Tina B. Solis
Partner / Leader, Financial Institutions & Banking Disputes Team
Introduction
Tina Solis advises businesses on issues involving trade secrets, unfair competition and complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts. She also counsels lawyers and law firms on professional responsibility issues. Tina regularly represents regulators in federal court litigation related to the failure of banks.
Tina is also leader of the firm’s Financial Institutions & Banking Disputes team, which represents institutions and individuals in a full range of civil litigation, enforcement matters, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations, and compliance investigations on issues such as consumer protection, fair lending, anti-money laundering, and violations of fiduciary duties.
My focus
I have extensive experience across a wide array of complex and high profile business disputes such as contract actions, shareholder remedies, commercial fraud, unfair competition and mass torts. In addition, I bring to cases deep knowledge about e-discovery processes and issues.
Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets
I represent companies in the financial services markets in unfair competition matters, with a particular focus on misappropriation of trade secrets. I have litigated these disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country. I also counsel and defend employers on a wide range of other employment issues. During the course of my career, I have handled numerous cases in which emergency injunctive relief was requested.
Law Firm Professional Responsibility
I counsel lawyers and law firms in connection with fiduciary obligations, departure issues, partnership disputes and malpractice claims. I also regularly handle these matters through the use of alternative dispute resolution, since confidentially is of the utmost importance in these cases. I have represented law firms in connections with mergers, succession planning and dissolutions.
Professional Liability Investigations and Litigation
I routinely assist companies in the financial services market with professional liability, investigations and related litigation. In particular, I assist federal regulators as receivers of failed institutions in analyzing the roles that former bank officers, directors and their outside advisors may have played in bank failures. This involves conducting investigations, determining whether meritorious claims exist and assisting in all phases of litigation until those claims are resolved.
Representative experience
- Represented the FDIC in numerous liability investigations and/or litigations arising out of the failure of a number of financial institutions nationwide.
- First chair trial counsel representing executive in a FINRA arbitration defending against breach of fiduciary duty and restrictive covenants claims.
- Prosecuted a legal malpractice claim on behalf of a client in which the fees awarded to the client covered its loss in the underlying action.
- Successfully counseled individual attorneys and groups of attorneys when making a lateral move from one law firm to another.
- Successfully prosecuted on behalf of a client claims against directors and officers for breach of fiduciary duty and negligence resulting in a settlement in excess of $15,000,000.
- Defeated a request for injunctive relief by client’s competitor seeking several million dollars of damages for alleged violation of restrictive covenants and misappropriation of trade secrets.
- Successfully defended client in wage and hour class action litigation.
- Successfully represented law partners in a wage and hour and breach of fiduciary duty dispute.
- Represented client in the defense of a product liability class action matter.
- Prosecuted a breach of fiduciary duty claim and legal malpractice claim on behalf of a Successor Trustee against the former Trustee of the Trust resulting in a judgment, including punitive damages of approximately $1,000,000.
- Prosecuted a breach of contract claim for a large multi-media company where the arbitrator entered an award, including attorney’s fees, in excess of $1,000,000.
- Defended law firm and its partners against allegations of malpractice.
- Prosecuted a former employee for violation of his employment agreement, obtained a Temporary Restraining Order against the former employee and recouped virtually all of the former employer's fees and costs associated with bringing the action.
- Defended an executive vice-president of a large mortgage brokerage company against breach of fiduciary duty and duty of loyalty claims.
- Defended three employees of a coffee company in a non-compete case where the Temporary Restraining Order was denied and the plaintiff dismissed its case three days later.
- Obtained large settlement for minority shareholder for the fair market value of his shares plus additional damages in a shareholder oppression case.
- Defended a general contractor against breach of contract and misrepresentation claims involving the installation of a multi-million dollar ERP system.
- Defended a general contractor in a multi-million dollar construction dispute involving the installation of an overhead and floor conveyor system.
Looking ahead
I see a continuing increase in unfair competition and trade secret litigation due to rapid advances in technology. It is becoming increasingly important to proactively minimize risks to avoid litigation and act aggressively when litigation occurs. Effective planning before onboarding a new hire can help minimize this risk. I strategize with clients and update their employment agreements and other employment materials in the hopes of avoiding litigation. I’m also following increased competition among law firms that’s causing lateral movement. Counseling and planning is needed to avoid fiduciary issues and minimize any negative impact on clients.
