Jeff Patton has spent nearly twenty years representing individuals, corporations, LLCs, and other organizations in a wide range of lawsuits and arbitrations, including disputes regarding commercial contracts, common law and consumer fraud, accounting malpractice and other professional liability, real estate, construction lending, non-compete obligations, trade secret misappropriation, copyrights and trademarks, unfair competition, defamation, civil RICO, product liability, insurance coverage, and federal and state constitutional questions.  He is experienced in all phases of litigation, handling matters ranging from emergency motions for preliminary injunctive relief through Daubert hearings on expert testimony, trial, and the appellate process.

Patton is licensed in Illinois and a member of the Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.  In addition, he has represented clients in federal and state courts in dozens of other jurisdictions throughout the country.  Before joining Tabet DiVito & Rothstein as a partner in 2003, he was a partner with the law firm of Schiff Hardin & Waite.

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D., 1994

University of Sheffield (Sheffield, England), M. Phil., with distinction, 1991

Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), B. Phil., summa cum laude, 1988

Community Involvement, Professional Activities, and Awards

Adjunct Professor and Visiting Lecturer on American Law, Peking University Law School, Beijing, China (2001)

Illinois Bar Foundation Development Committee

Harvard Law School Reunion/Gifts Committee (2008-10)

Sheridan Park Youth Baseball League Coach

Rotary International Foundation Scholar for Graduate Study Abroad

Illinois State Bar Association

American Bar Association

Selected for inclusion in Illinois Super Lawyers, 2012

Sample Cases

• Defended major accounting firm in audit malpractice action involving alleged “total loss” of plaintiff’s $200 million banking business. Obtained partial summary judgment disposing of the bulk of the plaintiff’s claim for damages two weeks before trial, and all remaining claims were resolved by complete defense verdict after three-week jury trial.
• Won complete dismissal with prejudice of suit for alleged fraud, conversion, breach of contract, and UCC violations, summarily disposing of claims that Fortune 500 client engaged in multi-million-dollar fraud scheme against dozens of business partners.
• Successfully defended clients in multiple suits seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages and penalties under the Indian Arts and Crafts Act.
• Defeated actions for injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, brought against clients by competitors and disgruntled former business partners in a variety of industries.
• Successfully represented large, privately held company in multi-jurisdictional dispute against trucking company involving allegations of fraud, racketeering, conspiracy, defamation, and other business torts.
• Won judgment for specific performance of real estate contract in favor of international non-profit organization and against landowner, resulting in the transfer and permanent preservation of ecologically important tall-grass prairie.
• Represented minority owner and executive officer in dispute among shareholders of closely held corporation, obtaining substantial settlement after majority owners attempted to terminate client without compensation.
• Obtained complete relief in favor of general contractor in action for mechanics’ lien, deceptive business practices, and malicious prosecution after commercial landlord failed to pay for services rendered and engaged in additional improper action to attempt to avoid the debt.
• Secured substantially all requested injunctive relief for large client in significant copyright and trademark suit against client’s major competitor.