Commercial Litigation

Our business and government clients turn to VAB for its tailor-made representation designed to resolve their issues efficiently and thoroughly.  We tackle complex and sensitive problems with an eye toward how those issues fit within our client’s big picture.  We are creative, determined, meticulous, collaborative, and realistic with our representation.  And we deliver work product that meets our clients’ needs, not a memo summarizing the entire legal landscape. 

Our commercial litigation experience spans a wide range of industries, including banking, manufacturing and distribution, health care, construction, aviation, real estate, and title disputes. And while we punch above our weight class in even the most contentious of matters, we understand that our representation reflects on our clients, and we litigate with the civility and professionalism that they demand.  VAB attorneys also appreciate that scorched-earth litigation is often not what the client wants, and we are adept at finding a resolution when the time is right. 

CONTRACT ISSUES

We have analyzed, advised on, and when necessary, litigated contracts ranging from standard real estate contracts to the most complex of financing agreements, and everything in between.  We perform overflow services for companies requiring nondisclosure agreements and other contract review, and we do so with an eye to ensuring that deadlines are met.  VAB attorneys understand that resolution of contract issues is part of the day-to-day existence of our clients’ companies, and that efficient analyses and resolution of these issues is critical to their operations.   

Internal investigations

VAB conducts internal investigations for public and private boards, as well as compliance and human resources departments.  Our clients operate within a wide range of industries and cover the gamut from nonprofit and governmental agencies to Fortune 500 companies.  We are skilled at analyzing complex factual scenarios, and we bring our interviewing acumen to every investigation – whether we are meeting with entry-level personnel or those at the highest level of the organization.  When document collection is necessary, we bring a cost-effective and targeted approach to the gathering and analysis of key documents.  Once we complete our investigations, VAB provides well-supported and timely analyses of whether the conduct at issue raises meritorious claims or may subject our clients to scrutiny, and we readily partner with clients to advise on proposed actions and remedial efforts based on our investigative findings.  VAB understands the sensitive nature of such inquiries, and we bring a confidential, principled, and diverse voice to investigating and reporting on issues requiring investigation.

Management-Side Employment

VAB provides proactive guidance to employers of all sizes through the life cycle of their employment relationships.   We are skilled in drafting human resources policies, executive employment agreements, and restrictive covenant provisions, all with the goal of helping our clients minimize future legal risks. We counsel employers navigating performance and leave issues and negotiating severance agreements.  We are trusted to conduct independent investigations of alleged discrimination, retaliation, and other employment claims, bringing to bear a sensitivity honed from years of experience interviewing claimants and individuals involved in allegations of harassment and discrimination. Our deep knowledge of the federal and Illinois administrative agency process allows us to provide our employer clients with realistic case evaluations into the viability of employee administrative charges, so that cost-effective decisions can be made early in a dispute. And when litigation is brought by former or current employees, we vigorously defend our clients against discrimination and retaliation claims, alleged pay or leave violations, and business torts.

Real estate matters

We represent residential and commercial owners and developers in the sale and purchase of residential and commercial properties, including condominium buildings, hotels, restaurants, office buildings, shopping centers, mixed-use buildings, and other properties.  For commercial properties, we also handle lease negotiations and landlord-tenant disputes.  VAB attorneys have decades of experience working in the real estate industry – both in transactional matters and in litigation – that provides us with a unique 360-perspective that our clients value.

Aviation defense

For more than a decade, VAB attorneys have represented domestic and foreign airlines, leasing companies, airline transportation service companies, manufacturers, and other aviation interests in both state and federal court.  From baggage-and-passenger-delay claims under the Montreal Convention to major aviation-related disasters, we understand the issues at stake and the importance of their timely resolution.  When resolution isn’t possible, VAB attorneys have served as trial counsel and worked with expert witnesses in aviation litigation. 

CREDITORS’ RIGHTS

We represent financial entities, including banks, credit unions, fintech companies, and other businesses, protecting their interests in state and federal court collection litigation and in post-judgment citation proceedings.   We also have substantial experience in representing financial entities in all facets of bankruptcy litigation, including lien disputes, adversary proceedings, and claim objections.