Adam N. Hirsch

Shareholder
Chicago
70 West Madison Street
Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60602
P 312.582.1677
F 312.580.1201
P 312.582.1677 | F 312.580.1201



Overview

Adam focuses his practice on commercial and business litigation, representing a wide variety of clients ranging from individuals to small business owners to large corporations. He has a particular focus on investment disputes and business fraud claims, and has represented investors and investment companies as plaintiffs and defendants in lawsuits around the country. Adam regularly writes and presents on current issues relating to business fraud. He also has extensive experience litigating contract disputes, and has argued and tried multi-million dollar contract issues before judges and juries nationwide. Adam also has experience in advising clients in employment disputes relating to matters such as separation, severance, non-solicitation, and non-compete agreements.

Experience

Commercial Litigation

  • Trial counsel for real estate developer in litigation against local sanitary district relating to development contracts and ongoing obligations
  • Lead counsel for investment company asserting breach of contract and tortious interference claims stemming from failed multi-million-dollar stock transaction. Disputed issues include attempt to pierce defendant’s corporate veil to hold its president personally liable
  • Represented consulting company in breach of contract trial against client who refused to pay fee.  Won favorable verdict for plaintiff that was affirmed on appeal, and prevailed on cross-appeal for increased damages
  • Represented international wholesaler in contract dispute initiated by supplier. Prevailed on summary judgment motion to dismiss supplier’s claims prior to trial, and favorably resolved counterclaims
  • On behalf of software company, litigated trade secrets claims against former customer who attempted to reverse engineer software and compete in same market
  • Represented Illinois corporations in franchise tax disputes and litigation against the Illinois Secretary of State under Illinois Protest Act

Investment and Fraud Disputes

  • Lead counsel for investor in fraud and breach of fiduciary duty litigation against hedge fund, managers, and administrators
  • Represented online retailer in commercial sales fraud jury trial against software company relating to e-commerce software purchase and installation
  • On behalf of government-appointed receiver, brought civil RICO and fraud claims relating to a series of failed investments in a Caribbean real estate development
  • Represented commercial real estate investors in fraud, racketeering, and squeeze-out claims against former business partners

Employment Litigation and Counseling

  • Counseled numerous employees in negotiations with employers regarding separation, severance, and non-compete/non-disclosure agreements
  • Counseled employers and small businesses in negotiations with former employees regarding separation, wages, non-compete provisions, and nondisclosure agreements
  • On behalf of employer, filed suit to recover advance payment made to former business partner that was owed to company per employee’s contract
  • On behalf of former employee, filed breach of contract claim seeking recovery of post-termination compensation owed pursuant to employment contract
  • On behalf of employee, pursued discrimination charge against former employer before the Illinois Human Rights Commission
Services

Education

  1. Harvard Law School, J.D.
  2. University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Plan II Honors Program and Government

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Illinois
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  2. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)

Recognitions

  • Selected as an "Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Star"  for General Litigation and Business Litigation by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine (2010-2016)

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Illinois State Bar Association
Community Affiliations
  • Village of Oak Park Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee Member (2015-present)

Insights

  1. Alerts
    Illinois Small Businesses Now Eligible to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans (Mar 20, 2020)
    Coronavirus Business Interruption (Mar 13, 2020)
  2. Articles
    It’s All in the Details: The Importance of FRCP Rule 9 in Fraud Cases - Financial Poise (Sep 24, 2020)
    What is Puffery, and is Trump’s Puffery a Valid Legal Defense? - Financial Poise (Jun 2, 2020)
    How Important is Timing With Your Fraud Statute of Limitations? Turns Out, Very - Financial Poise (Feb 24, 2020)
    What ‘Animal House’ Can Teach Us About Reasonable Reliance in Fraud Cases - Financial Poise (Nov 5, 2019)
    The Civil Courts: When Your ‘Confidential Business Information’ Isn’t So Secret - Financial Poise (Oct 11, 2019)
  3. Presentations
    "Newbie Litigator School,” “Part 1 2022; Dispositive Motions" - Financial Poise (Aug 25, 2022)
    Financial Poise - Regular columnist, webinar moderator and panelist
    "Newbie Litigator School,” “Persuasive Brief Writing,” and “Complex Financial Litigation.” - Webinar host and panelist
  4. Podcasts
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: Healthcare Non-Competes: Are They Still Enforceable? (Jul 13, 2023)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: Illinois Freedom to Work Act: Updating Your Contracts to Assure Non-Competes Are Enforceable in 2022 (Dec 9, 2021)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: The Nuts and Bolts of Noncompete Agreements Part 2: Executive Order Update (Aug 5, 2021)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: The Nuts and Bolts of Noncompete Agreements Part 1 (Jul 22, 2021)
  5. Firm News
    Roetzel & Andress Names Three New Shareholders (Jan 4, 2023)
    Adam Hirsch Quoted in Healthcare Risk Management Article on Discovery Rules (May 2, 2022)
    Roetzel Welcomes Adam N. Hirsch to Chicago Office (Apr 11, 2018)

Overview

Adam focuses his practice on commercial and business litigation, representing a wide variety of clients ranging from individuals to small business owners to large corporations. He has a particular focus on investment disputes and business fraud claims, and has represented investors and investment companies as plaintiffs and defendants in lawsuits around the country. Adam regularly writes and presents on current issues relating to business fraud. He also has extensive experience litigating contract disputes, and has argued and tried multi-million dollar contract issues before judges and juries nationwide. Adam also has experience in advising clients in employment disputes relating to matters such as separation, severance, non-solicitation, and non-compete agreements.

