John Ruskusky, a partner in Nixon Peabody’s Litigation department, is a business counselor and trial attorney who represents companies and individuals in high-stakes and bet-the-company business disputes. John leads the firm’s Complex Disputes practice group, leads the Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and Diagnostic Health team, co-leads the Biometric Information Privacy Act team, and also serves on the firm’s Pro Bono committee.
I have more than twenty years of trial, arbitration, and counseling experience involving the management of complex business disputes and disputes involving law firms.
I counsel businesses and their owners, officers, and investors in a wide range of disputes, including large business transactions (such as distribution and purchase agreements), life sciences and medical devices, food and beverage disputes, fiduciary duty claims, data privacy matters, and dissolution and valuation. Some of my relevant recent experience includes the following:
I represent corporate clients in a variety of False Claims Act cases, including those at the pre-intervention stage. My experience includes Department of Defense, Department of Education, General Services Administration, and healthcare matters.
I also represent clients in government investigations and proceedings, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service.
I represent corporate clients in a variety of construction and real estate disputes, including construction defect and delay, property management, general contract, indemnity, Fair Housing Act and zoning matters.
As litigation costs continue to rise, I see growing client demand for alternative-fee arrangements, including discounted rates coupled with “banked” fees and success fees. I have employed these and other risk-reward sharing arrangements with my clients to fairly allocate risk, and to provide certainty in fee exposure while ensuring the best possible result.
Privacy & Cybersecurity Law Report | March 21, 2022
This industry journal, which covers the latest legal issues involving cybersecurity and data privacy, includes two NP articles based on client alerts. Complex Disputes practice group leader John Ruskusky, partners Rich Tilghman and Laura Bacon, and associate Kate Letcher, all in Chicago, contributed an article entitled, “The Seventh Circuit certifies question regarding accrual of BIPA claims to Illinois Supreme Court.” John and Rich also contributed a second article, “Workers’ Compensation Act does not bar claims under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, Illinois Supreme Court rules.” Both pieces provide insight on the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act and its litigation impacts to date.
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin | February 10, 2022
Chicago Complex Disputes partner John Ruskusky is highlighted in this roundup of significant attorney news for his selection as NP’s Complex Disputes practice leader.
Bloomberg Law | February 08, 2022
Chicago partner John Ruskusky is featured in this roundup of notable legal news for his promotion to leader of NP’s Complex Disputes practice.
Law360 | June 08, 2021
The following articles cover the latest development in Shareholder Representative Services LLC v. Albertsons Cos. Inc., in which an opinion released Monday by the Delaware Chancery Court said the breach of contract suit against Albertsons can move forward. Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners John Ruskusky and Lisa Sullivan are mentioned in the coverage for representing the shareholders, and the Reuters Legal article quotes John and Lisa saying the plaintiffs are pleased with the court’s decision.
Reuters Legal | June 08, 2021
The following article covers the latest development in Shareholder Representative Services LLC v. Albertsons Cos. Inc., in which an opinion released Monday by the Delaware Chancery Court said the breach of contract suit against Albertsons can move forward. Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners John Ruskusky and Lisa Sullivan are mentioned in the coverage for representing the shareholders, and the Reuters Legal article quotes John and Lisa saying the plaintiffs are pleased with the court’s decision.
The AmLaw Litigation Daily | May 07, 2021
This article recognizes the full NP team that secured a major damages win on behalf of Takeda subsidiary Millennium Pharmaceuticals. Litigation Department vice chair and partner Ethan Trull and partner John Ruskusky, both of the Complex Commercial Disputes group in Chicago, led the damages trial team. The NP team also included partner Lisa Sullivan, associate Katie Burnett, e-discovery specialist Anders van Marter, and paralegal Donna Long, all of the Complex Commercial Disputes group in Chicago. In addition, Intellectual Property partner Mark FitzGerald and Complex Commercial Disputes associate Tarae Howell, both of the Boston office, played integral roles in the initial fraud win for Millennium in 2020.
Law360 | April 23, 2021
This article, covering the Delaware Chancery Court’ s $38.2 million damages judgment in favor of Takeda subsidiary Millennium Pharmaceuticals for its fraud claim against Harpoon Therapeutics, mentions Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners Ethan Trull, John Ruskusky and Lisa Sullivan; associate Katie Burnett; senior e-discovery specialist Anders van Marter; and paralegal Donna Long for representing Millennium. Intellectual Property partner Mark FitzGerald, Complex Commercial Disputes associate Tarae Howell, and Intellectual Property patent specialist Angela Hafner, all in Boston, have also played integral roles in the matter.
Law360 | January 15, 2021
In this article on the increasing regulatory scrutiny around biometric data, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners John Ruskusky and Rich Tilghman are quoted for their outlook on New York’s bill introducing a biometric privacy bill and the move toward more disclosure and transparency in the way companies collect biometric data.
The American Lawyer | December 04, 2020
This week’s “Litigators of the Week“ column by American Lawyer includes the dismissal for outsourcing facility Leiters, Inc. in a multiple-state dispute. Leiters was represented by Chicago partners Ethan Trull, John Ruskusky, and Lisa Sullivan, and associates Bill Kirby and Tina Jonsson; and San Francisco partner Bruce Copeland and counsel Lauren Michals—all in the Complex Commercial Disputes group.
Chicago Lawyer | October 15, 2020
Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partner John Ruskusky co-authored this article with Longford Capital Management on how litigation funding can offer unique and flexible financial solutions to clients.
HR Magzine | September 28, 2020
Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners Rich Tilghman and John Ruskusky, and associate Henry Caldwell contributed this article, based on their recent blog post, on the rise in putative class actions in Illinois by employees against entities that employ biometric technology.
Law360 | September 22, 2020
This article covers a trial to consider the amount of damages to be awarded to Millennium Pharmaceuticals for being fraudulently induced into investing more than $100 million into a spinoff of Harpoon Therapeutics. The story mentions Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners John Ruskusky and Lisa Sullivan for representing Millennium.
Law360 | September 02, 2020
Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners John Ruskusky and Lisa Sullivan were mentioned in this article for representing Shareholder Representative Services LLC in a post-merger suit accusing the food and drug chain of breaches of contract, fraudulent inducement and breaches of good faith covenants. Complex Commercial Disputes counsel Tracey Scarpello in Buffalo and associate Tina Jonsson in Chicago were also part of the litigation team.
Law360 | July 16, 2020
This article includes commentary from Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners John Ruskusky and Seth Horvath on some of the most noteworthy Illinois decisions thus far in 2020. John discusses a decision related to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, while Seth comments on a decision regarding parents suing paint makers for children’s lead test costs, as well as a ruling on a record destruction provision in the Chicago police union contract.
Law360 | April 27, 2020
In this article on the rise of BIPA litigation in Illinois, Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partner John Ruskusky is quoted for his outlook on what it means for a defendant to be negligent under BIPA, and the technologies at issue.
George Washington University Law School, J.D., with highest honors; Order of the Coif; The George Washington University Law Review
University of Notre Dame, B.S., cum laude
Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois