Lazar Raynal is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery LLP and is based in the Chicago office. Lazar is the Firm-wide head of McDermott's Trial Practice Group, serves on the Firm’s Management and Compensation Committees, and is co-chair of the Trust & Estate Controversy Practice Group.
His practice is focused on fiduciary and complex commercial litigation, including management of litigation across foreign jurisdictions. He has represented clients in various state and federal trial and appellate courts and before dozens of arbitration panels throughout the United States. Certain of his cases, including Pritzker v. Pritzker, have been widely covered by the national and local media. Lazar also routinely assists clients with strategic planning and negotiating, mediating and resolving significant disputes.
Representative Experience
Complex Commercial Litigation:
- Represent Orbitz Worldwide in tax litigation in jurisdictions across the United States.
- Serve as lead trial counsel in the defense of a leading producer of chemicals and fibers against breach of contract and fraud allegations seeking approximately $4 billion in a damages.
- Obtained successful verdict at trial for SFG Inc., the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of hot dogs sold in stores under the iconic brand “Nathan’s Famous” in a case concerning sophisticated financing arrangements and change-in-control provisions.
- Tried approximately 20 significant arbitrations around the United States against many of the best national and regional plaintiff firms in the country on behalf of the largest tobacco companies in the United States. These arbitrations resulted from the nationwide tobacco settlement relating to state Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement claims.
- Prevailed on all claims for an insurance company in a fraud case against a software company and its CEO for failing to deliver a software platform. Won significant sanctions and fees after evidentiary hearings concerning discovery abuses were discovered at start of trial.
- Won jury trial and appellate victories in cases involving business disputes for a Berkshire Hathaway portfolio company.
- Obtained judgment for Allianz Global Risks US Insurance Company against a medical device manufacturer in a coverage dispute worth approximately $200 million. Argued case successfully in multiple appeals.
- Represented Allianz and Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in response to investigation of contingent commission practices in insurance industry and defended against subsequent multi-state litigation.
- Achieved complete defense verdict after lengthy jury trial for food processing company in suit alleging our client caused a massive salmonella outbreak.
Trust & Estates Controversies:
- Successfully represented heiress Liesel Pritzker in widely publicized suit against trustees for breaches of fiduciary duty.
- Represented minority shareholder in multi-generation family business. Dispute included issues of control, use of corporate assets for personal endeavors, oppression and put/call arrangements.
- Achieved tax efficient resolution of disputes concerning multi-generational business with substantial real estate holdings in the United States. Siblings had ongoing disputes regarding direction and control of current and future assets and investments.
- Lead counsel in family dispute concerning restructuring privately held, multi-billion dollar businesses. Included offshore court proceedings and complex issues surrounding multi-generational, dynastic trusts and multiple lines of current and future beneficiaries.
- Lead counsel in numerous, ongoing family and trust disputes in the U.S. and abroad.
- Other trial experience includes multiple criminal cases tried to verdict in both federal and state courts.
Accolades
Lazar receives the highest peer ratings in Martindale Hubbell (AV) and in Super Lawyers in Illinois. He also was named to American Lawyer’s 2007 “Fab Fifty Young Litigators” as a result of his significant work on behalf of foreign and U.S. companies in significant commercial lawsuits.
Memberships and Bar Admissions
Lazar is a member of the bars of the State of Illinois, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois and the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third, Seventh and Tenth Circuits, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He also is a member of the Federal Defender Program Panel for the Northern District of Illinois, for which he performs pro bono services.
Education
- University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D. (cum laude), 1988
- University of Wisconsin - Madison, B.S., 1985
