Zachary R. Willenbrink

Prevailing on a motion to dismiss fraud and breach-of-contract claims brought by a purchaser following its acquisition of a large regional business, then obtaining an affirmance of that dismissal on appeal

In a contentious, complex business dispute with components in several different courts:

• Defeating a motion for an anti-suit injunction filed in the Delaware Court of Chancery
• Obtaining reinstatement of a breach of contract claim following discovery
• Defeating a motion for summary judgment

Represented U.S. dairy organizations and companies, and prevailed in a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board trial and subsequent district-court appeal, opposing the attempted registration by Swiss and French organizations of GRUYERE as a certification mark in U.S.

Obtaining multiple temporary restraining orders against departing employees on the basis of enforcing non-competition agreements and prohibiting trade-secret theft

Successfully defending departing employees against a request for a temporary restraining order and obtaining dismissal of multiple trade-secret-related claims alleged against them

Prevailing in a pro bono appeal before the Seventh Circuit on behalf of an Illinois state prisoner alleging civil rights violations

Achieving transfer of a case alleging false advertising and unfair trade practices, on the basis of a lack of personal jurisdiction, to a more favorable venue

Compelling arbitration in a complex corporate governance dispute between majority and minority shareholders

Settling multiple trade-practice and consumer-protection claims, including putative class actions

Ensuring the return of master tapes of a filmmaker’s documentary, which had been purchased and temporarily lost by a large media distributor