An experienced litigator, trial counsel, and arbitrator, Tom Brooks has broad-based experience in civil litigation, arbitration, mediation, government investigations, and contested regulatory proceedings. Thoughtful, objective, and persistent, he untangles case complexities, getting to the heart of the matter to reach a realistic resolution.
Tom represents both plaintiffs and defendants at trial and on appeal in federal, state, and bankruptcy courts nationwide, and in domestic and international arbitrations and mediations. He has helped resolve business, partnership, and other contractual disputes; lender liability and tax shelter cases; fraud, fiduciary breaches, and malpractice allegations; and cases involving securities, futures, and insurance coverage. His experience also includes cases involving financial and accounting irregularities, real estate ventures, disputes in the context of corporate mergers and acquisitions, and issues involving pharmaceuticals and utilities, among others.
An arbitrator and certified mediator, Tom serves as a neutral helping to resolve commercial, financial, and other types of disputes. He brings his arbitrator’s decision-making perspective to bear when advocating for clients and draws on his past experience as a journalist when presenting his clients’ side of the story to judges and juries.
Before joining the firm, Tom was an associate in the Chicago office of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue.
Representative Matters
Prevailed for an early-stage green technology company in a bench trial, defeating a major investment bank’s claim for an extra-contractual brokerage commission in connection with the client’s stock sale.
Serving as chairman of a two-week arbitration, resolved a case involving millions of dollars in claims arising from an alleged “black swan” event in the futures trading markets.
Represented the chairman and CEO of a food manufacturer who was the target of a bankruptcy creditors’ committee investigation looking into breach of fiduciary duty claims. Resulted in no claims brought against the client.
Successfully defended a private lender against a prominent bank’s allegations that a loan repayment to the lender was actually a fraudulent transfer of bank proceeds. After targeted discovery and motion practice, the bank failed to come forward with adequate support for its allegations and dropped its case.
Served as a member of the trial team that won a multimillion-dollar award, more than double the amount initially sought, prevailing against a major directors and officers (D&O) insurer that breached its duty to cover a shareholders’ action settlement.
Professional Activities
Professional Memberships
Chicago Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
American Bar Association
Arbitration Rosters
Mr. Brooks is on the roster of arbitrators for the following organizations:
FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority)
NFA (National Futures Association)
Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program
Practice Areas
Education
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law, cum laude, 1995
- Articles Editor, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
B.A., Yale University, 1988
Bar Admissions
- State of Illinois
- Trial Bar, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
