Matthew B. Mock

Partner

Matthew B. Mock is a trial attorney with significant experience in:

• White collar criminal defense
• Antitrust litigation and counseling
• Class action defense and other complex commercial litigation

He has tried cases to verdict in jurisdictions across the country, involving allegations of criminal fraud and conspiracy; civil antitrust price fixing; trademark infringement; patent infringement; and other complex commercial matters. His experience includes second-chairing a month-long federal criminal fraud and conspiracy trial in which Mr. Mock cross-examined numerous government witnesses and presented defense witnesses on direct, and briefed and argued motions in limine, the jury instructions, and the motion for acquittal.

Mr. Mock was a member of the trial team that defended former Hollinger International general counsel Mark S. Kipnis, a co-defendant in the highly-publicized United States v. Conrad Black case. Mr. Mock's responsibilities included witness preparation, preparation of the jury instructions, and extensive motion practice. The Schiff Hardin team won a not-guilty verdict on eight of the eleven counts and a judgment of acquittal on an additional count. At sentencing, while the other defendants received between two and seven years of incarceration, fines, and other penalties, Mr. Kipnis received no prison sentence.

Additionally, Mr. Mock has litigated complex commercial matters in varying substantive contexts including:

• class action defense
• civil fraud
• employment discrimination
• breach of contract
• post-closing disputes
• attempted monopolization

Mr. Mock also has broad experience in professional responsibility and attorney ethics matters, and has taught educational seminars for junior associates on deposition skills.

Experience

His experience includes:

• The successful trial defense of a Chicago-area retailer in a $400 million antitrust class action alleging price fixing in the sale of milk (victory affirmed on appeal, Baker v. Jewel Food Stores, Inc., 365 Ill. App. 3d 62, 823 N.E. 2d 93)
• A successful pro bono criminal appeal to the Seventh Circuit resulting in the defendant's sentence being vacated and, at re-sentencing, commuted
• Defense of a multimillion-dollar cross-border fraud claim to settlement for nuisance value
• Winning a $4 million arbitration award for a private-equity fund in a post-closing dispute over one of its portfolio companies
• A total defense victory on summary judgment for a national dairy products manufacturer on a $76 million breach of contract claim

Pro Bono Activities

In addition to representing pro bono clients before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Mr. Mock has been appointed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois as counsel for a pro se plaintiff in an employment discrimination action, through his membership in the court’s Trial Bar.

He also participates in Chicago Volunteer Legal Services' (CVLS) staffing of the Howard Area Community Center Legal Clinic, which offers free legal services to low-income residents of Chicago.

Education