Paul T. Fox

Paul T. Fox is a founding shareholder of the firm's Chicago office where he serves as Chairman. He has focused his practice in commercial litigation for more than 40 years. He regularly represents litigants in federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate level, as well as before arbitration panels, mediators and other alternative dispute resolution forums. An experienced trial lawyer, Paul typically tries cases every year and has experience with a wide variety of commercial litigation. He has been a member of the Trial Bar for the United States District Court in Chicago for the past 20 years. He also teaches trial advocacy at Northwestern University School of Law and at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA).

Paul has represented financial institutions and other entities in defending class actions arising under the Truth-in-Lending Act (TILA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), the Real Estate Settlement Practices Act (RESPA), the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act (WARN), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Securities Act Section 10(b)(5) and under state statutory fraud theories in Illinois, Texas, Alabama, California, Maryland, Nevada and elsewhere. He has also defended numerous lender liability and employment discrimination claims.

Paul’s casework has encompassed issues arising under virtually every article of the Uniform Commercial Code, as well as more general contract and corporate matters. He focuses much of his practice on traditional business disputes involving partnerships, joint ventures, closely held companies and publicly traded companies. These disputes arise out of a wide variety of transactions, including real estate developments, mergers and acquisitions, post-closing adjustment disputes and traditional contract disputes. Paul has also handled many cases involving disputes over negotiable instruments, electronic fund transfers and letters of credit.

As one of two founding shareholders, Paul has been instrumental in the expansion of the Chicago office: It has grown from three lawyers in 1999 to more than 150 today, and has become a substantial presence in the city’s legal community.

Concentrations

•Commercial litigation
•Banking
•Class actions
•Lender liability
•Workouts
•Negotiable instruments and bank collections
•Securities litigation
•Employment litigation

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2013-2020, 2022-2026
•Listed, Thomson Reuters, “Stand-Out Lawyers,” 2026
•Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2005-2026
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005-2026
•Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms Edition, 'Law Firm of the Year,' Banking & Finance - Litigation, 2017
•Member, Winning Team, 'Cross Border Special Situation M&A Deal of the Year' for the AgFeed Industries sale of assets to Ningbo Tech Bank, TriOak Foods and Smithfield/Murphy, Global M&A Network’s Turnaround Atlas Awards, 2014
•Recipient, Israel Cancer Research Fund’s 'Man of Distinction' Award, 2013
•Team Member, a Law360 'Employment Practice Group of the Year,' 2011 & 2013
•Listed, Strathmore's Who's Who
•Rated, AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0