Paula Morency’s practice involves litigation and arbitration of commercial disputes, including trials before federal and state courts and private arbitration panels. Her primary areas of concentration include:
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Franchise and distribution disputes
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Protection of trademarks and trade secrets
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Class and mass actions
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Antitrust claims
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Vicarious liability
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Data privacy disputes
Speeches and Presentations
Ms. Morency has been a frequent speaker and author on such topics as class actions, consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices act claims, franchising, trial advocacy, expert witnesses, e-discovery, insurance coverage, mediation and antitrust topics. Her most recent presentations include:
"Tangled Web: Distribution Pricing in the Internet Age," (panelist) ABA Section of Antitrust Law Spring Meeting, Washington, D.C. (March 2012)
"Anatomy of a Franchise Suit," ABA Forum on Franchising, Baltimore, Maryland (October 2011)
Awards and Honors
Chambers USA – America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Leading Lawyer – Franchising (Nationwide)
The BTI Client Service All-Star Team
Illinois Leading Lawyers Network, Leading Lawyer – Antitrust Law; Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law; Commercial Litigation; and Franchise & Dealership Law
Best Lawyers in America, Franchise Law
Franchise Times – Legal Eagle
Illinois Super Lawyers – Franchise/Dealership
AV Rated — Martindale-Hubbell
Who’s Who Legal – Franchise (International and Illinois)
Faculty Appointments
Faculty, National Institute For Trial Advocacy (1988 – present)
Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University School of Law (1996 – present)
Trial Advocacy
Faculty, International Trademark Association (INTA) (2000)
Trademark Trial Advocacy Workshop
Professional Memberships
American Bar Association
Section of Litigation
Section of Antitrust Law
Forum on Franchising
Speaker (1995-1997, 1999 -2002, 2004, 2008, 2010-2011)
Governing Committee (2001 – 2004)
Program Co-chair (2003)
Litigation and Dispute Resolution Steering Committee (1996-2001)
Publications Committee (1996 – 2001)
The Franchise Lawyer
Editorial Board (1998-2001)
Section of Intellectual Property Law
The Chicago Bar Association, Alternate Dispute Resolution Committee
Chicago Council of Lawyers
Board of Governors <1989 –1993)
Federal Judicial Evaluation Committee (1983 –1983)
U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel (N.D. Ill.) (1989 –1991, 1994)
Civic and Charitable Memberships
Constitutional Rights Foundation of Chicago (1993 – present)
Executive committee
Former Board Chair
Former Benefit Chair
Princeton AlumniCorps (2010 – present)