Brian W. Lewis

Brian Lewis is a partner in the Litigation Department of Wildman Harrold. He represents corporate clients in complex commercial litigation matters, arbitrations, and internal investigations pending throughout the United States. He has tried antitrust, trademark, product liability, and commercial cases in court and in arbitration. His practice spans the industrial, chemical, electrical, manufacturing, automotive, and retail industries for national and multinational companies such as Schneider Electric, SA, Square D Company, Honeywell International Inc., and E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company.

Representative Experience:

Successful prosecution of electrical component counterfeiters on a global basis for Schneider Electric and Square D Company. Eleven lawsuits prosecuted against over 40 counterfeiting defendants. On behalf of the clients, have obtained permanent and temporary injunctive relief, substantial monetary settlements and have required counterfeiters to recall products under the auspices of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Has coordinated efforts with law enforcement, U.S. Customs and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement to stop the importation of counterfeits.
Lead counsel in defense of electrical product manufacturer, Schneider Electric, in a multi-week arbitration brought by a former distributor alleging conspiracy in violation of the Sherman Act, price discrimination, violation of the Robinson-Patman Act, wrongful termination of the distributorship, deceptive conduct in violation of Illinois and Tennessee Consumer Protection Statutes, and other common law tort claims. The claimant sought more than $10 million in damages, was awarded nothing, and was ordered to pay all costs of the arbitration.
Lead arbitration counsel in defense of a $30 million dealer-distributor termination brought against EFI Electronics, Inc. The claimant alleged breach of contract and conspiracy to terminate its national distributorship of surge suppression products. Claimant was awarded nothing and ordered to pay on EFI’s trademark infringement counterclaim.
Represents chemical manufacturers in manganese, vinyl chloride, trichloroethylene, uranium hexafluoride, benzene, silica, and coal tar toxic tort exposure cases alleging personal injury and environmental damages. Successfully obtained summary judgments and trial verdicts in favor of chemical manufacturers in these matters, which were litigated in federal and state courts throughout the United States.
Defeated class certification in a putative nationwide personal injury class action pending in Madison County, Illinois where the plaintiffs claimed that welders developed neurological disease from exposure to manganese in welding rods
Extensive experience in counseling clients with respect to U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reporting requirements and product recalls; has coordinated recalls for a variety of multi-national and national corporations, including Honeywell International Inc., Schneider Electric, and Square D Company

Publications And Presentations:

Co-author, “With Counterfeiting, You Want Govt. In Your Business,” IP Law360, February 25, 2008.
Speaker, “Square D Company’s Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts—A Case Study,” Instrumentation, Systems & Automation Society (ISA), Channahon, IL, February 12, 2008.
Speaker, “Square D Company’s Anti-Counterfeiting Efforts—A Case Study,” National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Annual Meeting, Boca Raton, FL, November 9 – 12, 2007.
Speaker, “Bunker Buster Contract Provisions: Ten Contract Provisions that Can Make or Break Your Case,” 2003.
“Top Ten Professional and Ethical Issues Facing In-House Counsel,” 2005.

Professional Associations:

American Bar Association (Tort & Insurance Practice Section, Product Liability Section)

Illinois State Bar Association

Bar Admissions:

Illinois, 1985

U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois (Trial Bar member)

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

U.S. District Court of the Northern and Central Districts of Indiana

Personal Information:

Since 2002, Brian has served as an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University School of Law, teaching Intensive Trial Advocacy. Also, since 2005, he has been the President of the Illinois Wesleyan Parent Board, where he is responsible for supporting need-based scholarships for students who have lost a financially supportive parent.

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