/Insights
Podcasts
- “Tina Solis: Making a Law Firm Move the Smart Way,” Be That Lawyer, March 20, 2023
- Navigating Lateral Partner Ethics, LateralPartners.com, September 2021
- Mistakes to Avoid when Considering a Move, The Rainmaking Podcast
Articles
- Lawyer on the Move: Using a Legal Recruiter, National Law Review, May 2025
- "When Is a Partner a Partner?" NALSC Newsletter, Spring 2025 (Co-author)
- “Practical Tips for attorneys Considering a Lateral Move,” National Law Review, January 2025
- “Ethical Obligations Regarding Lateral Attorney Departures,” NALSC Newsletter, Winter 2024
- "The Top 5 Questions Employers Should NOT be Asking During the Lateral Process," NALSC Newsletter, Fall 2024 (Co-author)
- "Ethical Obligations Regarding Lateral Attorney Departures," NALSC Newsletter, Spring 2024 (Co-author)
- "Improve Your Lateral Partner Recruiting with the Universal LPQ (U-LPQ)," NALP Educational Conference, Spring 2024
- “California’s New Pay Transparency Law: What Recruiters Need to Know,” NALSC Newsletter, Winter 2023
- "Notice Periods-What Departing Attorneys & Recruiters Need to Know,” NALSC Newsletter, Summer 2023 (Co-author)
- “Nixon Peabody Featured Article: Best Practices for Departing Attorneys,” National Association of Legal Search Consultants Fall newsletter, October 2022
- One Simple Strategy to Improve Lateral Partner Due Diligence, The American Lawyer, October 18, 2022 (Co-author)
- “Practicing Law Remotely and Ethically,” NALSC Newsletter, Winter/Spring 2021 (Co-author)
- “What Recruiters Need to Know about the California Consumer Protection Act of 2018,” NALSC Newsletter, Summer/Fall 2020 (Co-author)
- “ABA Formal Opinion 489: A Significant Shift in the Power Paradigm for Departing Lawyers,” NALSC Newsletter, Winter/Spring 2020 (Co-author)
Publications
- Be That Lawyer, Chapter 1 - Navigating Lateral Moves with Intention
Presentations
- “The Dos and Don’ts in connection with a Lateral Move,” Financial Poise Webinars, Fall 2024
- “Critical Issues in Negotiating a Lateral Move,” Financial Poise Webinars, Fall 2024
- “Trends in the Lateral Market,” Financial Poise Webinars, Fall 2024
- “Essential Insights for Attorneys Navigating Group Lateral Moves,” NACLE (National Academy of Continuing Legal Education) virtual course, December 2, 2024
- “The Do’s and Don’ts in Connection with a Lateral Move,” Financial Poise Webinars, September 14, 2023
- “Partner Recruiting in 2023 Including the U-LPQ,” NALSC 2023 Annual Conference, Nashville, TN, March 31, 2023
- “The New ABA Opinion on the Process Surrounding Lateral Moves,” NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) Virtual Fall Symposium, October 23, 2020
- “Ask the Firm Your Burning Questions,” NALSC (National Association of Legal Search Consultants) Roundtable Discussion, April 12, 2018 (Moderator)
- “Banks v. Credit Unions: Old Rivalry, New Developments,” National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors, 2017 NASCUS State System Summit, September 1, 2017
- “Red Flags for Regulators,” Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, 2017 Credit Union Examiners’ Conference, November 30, 2016
- Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, 2016
In the news
- The National Law Review
Lawyer on the move: A checklist for planning a lateral move
Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis contributed this Q&A article sharing a checklist of considerations for attorneys who are planning a lateral partner move.July 8, 2025 - Forbes
2025 America’s Best-in-State Lawyers
June 25, 2025This article mentions Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis for being named to the publication’s inaugural “America’s Best-in-State Lawyers” list. Tina was recognized in the Illinois section for commercial litigation.
- The National Law Review
Lawyer on the move: Using a legal recruiter
May 16, 2025Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis contributed this Q&A article discussing tips for attorneys in the lateral market who are considering using a legal recruiter.
