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    1. Home
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    3. Ethan E. TrullPeople
    1. Home
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    3. Ethan E. TrullPeople

    Ethan E. Trull

    Partner


    • Chicago
    • Office312.977.4447
    • etrull@nixonpeabody.com

    I'm a 2023 Nixon Peabody Pro Bono Champion.Read more about our Pro Bono program

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    Introduction

    Ethan Trull is vice-chair of the firm’s litigation department. He represents clients in complex litigation involving commercial disputes and product liability claims, often brought as class, multi-district or aggregated actions.

    Practice Areas

    LitigationComplex DisputesNP Trial®Intellectual PropertyLife SciencesProduct Liability, Complex Tort & Health EffectsPharmaceutical & Medical Device Litigation

    My focus

    As the former head of litigation for a Fortune 20 corporation, I bring significant in-house perspective to my service as outside counsel. I understand the imperatives to provide counsel of the highest quality, deliver impeccable client service and be vigilant with regard to budget and cost. I often discuss these priorities with clients, and advise in house legal departments on case management, department management and the use of alternative fee arrangements.

    Commercial litigation

    I represent clients in a broad range of commercial disputes with competitors, customers and suppliers. I have experience in securities fraud cases, price-fixing and antitrust actions and false advertising litigation including allegations of Lanham Act violations. Frequently, these disputes involve complex intellectual property issues.

    Mass tort and class action defense

    I act as national and regional defense counsel in class action lawsuits, with particular focus on medical devices and supplies and toxic torts. This involves assessing potential exposure across jurisdictions, developing strategies for triage and settlements and adapting litigation strategies as matters progress.

    Representative experience

    • Successfully tried a two week fraudulent conveyance trial in which a multibillion-dollar capital fund sought a $15 million recovery against our client sounding in 15 counts, resulting in a defense finding on each count and an 86 page opinion impacting the “collapsing” doctrine in leveraged buy out situations.
    • Successfully defending mass-tort product liability litigation, resolving more than 1,800 individual lawsuits and claims.
    • Managing insurance assets in excess of $350 million to defray liability and litigation costs.
    • Prosecuting antitrust claims resulting in net recoveries exceeding $200 million.
    • Litigating numerous commercial, intellectual property and securities claims separately valued in excess of $500 million.
    • Participating in responses to Securities and Exchange Commission investigations.
    • Resolving securities class action, ERISA and derivative litigation valued in excess of $5 billion.
    • Compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley requirements for tracking risk contingencies.
    • Preparation of public disclosures and discussions of various legal risks and contingent liabilities in securities filings.
    • Participating in due diligence for acquisitions of private and publicly held entities.
    • Participating as a member of core plaintiff’s negotiation team that successfully resolved antitrust litigation resulting in recovery exceeding $1.5 billion.
    • Investigating and responding to various private and governmental claims involving allegations of violations of antitrust laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Medicare fraud and abuse and securities law violations.
    • Acting as a corporate representative on committees of Potentially Responsible Parties for environmental Superfund sites.
    • Responsibility for legal strategies in the United States and Europe and coordinating risk management with marketing and product development teams.
    • Developing and managing an international lobbying team responsible for proposing and responding to domestic and international regulatory and legislative initiative.
    • Testifying before various state legislatures and international regulatory groups.

    In the news

    • The AmLaw Litigation Daily

      Litigator of the Week shout outs and runners-up

      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.
      May 7, 2021
    • Law360

      Chancery awards biopharm company $38M for fraud-tainted deal

      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.
      April 23, 2021
    • Chicago Daily Law Bulletin

      People

      Chicago Complex Commercial Disputes partner and Litigation Department vice chair Ethan Trull is included in this column of notable legal executive news for accepting the invitation to join the International Association of Defense Counsel.
      March 4, 2021
    • The American Lawyer

      Constrained by Crisis, Law Firms and Clients Are Learning to Compromise on Pricing

      This article on alternative fee arrangements quotes Litigation Department Vice Chair and Chicago partner Ethan Trull and Chicago partner Mike Philippi, both of the Complex Commercial Disputes practice group, on the topic of value-based pricing strategies and how they can be applied to share risk and maximize predictability.
      Jan 4, 2021
    • The American Lawyer

      A Post-Thanksgiving Litigator of the Week Runner-Up and Shout Out Marathon

      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.
      Dec 4, 2020
    • Chicago Daily Law Bulletin

      $3.6M in attorney fees atop $600K suit

      Complex Commercial Disputes partner and Litigation Department vice-chair Ethan Trull and department attorney Keith Edeus, both in Chicago, were featured and quoted in this front-page article on their litigation win representing Bourbon Tile & Marble in a 13-year suit against construction giant Pepper Construction Co.
      June 2, 2020

    Admitted to practice

    Illinois
    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
    U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit

    Education

    Loyola University Chicago, B.B.A., cum laude
    Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., American Jurisprudence Awards: Property; Mechanics Liens

    Professional activities

    • International Association of Defense Counsel, Member
    • Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Member

    Recognition

    • Ethan has been recommended in The Legal 500 United States 2017 editorial for Intellectual property—Trade secrets.

    Insights And Happenings

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    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody secures more than $49 million in damages and pre-judgement interest for Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in Delaware Chancery Court

      May 6, 2021
    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody LLP partner Ethan Trull joins International Association of Defense Counsel

      March 3, 2021
    • Press Release

      Nixon Peabody secures dismissal for Leiters, Inc., in a multi-state dispute

      Nov 18, 2020
    View All

    Professionals in the Practice Area

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    • Anthony Barron

      Partner / Chair, Litigation Department
      • San Francisco
      • Office:415.984.8309
      • abarron@nixonpeabody.com
      Anthony Barron
    • Kimberly Harding

      Partner / Deputy Leader, Litigation Department
      Leader, Labor Relations Team
      • Rochester
      • Office:585.263.1037
      • kharding@nixonpeabody.com
      Kimberly Harding
    • John Ruskusky

      Partner / Practice Group Leader, Complex Disputes / Leader, Medical Device, Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostic Health
      • Chicago
      • Office:312.977.4460
        Mobile:708.606.8720
      • jtruskusky@nixonpeabody.com
      John Ruskusky
    • Jeffrey S. Brenner

      Partner / Practice Group Leader, Construction & Real Estate Litigation
      • Providence
      • Office:401.454.1042
      • jbrenner@nixonpeabody.com
      Jeffrey S. Brenner
    • Daniel J. Hurteau

      Partner / Deputy Practice Group Leader, Complex Disputes
      • Albany
      • Office:518.427.2652
      • dhurteau@nixonpeabody.com
      Daniel J. Hurteau
    View All

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