Michael K. Forde

Civic And Charitable Activities Board Member, Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, 2019-present Chairman, Illinois International Port District Board, 2011-19Economic Club of Chicago Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Board of Trustees, 2008-14; Chairman, Leadership Advisory Council, 2005-08St. Xavier University, Board of Trustees, 2008-11St. Ignatius College Prep, Development Committee, 2006-present Awards And Recognitions Listed in Leading Lawyers Network, 2013-present Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2016-present St. Ignatius College Prep Alumni Medal, 2009 Publications The White House Counsel and Whitewater: Government Lawyers and the Scope of Privileged Communications, 16 Yale Law and Policy Review 109 (1998).The Exclusionary Rule at Sentencing: New Life Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines? 33 American Criminal Law Review 379 (1996). Professional History 2012-present - Managing Partner, Forde & OMeara LLP1999-2012 - Mayer Brown LLP, Chicago, Illinois (including serving as a co-chair of its commercial litigation practice group)1999 - Chief Legal Counsel to Illinois Comptroller Daniel W. Hynes1998-99 - Chief Counsel to the Transition Team for the Illinois Comptroller-Elect1997-98 - Law Clerk to the Honorable Mary Ann G. McMorrow of the Supreme Court of Illinois1996-97 - Law Clerk to the Honorable Charles P. Kocoras of the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois Education University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, M. B. A. 1998Georgetown University Law Center, J. D., cum laude 1996; Articles & Notes Editor, American Criminal Law Review Georgetown University, A. B. 1993Notable Cases Frost v. DMMD II, LLC, et al. After a bench trial, obtained a judgment in favor of our client on all counts. The dispute involved contract and nuisance claims in connection with a construction project in a Chicago high rise. The judge observed that the client could not find finer lawyers who were well-prepared and represented the client vigorously.Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Acted as trial and appellate counsel for then-candidate Rahm Emanuel in the litigation challenging his qualifications to run for Mayor of Chicago. The Supreme Court of Illinois unanimously reversed the Appellate Court, and affirmed the Hearing Officers recommendation that Mr. Emanuel was qualified to run for Mayor. Read More Sprint Affiliate Litigation Arising from Sprint-Nextel Merger. Tried two cases on behalf of three Sprint affiliates in Delaware and Illinois arising out of Sprints acquisition of Nextel, a competing telecommunications company, in breach of the parties affiliate agreements. In Delaware, the Court of Chancery issued an injunction barring Sprint Nextel from engaging in certain marketing activities. In Illinois, the Circuit Court of Cook County issued an injunction requiring Sprint Nextel to divest itself of the Nextel network and assets in our clients service area. Read More Sprint Affiliate Litigation Arising from Sprint-Clearwire and Sprint-Virgin Mobile Transactions. Represented three Sprint affiliates in litigation in Delaware and Illinois that sought to enjoin the closing of an $11 billion transaction in which Sprint planned to acquire a majority interest in a new competing telecommunications company in breach of the parties affiliate agreements. When Sprint announced that it was acquiring Virgin Mobile USA, Inc., we filed another lawsuit on behalf of the affiliates in Illinois seeking to enjoin the closing of the Sprint-Virgin transaction. Read More Chicago Board of Trade Demutualization and CME Merger. Represented the Chicago Board of Trade and its Directors in litigation in the federal, Illinois, and Delaware courts over the CBOTs demutualization; played an active role in the merger between the CBOT and Chicago Mercantile Exchange and litigation relating to the merger. Read More Chicago Board of Trades $1 Billion Settlement with the Chicago Board Options Exchange. Represented the CBOT in litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and in SEC proceedings between its members and the Chicago Board of Options Exchange over CBOT members claims to ownership interest in CBOE. Read More Chicago Board of Trade Shareholder Litigation. Represented the CBOT and its Directors in litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery resulting from the CBOTs Board approval of the merger with the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and rejection of a competing proposal. Read More