- The National Law Review
Lawyer on the move: Practical tips for attorneys considering a lateral move
Jan 28, 2025Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis contributed this Q&A article discussing tips for attorneys who are considering a lateral move.
- The American Lawyer
Lateral partners and ethics landmines
Sep 20, 2024This contributed article covering the various duties and ethical obligations lateral partners have when they are considering a move includes commentary from Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis. Tina notes that the client’s best interest is the first priority and discusses the best time to engage an ethics counsel.
- New York Law Journal
Lockstep compensation isn't just for the most elite law firms
July 7, 2024This article covers how lockstep partner pay compensation is increasingly under pressure in Big Law, as firms are turning away from the traditional compensation model to attract and retain high-performing partners. Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis is quoted in the coverage, questioning how firms differentiate their top performers if compensation is only based on seniority level.
- The American Lawyer
‘More extensive’ vetting: How law firms are picking laterals
July 3, 2024This article covers how law firms are spending more time vetting candidates amid talent wars in the legal profession. Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis discusses how laterals often go through a drawn-out hiring process with two or three law firms at a time to partly hedge their bets and because the processes are similar between firms. Tina also discusses how firms often use the universal lateral questionnaire to get the vast majority of a candidate’s information before issuing their own version later in the vetting process.
- Daily Montanan
ACLU Montana: Stop health department, DOJ from harm to transgender people
May 18, 2024This article covers a request for a preliminary injunction to stop enforcement of a rule preventing people who are transgender from amending their birth certificates and driver’s licenses without interference from the state of Montana. NP is mentioned in the coverage for working with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of New York to represent the plaintiffs in the case. The NP team includes partners Seth Horvath, Tina Solis, and Tom Hecht, and counsel Christie Kurow, all of the Chicago office and Complex Disputes practice.
- The Hill
Montana sued over refusal to amend transgender people’s identity documents
April 18, 2024The following article covers a class-action lawsuit filed by two transgender women who sued Montana and several state agencies over a policy that prohibits transgender people from amending the sex designation on their birth certificates to accurately reflect their gender identities. NP is mentioned in the coverage for working with the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana to represent the two plaintiffs. The NP team includes partners Seth Horvath, Tina Solis, and Tom Hecht, and counsel Christie Kurow, all of the Chicago office and Complex Disputes practice.
- Missoula Current
Transgender women file class-action suit against Montana
April 18, 2024The following article covers a class-action lawsuit filed by two transgender women who sued Montana and several state agencies over a policy that prohibits transgender people from amending the sex designation on their birth certificates to accurately reflect their gender identities. NP is mentioned in the coverage for working with the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana to represent the two plaintiffs. The NP team includes partners Seth Horvath, Tina Solis, and Tom Hecht, and counsel Christie Kurow, all of the Chicago office and Complex Disputes practice.
- Iowa Public Radio
River to River
June 29, 2023This radio segment features an interview with Chicago Complex Disputes partners Seth Horvath and Tina Solis, who discuss recent rulings in several states related to bans on gender affirming care, the implications those rulings may have in Iowa, and the overall climate surrounding gender affirming care for transgender youth.
- Bloomberg Law
Iowa top court tosses attempt to revive Medicaid trans care ban
May 15, 2023This article covers the Iowa Supreme Court dismissing the state’s appeal of a ruling in Vasquez v. Iowa Department of Human Services which found the state’s ban on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming surgery to be unconstitutional. The article mentions NP for representing the plaintiffs, two transgender Iowans, in the case. The NP team included Chicago partners Seth Horvath and Tina Solis of the Complex Disputes practice and Chicago partner Tom Hecht.
- Des Moines Register
Iowa Supreme Court to decide if Medicaid must cover gender transition surgery
Jan 19, 2023The following article covers Iowa Supreme Court oral arguments in the state’s appeal of a ruling that an amendment to the Iowa Civil Rights Act—which prohibited the use of Medicaid coverage for gender affirmation surgery—violated the Iowa Constitution. The articles quote Chicago Complex Disputes partner Seth Horvath, who is providing pro bono legal representation for two transgender Iowans whose applications for Medicaid coverage for gender affirmation surgery were denied. The NP team also includes partners Tom Hecht, Tina Solis, and Bill Kirby; and associates Christie Kurow and Maggie Borse, all of the Chicago office and Complex Disputes practice.
