Frederick J. Sperling

Partner

"He gives something back to the Needy" - Leading Lawyers Network, April 2006

Frederick J. Sperling concentrates his practice in civil litigation involving a broad range of issues including contracts, commercial law, and defamation and other media and communication law issues. He practices in federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels, and he has substantial experience in both mediation and arbitration.

Experience

Cases Mr. Sperling has successfully handled include:

• Defense in a jury trial of a $14 million claim against the developer of the River East real estate project for the purchase of CFC Investment's interest.
• Defense in a five-week jury trial of a $28 million claim for breach of a contract to act in a movie by Heaven Corporation against Michael Jordan.
• Prosecution at trial of claims by Michael Jordan to terminate license agreements for a restaurant and an associated retail store.
• Defense of an attempt to enjoin the construction and operation of a restaurant owned by Michael Jordan.
• Obtained summary judgment for Michael Jordan on claim for breach of an alleged contract to pay Karla Knafel $5 million upon Jordan's retirement from professional basketball.
• Prosecution of trademark infringement and misappropriation claims by Michael Jordan against Avon and M.Z. Berger.
• Defense of claims for trademark infringement and unfair competition by Chattanoga Manufacturing against Michael Jordan.
• Prosecution of Michael Jordan's claims in the WorldCom bankruptcy for amounts owed under an endorsement agreement.
• Appeal in the Illinois Supreme Court of claims for defamation against a magazine publisher establishing that the fair report privilege cannot be defeated by actual malice and that there is no judicial action limitation on the privilege.
• Defense of claims for defamation and false light invasion of privacy against Fox Television Stations and its investigative reporter.
• Defense of multimillion-dollar claims for defamation against (a) CBS Broadcasting and its reporter and (b) Fox Television Stations, its general manager and its reporter.
• Defense of multimillion-dollar claims for defamation and related torts against the Chicago-Crawford Currency Exchange and its president.
• Defense of multimillion-dollar defamation claims against the auditor of the Bank of Bellwood.
• Defense of claims for defamation and invasion of privacy against the Chicago Council of Lawyers and its president.
• Defense of claims in excess of $150 million for commercial disparagement by TII Industries against ANTEC and Keptel.
• Defense of claims in excess of $40 million for goodwill on the termination of a joint venture and conversion by Cincinnati Bell against Anixter.
• Prosecution of a claim for the recovery of retirement funds by the Eagle Industries Pension Plan and defense of an indemnification claim against Eagle Industries for those funds.
• Representation of minor beneficiaries in the resolution of disputes concerning the Pritzker ancestor trusts.
• Prosecution of securities claims by a group of hedge funds against Salomon Brothers.
• Defense in an arbitration of contract claims against Midwest Newsclip by Burrelle's and prosecution of Newsclip's counterclaim.

Publications

A Primer on Illinois Defamation Law

Pro Bono Activities

Mr. Sperling has been involved in numerous pro bono cases, including:

• Ballot access and other election law cases
• A series of bias violence cases, including the first civil case tried under the Illinois Hate Crime Act
• A First Amendment case in the Illinois Supreme Court for the publisher of a small magazine

Awards and Honors

Illinois Super Lawyers, General Litigation

Leading Lawyer — Arts, Entertainment and Sports Law; Civil Rights/Constitutional Law; and Commercial Litigation, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network

BTI Client Service All-Star, BTI Consulting Group Survey

AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

Anti-Defamation League Civil Rights Award

Education

Clerkships

Honorable James Hunter, U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit (1979-1980)

Teaching Appointments

Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy

Professional Memberships

Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Past President

Chicago Council of Lawyers
Past President

American Bar Association
Past Member of the House of Delegates

Chicago Bar Association

Illinois State Bar Association

Governor's Task Force on Judicial Merit Selection
Past Member

Illinois Supreme Court Special Commission on the Administration of Justice
Past Member