Experience

Commercial Litigation

  • Trial counsel for real estate developer in litigation against local sanitary district relating to development contracts and ongoing obligations
  • Lead counsel for investment company asserting breach of contract and tortious interference claims stemming from failed multi-million-dollar stock transaction. Disputed issues include attempt to pierce defendant’s corporate veil to hold its president personally liable
  • Represented consulting company in breach of contract trial against client who refused to pay fee.  Won favorable verdict for plaintiff that was affirmed on appeal, and prevailed on cross-appeal for increased damages
  • Represented international wholesaler in contract dispute initiated by supplier. Prevailed on summary judgment motion to dismiss supplier’s claims prior to trial, and favorably resolved counterclaims
  • On behalf of software company, litigated trade secrets claims against former customer who attempted to reverse engineer software and compete in same market
  • Represented Illinois corporations in franchise tax disputes and litigation against the Illinois Secretary of State under Illinois Protest Act

Investment and Fraud Disputes

  • Lead counsel for investor in fraud and breach of fiduciary duty litigation against hedge fund, managers, and administrators
  • Represented online retailer in commercial sales fraud jury trial against software company relating to e-commerce software purchase and installation
  • On behalf of government-appointed receiver, brought civil RICO and fraud claims relating to a series of failed investments in a Caribbean real estate development
  • Represented commercial real estate investors in fraud, racketeering, and squeeze-out claims against former business partners

Employment Litigation and Counseling

  • Counseled numerous employees in negotiations with employers regarding separation, severance, and non-compete/non-disclosure agreements
  • Counseled employers and small businesses in negotiations with former employees regarding separation, wages, non-compete provisions, and nondisclosure agreements
  • On behalf of employer, filed suit to recover advance payment made to former business partner that was owed to company per employee’s contract
  • On behalf of former employee, filed breach of contract claim seeking recovery of post-termination compensation owed pursuant to employment contract
  • On behalf of employee, pursued discrimination charge against former employer before the Illinois Human Rights Commission

Education

  1. Harvard Law School, J.D.
  2. University of Texas at Austin, B.A., Plan II Honors Program and Government

Credentials

Bar Admissions
  1. Illinois
Court Admissions
  1. U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  2. U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)

Recognitions

  • Selected as an "Illinois Super Lawyers - Rising Star"  for General Litigation and Business Litigation by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine (2010-2016)

Affiliations

Professional Affiliations
  • Illinois State Bar Association
Community Affiliations
  • Village of Oak Park Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee Member (2015-present)

Insights

  1. Alerts
    Illinois Small Businesses Now Eligible to Apply for SBA Disaster Loans (Mar 20, 2020)
    Coronavirus Business Interruption (Mar 13, 2020)
  2. Articles
    It’s All in the Details: The Importance of FRCP Rule 9 in Fraud Cases - Financial Poise (Sep 24, 2020)
    What is Puffery, and is Trump’s Puffery a Valid Legal Defense? - Financial Poise (Jun 2, 2020)
    How Important is Timing With Your Fraud Statute of Limitations? Turns Out, Very - Financial Poise (Feb 24, 2020)
    What ‘Animal House’ Can Teach Us About Reasonable Reliance in Fraud Cases - Financial Poise (Nov 5, 2019)
    The Civil Courts: When Your ‘Confidential Business Information’ Isn’t So Secret - Financial Poise (Oct 11, 2019)
  3. Presentations
    "Newbie Litigator School,” “Part 1 2022; Dispositive Motions" - Financial Poise (Aug 25, 2022)
    Financial Poise - Regular columnist, webinar moderator and panelist
    "Newbie Litigator School,” “Persuasive Brief Writing,” and “Complex Financial Litigation.” - Webinar host and panelist
  4. Podcasts
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: Healthcare Non-Competes: Are They Still Enforceable? (Jul 13, 2023)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: Illinois Freedom to Work Act: Updating Your Contracts to Assure Non-Competes Are Enforceable in 2022 (Dec 9, 2021)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: The Nuts and Bolts of Noncompete Agreements Part 2: Executive Order Update (Aug 5, 2021)
    Roetzel HealthLaw HotSpot: The Nuts and Bolts of Noncompete Agreements Part 1 (Jul 22, 2021)
  5. Firm News
    Roetzel & Andress Names Three New Shareholders (Jan 4, 2023)
    Adam Hirsch Quoted in Healthcare Risk Management Article on Discovery Rules (May 2, 2022)
    Roetzel Welcomes Adam N. Hirsch to Chicago Office (Apr 11, 2018)