- Courthouse News Service
Iowa seeks to reinstate ban on Medicaid coverage for sex reassignment surgery
Jan 18, 2023The following article covers Iowa Supreme Court oral arguments in the state’s appeal of a ruling that an amendment to the Iowa Civil Rights Act—which prohibited the use of Medicaid coverage for gender affirmation surgery—violated the Iowa Constitution. The articles quote Chicago Complex Disputes partner Seth Horvath, who is providing pro bono legal representation for two transgender Iowans whose applications for Medicaid coverage for gender affirmation surgery were denied. The NP team also includes partners Tom Hecht, Tina Solis, and Bill Kirby; and associates Christie Kurow and Maggie Borse, all of the Chicago office and Complex Disputes practice.
- Iowa Capital Dispatch
Iowa Supreme Court weighs transgender issue and civil rights protection
Jan 18, 2023The following article covers Iowa Supreme Court oral arguments in the state’s appeal of a ruling that an amendment to the Iowa Civil Rights Act—which prohibited the use of Medicaid coverage for gender affirmation surgery—violated the Iowa Constitution. The articles quote Chicago Complex Disputes partner Seth Horvath, who is providing pro bono legal representation for two transgender Iowans whose applications for Medicaid coverage for gender affirmation surgery were denied. The NP team also includes partners Tom Hecht, Tina Solis, and Bill Kirby; and associates Christie Kurow and Maggie Borse, all of the Chicago office and Complex Disputes practice.
- NBC Montana
Montana Supreme Court ruling upholds right for transgender birth certificate changes
Jan 10, 2023This article covers a Montana State Supreme Court ruling in the ongoing Marquez v. State of Montana case, which restores a 2017 rule allowing transgender people to change their sex designation on their birth certificates without requiring a court order stating they have received some undefined surgical treatment. The article mentions NP for bringing the initial suit alongside the ACLU Foundation and the ACLU of Montana. The NP team involved in the case includes Complex Disputes partners Seth Horvath and Tina Solis, and partner Tom Hecht, all of the Chicago office.
- Montana Right Now
Agencies file motion seeking clarification on preliminary injunction related to birth certificate law
This article covers a motion filed by NP and the ACLU of Montana asking the court to clarify in simple terms its preliminary injunction against a Montana state law restricting transgender people’s ability to change the sex designation on their birth certificates. The NP team involved in this matter includes Complex Disputes partners Seth Horvath and Tina Solis, partner Tom Hecht, and associate Christina Kurow, all of the Chicago office.June 8, 2022 - The Advocate
ACLU blasts Montana's delay on trans birth certificate order
This article highlights a claim by the ACLU of Montana and NP that the state of Montana is failing to comply with a recent court order blocking a state law that would restrict the ability of transgender people to change their gender designation on their birth certificates. The NP team involved in this matter includes Complex Dispute partners Seth Horvath and Tina Solis, partner Tom Hecht, and associate Christina Kurow, all of the Chicago office.May 23, 2022 - Washington Blade
Montana state court blocks anti-trans birth certificate law
The following article covers NP’s and the ACLU of Montana’s success in securing a preliminary injunction against a Montana state law restricting transgender people’s ability to change the sex designation on their birth certificates, including a quote from Chicago Complex Disputes partner Seth Horvath on the positive impacts of the ruling. The NP team also includes Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis, partner Tom Hecht, and associate Christina Kurow.April 21, 2022 - NBC Montana
Injunction granted in case challenging birth certificate law
The following article covers NP’s and the ACLU of Montana’s success in securing a preliminary injunction against a Montana state law restricting transgender people’s ability to change the sex designation on their birth certificates, including a quote from Chicago Complex Disputes partner Seth Horvath on the positive impacts of the ruling. The NP team also includes Chicago Complex Disputes partner Tina Solis, partner Tom Hecht, and associate Christina Kurow.April 21, 2022 - The Advocate
Iowa Medicaid program must cover gender-affirming care, judge rules
This article on a recent district court ruling in Iowa requiring the state to provide Medicaid coverage for gender-affirmation surgeries to two transgender individuals mentions the firm for the work by Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners Seth Horvath, Tina Solis and Tom Hecht as pro bono counsel. The court found that denial of coverage violates both the Iowa Civil Rights Act and the equal protection guarantee of the state’s constitution.Nov 24, 2021 - NBC News
ACLU sues Montana over transgender ID law requiring proof of surgery
