contest trial before Judge Sauls in Tallahassee, Florida. The one-week bench trial is televised and results in a judgment in favor of Bush, which is later affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court and secures Bush’s presidency.
Dec 2000
December 2000
Two Bartlit Beck partners are named Special Trial Counsel to the Department of Justice in its antitrust case against Microsoft.
Aug 2001
August 2001
In Residential Funding v. DeGeorge, Bartlit Beck wins a $96 million jury verdict for GMAC in a breach of contract case in federal court in New Haven, Connecticut. The jury also rejects DeGeorge’s $390 million claim against the firm's client.
Sep 2001
September 2001
In Newsome v. McCabe, Bartlit Beck wins a $15 million jury verdict in federal court in Chicago against two former Chicago police officers for wrongful conviction of the firm’s client after he spent 15 years in jail for a crime he did not commit. At the time, this was the largest wrongful conviction verdict in Illinois history.
2001
2001
By 2002, 99% of Bartlit Beck matters are on non-hourly, alternative fee arrangements.
May 2002
May 2002
Bartlit Beck prevails for DuPont in New Jersey's largest environmental jury trial.
2002
2002
Bartlit Beck wins first Baycol products liability trial for Bayer Corp, set in plaintiffs' chosen venue of Corpus Christi, Texas. Plaintiff sought over $500 million, and the case is closely watched for its likely effect on thousands of other Baycol cases pending throughout the country. Bayer's stock price goes up 39% on news of the victory.
2003
2003
Bartlit Beck grows from 17 lawyers at the time of its founding to 50 lawyers by February of 2003. The firm remains one of the most selective in the nation, hiring just a few lawyers each year.
Jun 2004
June 2004
In Connecticut v. Forstmann Little & Co., Bartlit Beck defeats a damages claim against the investment firm Forstmann Little in this highly-watched trial in which the Treasurer of the State of Connecticut sought damages for investment losses to the state pension fund. After a 5-week trial, the jury awards no damages.
Jul 2004
July 2004
In August 2004, Bartlit Beck represents Foundation Coal Corporation (a portfolio company of First Reserve Corporation and Blackstone Capital Partners) in its $1 billion acquisition of RAG American Coal Holding. In December 2004, Bartlit Beck serves as co-counsel to Foundation Coal for its $519 million initial public offering of common stock.
Dec 2004
December 2004
American Lawyer names Bartlit Beck Litigation Boutique of the Year runner up.
Dec 2004
December 2004
Bartlit Beck secures a $761 million settlement for Real Networks in its antitrust case against Microsoft Corporation.
2005
2005
Bartlit Beck represents Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. in its $650 million initial public offering of common stock.
Feb 2005
February 2005
In TicoFrut v. DuPont, Bartlit Beck defeats a claim for $172 million in compensatory damages and an undisclosed amount of punitive damages in which the main citrus grower and processor in Costa Rica sought damages for alleged production losses caused by DuPont's Benlate® fungicide. After a six-week trial in Miami-Dade County Court, the jury deliberates for five hours before returning a complete verdict for DuPont.
Dec 2005
December 2005
in December 2005, Bartlit Beck wins back to back trial victories against Honeywell in patent infringement cases. The plaintiffs in these cases claimed a combined $200 million in damages.
Jan 2006
January 2006
Bartlit Beck has four teams in four states out on trial at the same time.
2006
2006
In late 2005 and 2006, Bartlit Beck tries all five Vioxx trials in federal court, winning complete defense verdicts in four of the five trials. Bartlit Beck also wins a complete defense verdict in the only state court Vioxx case the firm tried.
Aug 2007
August 2007
Bartlit Beck wins complete defense victory for Ernst & Young in auditor negligence trial stemming from bankruptcy of $2 billion financial institution.
Feb 2008
February 2008
Bartlit Beck wins complete defense verdict for the U.S. Surgical division of Covidien Ltd. in a landmark patent infringement case involving trocars used in laparoscopic surgery. Following a 5-week trial in federal court in Costa Mesa, California, the jury unanimously finds that U.S. Surgical did not infringe a medical device patent held by Applied Medical Resources Corporation. Applied had sought an injunction and over $300 million in damages (including interest and treble damages).
Apr 2008
April 2008
In Rago v. Federal Signal, Bartlit Beck wins a complete defense verdict for Federal Signal. Plaintiffs were 27 Chicago firefighters who alleged that Federal Signal sirens caused their hearing loss. After a 5-week trial in Cook County, Illinois, involving 70 witnesses, the jury returns unanimous defense verdicts on the claims of all plaintiffs, after deliberating for less than 2 hours.
Jun 2008
June 2008
In 1999, the Attorney General for the State of Rhode Island filed suit against NL Industries alleging a statewide public nuisance and seeking billions of dollars in abatement costs. After a verdict for Rhode Island in the trial court, Bartlit Beck secures complete unanimous reversal from the Rhode Island Supreme Court, leading other states to abandon similar claims.
Jul 2008
July 2008
In August 2008, Bartlit Beck successfully defended its client Pratt & Whitney, the airline engine manufacturer, in a $624 claim brought by the Department of Justice's under the False Claims Act.
Nov 2008
November 2008
Bartlit Beck defeats class certification and obtains dismissals in all actions comprising the Teflon MDL, based on the alleged hazards of non-stick cookware, in which plaintiffs claimed to seek $5 billion.
Dec 2008
December 2008
The American Lawyer names Bartlit Beck Litigation Boutique of the Year.
Apr 2009
April 2009
Bartlit Beck secures multi-million dollar settlement against major investment banks in Enron litigation.
Apr 2009
April 2009
Successful defense of Trico Marine Services, Inc. against proxy contest initiated by Kistefos AS and successful defense of Federal Signal Corporation against proxy contest initiated by Warren B. Kanders.
Aug 2009
August 2009
Bartlit Beck represents the Western Union Company in connection with its $370 million acquisition of Custom House, Ltd., a leading, independent provider of business-to-business international payment solutions for small and medium enterprises.
Nov 2009
November 2009
After a four-week trial, an arbitration Panel consisting of three former federal judges found in favor of Bartlit Beck's client Ernst & Young in an accountant's malpractice claim brought by the bankrupt estate of Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities Co. Metropolitan, a $2 billion investment, real estate and insurance conglomerate, collapsed in 2004 after suffering liquidity problems and a fraud by its senior management. This is the second successful defense of E&Y by Bartlit Beck in claims stemming from the Metropolitan bankruptcy. Together, the claimants in the two arbitrations sought over $300 million in damages. Metropolitan was represented by Susman Godfrey.