Thomas C. Koessl - Partner

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Biography

Thomas C. Koessl is a partner of Williams Montgomery & John Ltd., is head of the firm's labor and employment practice group and a member of the commercial litigation practice group. He focuses his practice on employment and commercial litigation, including breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, securities, environmental contamination, defamation, and legal and accounting malpractice lawsuits. He is "AV Preeminent" peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest peer recognition for both ethical standards and legal ability.  Mr. Koessl has been selected by his peers for inclusion in Illinois Leading Lawyers for employment management.

Mr. Koessl has represented both corporations and individuals before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Illinois Department of Human Rights (ILDHR) and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Mr. Koessl has successfully defended large corporations such as CBS and MTV as well as smaller corporations against employment-related claims, including race, sex and national origin discrimination.

Mr. Koessl also has experience in a wide variety of commercial disputes. He successfully represented the former CEO and chairman of a large multinational manufacturing company in a securities case and represented several large corporations in breach of contract disputes. Currently, Mr. Koessl represents a high-profile individual in a defamation suit. He also represents a large multinational corporation in an environmental claim brought by the State of Illinois.

Education/Bar Admissions

Mr. Koessl received a B.A. in economics and political science, magna cum laude, in 1993 from the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. He received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 1996 from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Mr. Koessl was admitted to the Wisconsin bar in 1996 and the Illinois bar in 1997 and also has been admitted to the following federal trial and appellate courts:

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, District of Iowa
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit

Professional Activities

Mr. Koessl is active in various professional and civic organizations, including:

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Wisconsin Bar Association
  • Union League Club of Chicago
    

Representative Matters

  • Board of Trustees of Community College District No. 508, County of Cook, State of Illinois v. PricewaterhouseCoopers L.L.P.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill., Illinois Appellate Court and Illinois Supreme Court
    Won $13 million jury verdict for the governing board of the City Colleges of Chicago in an audit malpractice lawsuit against PricewaterhouseCoopers and another auditor, which settled after trial for a confidential amount. This is believed to be the largest reported audit malpractice jury verdict in Illinois. Judgment was affirmed by the Illinois Appellate Court and Illinois Supreme Court.

  • Center Partners, Ltd, et al. v. Urban Shopping Centers, L.P, et al.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Currently represent the general partner in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit brought by limited partners claiming breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.

  • Missner v. Clifford, et al.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Currently represent a high-profile individual against a defamation claim arising out of a press release.

  • Municipal Services Group v. Guam Waterworks Authority

    Circuit Court of Guam
    Currently represent a bond financing company in a breach of contract lawsuit against the Guam water utility for improper defeasance of bonds.

  • Pacholder High Yield Fund v. Cucuz, et al.

    U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
    Represented the former chairman and CEO of Hayes-Lemmerz, Inc. in class action lawsuit claiming breach of fiduciary duty and breach of the securities laws. Case arose out of a bond offering of several hundred million dollars.

  • Soto v. Electrodes, Inc.

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    Currently represent a manufacturing company in a lawsuit claiming violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

  • State of Illinois v. CBS Holdings, Inc.

    Circuit Court of Virginia County, Ill.
    Currently represent a large multinational company in a lawsuit brought by one of its subsidiaries involving environmental contamination claims.

  • Utility Resource Management v. American Hotel

    U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (2004)
    Obtained a favorable settlement on behalf of American Hotel Register in a $3.2 million breach of contract suit brought by Utility Resource Management. Confidential settlement was reached prior to closing arguments in a bench trial.

  • Wilson, et al. v. Alvarado, et al.

    Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill.
    Currently represent an individual against claims of breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty in a lawsuit arising out of the alleged establishment of a multimillion-dollar trust.