Michael Philippi is a litigator with over thirty years of experience. He represents clients across the country in trials, appeals , arbitrations and mediations. Mike’s practice has always focused on early assessment and resolution of complex commercial, products liability and fiduciary relations cases. Mike chaired the litigation practice of Ungaretti and Harrs for many years. Most recently he spent ten years as an equity partner in an Am Law 100 firm before changing gears and using his experience and contacts to help resolve problems for clients outside of the cost structure of big law.

​Complex Commercial Litigation

I handle the full range of disputes and litigation for companies of all sizes, whether the client faces recurring cases or a single high profile issue. My focus is on solving problems effectively and efficiently while providing excellent client service.

​My experience ranges from medical device defense to fraud or contract disputes to employment related litigation. I’ve tried dozens of cases and arbitrated or mediated at least one hundred more. The venues for these cases span nearly every state, and I’ve developed strong relationships with local bars over most of the country.

​I defended a major oil company in more than one hundred cases involving environmental issues, and national real estate companies in dispute resolutions involving real property ownership and fiduciary duties among partners in a complex lending structure. I have been national and regional counsel for Fortune 10 companies in mass tort defense. I’ve tried cases in state court involving subordinate lending issues, and arbitrated them before FINRA panels. I represented an Italian company in a multimillion dollar warranty case both in the U.S. and in a international arbitration in London.

I almost always think that civil disputes are better resolved through diplomacy than open conflict but I have plenty of experience doing both. I won a $900,000 discovery sanctions award in federal court in South Carolina. I took a defense verdict in the first jury trial to come out of an MDL that housed over 1, 500 medical device cases and won a bench trial in bankruptcy court finding against a claim of fraudulent transfer claim of over ten million dollars.

In a landscape of increasing specialization, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to help to resolve legal disputes across nearly all subject matters. Which, I have learned, is exactly what general counsel of all companies need to do and have had success in helping them do that for many years.

​I also believe that litigation has become much more expensive than necessary, especially when the hourly rate is involved. Since 1999 I have worked with clients to develop fee agreements that reward results and efficiency instead of multiplying hours. While hourly billing is the staple of our profession, once the lawyer and client spent a little time understanding the problem and the goals, there is almost always a better way to charge for legal services—one that aligns incentives between lawyer and client.

Admissions

• Illinois
• ​U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
• ​Federal Trial Bar, Northern District of Illinois
• ​U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
• ​U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
• ​U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
• ​U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
• ​U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
• ​U.S. Supreme Court​

Insights

• Presenter, “Paying for Value and Budget Certainty: Digital Billing in an Analog World,” Illinois State Bar Association, 2011
• Presenter, Chicago Lawyer’s “Off the Pages: Taking Care of Business,” September, 2011
• ​Counsel’s Table—Chicago Lawyer Magazine Restaurant Reviews 2009 –14
• ​National Law Journal Defense Verdict of the Year–2002

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Recognition

• ​Illinois Super Lawyers, Litigation, 2005-2011, 2013-2015
• ​Illinois Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition – Business Litigation, 2009-2010
• ​A/V Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
• ​​Leading Lawyers Network 2013 ​