Garry L. Wills

Garry focuses his practice on commercial litigation. His experience includes all aspects of U.C.C. disputes, breach of contract cases, employment litigation, fraud and defamation in both state and federal courts, and before the Illinois Supreme Court. In addition, Garry has represented medium and large corporations, banks, individual corporate officers and directors, and condominium associations.

Experience

• Successfully defended investment managers for a trust company from series of claims based upon lack of suitability of investments, involving detailed analysis of the prudent investor rule and the duty to diversify, and winning both cases on dispositive motions prior to trial.
• Prosecuted multi-million dollar dispute over sale of defective goods.
• Defeated at the summary judgment stage claims of a conspiracy to defraud where the plaintiff was seeking damages in excess of half a billion dollars.
• Successfully achieved summary judgment in a retaliatory termination claim in which the plaintiff was seeking hundred thousands of dollars in damages.
• Succeeded at trial in breach of commercial contract, and obtained a substantial judgment for the client.
• Succeeded at both the trial and appellate levels in case of first impression under the Illinois Condominium Property Act.
• Successfully established the contents of a decedent’s lost will and trust and prosecuted undue influence claim to recover pre-death gifts to the decedent’s natural child.
• Successfully represented a national trucking company in federal court, first achieving partial summary judgment and then a multi-million dollar jury award for the client.
• Successfully defended individual and corporation against claims for theft of trade secrets, prevailing on a dispositive motion before trial.
   

Services

• Business and Commercial Litigation
• Probate, Trust & Guardianship Litigation

1. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D.
   • cum laude
   • Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business
2. Northwestern University, M.A.
3. Yale University, B.A.

Bar Admissions

1. Illinois

Court Admissions

1. U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
2. U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
3. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Clerkships

1. Extern for Judge Milton I. Shadur, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
2. Extern, Region 5, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• Selected as an "Illinois Leading Lawyer" for Commercial Litigation

Professional Affiliations

• Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association