Question 1

Do you take cases on contingency?

Accepted Answer

Contingency is available for select plaintiff matters where the economics align (commercial damages cases, fiduciary-duty buyouts, certain securities actions). Hourly is the default for litigation matters. Fixed-fee phases are increasingly common for discrete portions of a case (motion practice, deposition rounds). Blended structures are negotiated case-by-case. The fee structure is part of the engagement letter — no surprises.

Question 2

What is the statute of limitations on my matter?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the cause of action. Illinois breach-of-contract claims generally run 10 years for written contracts and 5 years for oral. Tort claims typically run 2 years. Federal Defend Trade Secrets Act claims run 3 years. Consult with a partner before assuming a deadline — discovery rules and tolling can shift the calendar.

Question 3

Is the initial consultation free and confidential?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The first 30-minute conversation is no-charge and runs under attorney-client privilege from the first sentence. We screen for conflicts before any substantive discussion of facts. After consultation we provide a written assessment and a fee proposal — you decide whether to engage.

Question 4

What does a typical settlement timeline look like?

Accepted Answer

Highly matter-dependent. Pre-litigation disputes often resolve in weeks to months. Filed cases run 12 to 24 months to summary judgment, longer to trial. Internal investigations typically span 90 to 180 days. We provide a written timeline at engagement and update it monthly.

Question 5

What does a boutique offer over an AmLaw 100 firm?

Accepted Answer

Three things: senior-attorney attention on every matter, fee structures unburdened by AmLaw overhead, and the ability to staff a case the way the matter actually requires rather than how the firm's leverage model dictates. The trade-off is that we do not handle every type of matter — and we will tell you when a different firm is the right choice.

Question 6

Will my matter be staffed by partners?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Partner attention is the model. Associates support partners; partners do not delegate primary case strategy to associates. This is the structural reason boutique fees are competitive with AmLaw despite higher hourly rates — fewer hours billed, better hours billed.

Question 7

Confidentiality posture for sensitive matters?

Accepted Answer

Substantive. Communications routed through partner-supervised channels, document handling under privilege protocols, and limited associate access on flagged matters. We have handled multiple disputes that did not become public; we are comfortable with that as the goal.

Question 8

How do you handle conflicts of interest?

Accepted Answer

Conflict checks are run before any substantive engagement and we maintain conflict-screening procedures consistent with ABA Model Rules. Where laterals or new matters create potential issues, we either decline the engagement or seek written informed consent. We do not rely on firm-wide screens for litigation conflicts.

Chicago's trial firm. Verdicts that move markets.

What we do best.

4 steps. Zero surprises.

Confidential consult

Engagement + scope

Litigation strategy

Trial-ready posture

Recent results, on the record.

Industrial supply contract dispute

Trade-secret injunction defense

Securities class action defense

Shareholder oppression buyout

Federal grand-jury inquiry

Non-compete defense for executive

Commercial breach trial

DTSA injunction enforcement

Appellate reversal — 7th Circuit

Fiduciary-duty derivative suit

Class action consumer finance

Internal investigation — public co.

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Questions before you reach out.

When to Bring in Boutique Litigation Counsel

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