Mark Premo-Hopkins is a partner in Kirkland’s Chicago office. He focuses his practice on complex commercial and product liability litigation. Mark has acted as trial and appellate counsel for plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of matters including pharmaceutical mass tort claims, breach of contract, trade secret, and professional malpractice.
Represented Baxter International in mass tort proceedings involving product liability claims brought by plaintiffs alleging they were injured by contaminated heparin. After a three week trial in Illinois state court, the jury returned a verdict useful to Baxter that led to settlement of many claims. At a second trial in Nebraska state court, the jury returned a complete defense verdict.
Represented Citadel LLC in preliminary injunction hearing and related arbitration proceeding against former employees who formed competing electronic trading firm. Successfully obtained preliminary injunctive relief, $2.2 million in sanctions for spoliation of evidence, and arbitration award.
Represented Baxter Healthcare in federal class actions alleging an agreement among producers of specialized plasma therapies to restrict output of certain therapies.
Represented Dow Chemical Company in case regarding remediation of groundwater contamination in Louisiana. After a five-week trial in Louisiana state court, the court rejected plaintiffs’ requests for additional remediation of the groundwater as unnecessary.
Represented PricewaterhouseCoopers in accounting malpractice case. Plaintiff alleged PwC was negligent in failing to discover fraud by plaintiff’s former CFO. The case proceeded to trial in Illinois state court and the jury returned a complete defense verdict, including on PwC’s counterclaims for fees and costs.
Represented auto dealership conglomerate in class action alleging statewide consumer fraud based on customer payment for dealer-added items. After a two week class certification hearing, the court refused to certify the classes sought by plaintiffs and all claims were dismissed.
Represented numerous insurance guarantee associations and the Texas state deputy receiver in Missouri federal court to recover losses arising from massive fraud committed by a web of family-owned companies dealing in life insurance and pre-need funeral contracts.