This article covers a lawsuit filed by the ACLU challenging Montana’s Senate Bill 280—a new law requiring transgender individuals to prove they have undergone gender affirming surgery in order to change the gender marker on their identifying documents. The story mentions the firm for the pro bono work by Chicago partners Seth Horvath, Tina Solis and Tom Hecht, of the Complex Commercial Disputes group, who are representing the plaintiffs together with national ACLU and the ACLU of Montana.July 16, 2021 - Courthouse News Service
Iowa sued over denial of Medicaid coverage for sex reassignment
This story, focusing on ACLU-Iowa’s lawsuit to strike down as unconstitutional the state’s practice of denying Medicaid coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming surgery to transgender Iowans, mentions Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners Seth Horvath, Tina Solis, and Tom Hecht for serving as pro bono counsel.April 22, 2021 - Chicago Lawyer
Ready for a fight: Trio of Nixon Peabody attorneys honored by ACLU of Iowa for work representing transgender clients
This story profiles Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners Seth Horvath, Tom Hecht and Tina Solis, who received an honor from the ACLU of Iowa for their years-long representation of two transgender clients who were denied Medicaid coverage for their gender-affirming surgeries.Nov 20, 2019 - The American Lawyer
Slideshow: Pro bono brought Big Law out in force
Nixon Peabody is mentioned in this roundup of notable pro bono cases. The article highlights the victory that Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners Tom Hecht, Seth Horvath, and Tina Solis, with assistance from associate Bill Kirby and eDiscovery specialist Anders van Marter, won in Iowa Supreme Court in a matter involving Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming surgery for transgender individuals.June 26, 2019 - American Lawyer
And the LOTW runners up...
Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partners Seth Horvath, Tom Hecht and Tina Solis are mentioned in this article as runners-up for AmLaw’s Litigators of the Week award for their win at the Iowa Supreme Court in a matter involving Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming surgery for transgender people.March 15, 2019 - Courthouse News Service
Iowa justices say Medicaid covers sex-change surgery
In the following coverage, Chicago partners Tom Hecht, Seth Horvath, and Tina Solis are mentioned in a series of articles covering the Iowa Supreme Court decision in favor of their clients, two transgender women who were denied Medicaid coverage for their gender-affirming surgeries, in violation of the Iowa Constitution and civil rights statutes. Chicago associate Bill Kirby and eDiscovery specialist Anders van Marter were also on the team.March 8, 2019 - Bloomberg Law
Transgender Medicaid patients notch big win in Iowa
In the following coverage, Chicago partners Tom Hecht, Seth Horvath, and Tina Solis are mentioned in a series of articles covering the Iowa Supreme Court decision in favor of their clients, two transgender women who were denied Medicaid coverage for their gender-affirming surgeries, in violation of the Iowa Constitution and civil rights statutes. Chicago associate Bill Kirby and eDiscovery specialist Anders van Marter were also on the team.March 8, 2019
Admitted to practice
Illinois
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Federal Trial Bar, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
Education
University of Iowa, B.A., high honors
University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., high honors
Professional activities
- Member, Seventh Circuit Electronic Discovery Pilot Program Committee
- Associate Board Member, Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS)
- Associate Board Member, P.A.W.S.
- Board Member, Alumni Engagement & Development Committee, Iowa Law School Foundation
- Member, Chicago Bar Association
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association
Recognition
- Forbes America's Best-in-State Lawyer, 2025
- Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2008 - 2011
- Continental Who’s Who
Insights And Happenings
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Professionals in the Practice Area
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Partner / Chair, Litigation Department- San Francisco
- Office:+1 415.984.8309
- abarron@nixonpeabody.com
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Robert Fisher
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Jenny L. Holmes
Partner / Deputy Leader, Cybersecurity & Privacy- Rochester
- Office:+1 585.263.1494
- jholmes@nixonpeabody.com
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John Ruskusky
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Complex Disputes- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.977.4460Mobile:+1 708.606.8720
- jtruskusky@nixonpeabody.com
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