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Lee B. Muench

Partner
Chicago
T.
312.624.6405
liamE

A skilled and passionate litigator, Lee focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and internal investigations.

His substantive experience includes breach of contract, corporate governance litigation, business torts, and securities litigation. Lee has also extensive class action and product liability experience, both as a practicing lawyer and as a former law clerk in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Through his practice, Lee has represented a wide range of financial institutions, public companies, closely held corporations and individuals.

Lee is also passionate about providing pro bono legal services to underserved communities. Through collaborations with local legal services providers, Lee has achieved positive results for his pro bono clients in civil and criminal cases. In recognition of his efforts, Lee has received several awards for his pro bono accomplishments, including an Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service from the Northern District of Illinois.

Experience:

Complex Commercial Litigation

  • Election technology and services company: representing global provider of election and voting technology and support services in a defamation suit seeking over $2 billion against Fox News and others.
  • Global energy company: Representing the company in an action in which a former supplier sought over $100 million in damages for alleged misappropriation of trade secrets under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act and the Illinois Trade Secrets Act. Obtained dismissal of all of the supplier’s claims at summary judgment.
  • Individual directors: Represented directors of a Fortune 500 corporation in a shareholder derivative suit challenging alleged misrepresentations and omissions made in a proxy solicitation. The suit was dismissed, and the dismissal was upheld on appeal.
  • Automotive parts manufacturer: Represented the manufacturer in an action against its supplier for the supplier’s refusal to perform under the parties’ long-term supply agreements. The parties settled after the court granted the manufacturer’s motion for temporary restraining order.
  • Clearing firm: Represented securities clearing firm in federal and state courts and in arbitrations in connection with its alleged participation in a broker dealer’s Ponzi scheme.
  • National bank: Represented the bank in actions brought by foreign bond traders alleging that the bank failed to ensure the traders’ proper licensure and registration with FinCEN. The trial court dismissed all claims.
  • Underwriter group: Represented a group of underwriters in a class action alleging violations of federal securities laws stemming from a vehicle manufacturer’s initial public offering.
  • Managed care provider: Represented the company in an action to terminate a services agreement with one of its providers.
  • Toy manufacturer: Represented the manufacturer in a suit against its product testing company, following a high-profile consumer product recall of the manufacturer’s popular children’s toy.

Products Liability

  • Fortune 500 medical device manufacturer: represented the manufacturer in product liability suits alleging claims for design defect, manufacturing defect, strict liability, failure to warn, and breach of warranty.
  • Drafted and presented continuing legal education class, “How to Exclude an Expert Witness: A Products Liability Case Study,” to litigation associates.

Internal Investigations

  • Closely held corporation: Represented a closely held corporation and individual in a criminal investigation arising from an allegedly fraudulent sale of personal protective equipment to a state government during the 2020 pandemic.
  • Publicly traded company: Conducted an internal investigation into allegations that a former director of a publicly traded company was unlawfully terminated for engaging in conduct protected under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
  • Managed care company: Conducted an internal investigation into allegations that a managed care company’s customer representatives were violating federal and state anti-kickback laws.
  • Conglomerate: Conducted an internal compliance investigation into alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by employees and contractors of the conglomerate’s subsidiaries.
  • Litigation
  • Contract, Business, Commercial & Consumer Disputes
  • White Collar, Government Investigations & Regulatory Compliance
  • University of Illinois, 2011, J.D.
    • summa cum laude
    • Order of the Coif
    • CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Constitutional Law
    • Best Oralist, Frederick Green Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition
  • Northwestern University, 2004, B.A. in Economics
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® Ones to Watch, Commercial Litigation; Health Care Law; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; 2021-2025
  • Recipient, 2013 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono, Service, nominated by the Hon. Matthew F. Kennelly, US District Judge of the Northern District of Illinois
  • Legal Aid Chicago’s Ambassadors Board, Executive Committee

Highlights

News
August 15, 2024
132 Benesch Attorneys Recognized in 2025 Best Lawyers® Rankings
September 29, 2023
J. Erik Connolly, Edward C. Wipper, Michael Vatis, Nicole E. Wrigley, Lee B. Muench, David D. Pope, Caitlin A. Kovacs and Kevin T. Carlson mentioned in Law360 Article | "Fox Targets Soros In Smartmatic $2.7B Defamation Suit"
September 21, 2023
J. Erik Connolly, Edward C. Wipper, Michael Vatis, Nicole E. Wrigley, Lee B. Muench, David D. Pope and Caitlin A. Kovacs mentioned in Law360 | "Smartmatic 'Never Going to be Dominion,' Says Fox Atty"

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