Michael Gaertner serves as litigation counsel for companies and individuals in complex business disputes. He has worked with clients across a multitude of industries, including financial services, pharmaceutical and manufacturing. Mike has appeared before state and federal trial and appellate courts throughout the United States and has arbitrated cases before the National Association of Securities Dealers, New York Stock Exchange and International Chamber of Commerce. He has represented clients in investigations by the Federal Trade Commission, the New York Stock Exchange and Securities and Exchange Commission.
Antitrust & Competition Law
Mike assists businesses facing claims of anticompetitive conduct by consumers, competitors and governmental agencies. He has represented companies in matters involving allegations of price-fixing, monopolization and price discrimination arising under the under the Sherman, Clayton and Robinson-Patman Acts. He has also assisted clients with investigations brought by the Federal Trade Commission.
Mike currently acts as lead antitrust counsel for a manufacturer of fine chemicals in an antitrust lawsuit brought by two pharmaceutical companies relating to the alleged refusal to supply a raw material. Mike also currently acts as lead antitrust counsel for a pharmaceutical company against two competitors for impeding its ability to introduce a generic drug into the marketplace.
Intellectual Property & Technology
Mike represents clients in prosecuting and defending against claims involving intellectual property rights. Mike has litigated disputes arising under the copyright, trademark and trade secret laws, including injunction proceedings.
Mike works with clients to resolve intellectual property rights in virtually all areas of business. He has represented a prominent research hospital in litigation over the ownership of the patent rights to a cancer drug, a leading manufacturer of industrial equipment in injunction proceedings against a competitor for Copyright infringement and a biotech company in injunction proceedings with a competitor over the hiring of a senior executive. Mike also represented a national retailer as an amicus curaie in a leading Copyright case before the United States Supreme Court.
Securities Litigation and Regulation
Mike represents securities firms and investors in private and industry disputes. His experience in customer disputes includes cases involving churning, unsuitable investments and account mismanagement. He has also represented brokerage firms in industry disputes involving compensation, bonuses and non-competition agreements. Mike has arbitrated cases before both the National Association of Securities Dealer and The New York Stock Exchange. He has represented clients in investigations before the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange.
- John Carroll University, B.S. B.A., 1986, Academic Achievement Awards
- The College of William & Mary, J.D., 1989, Order of the Coif; executive editor, Law Review
- U.S. Court of Appeals (2nd Circuit)
- U.S. Court of Appeals (7th Circuit)
- U.S. Court of Appeals (8th Circuit)
- U.S. District Court, C.D. Illinois
- U.S. District Court, N.D. Illinois Trial Bar
- U.S. District Court, W.D. Pennsylvania
- U.S. Supreme Court
- Chicago Bar Association
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- St. Norbert School, Northbrook, Illinois - Athletic Committee