2025 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
NICHOLAS LAIRD
AGE 37
FIRM Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg LLP
LAW SCHOOL University of Michigan Law School
strategic partner. “
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Commercial litigation
Nick is an extremely
”
C ommercial litigation specialist Nick Laird is a trusted part- ner of his clients, working tirelessly to achieve their goals at every stage of a dispute. An example? His work with client Louis Vuitton. That work spans a gamut, in state and federal courts across the country. Laird was a key member of the team defending Louis Vuitton in a national antitrust class action lawsuit. Laird skillfully executed his client's strategy through the motion to dis- miss and discovery phases, with the motion to dismiss ultimate- ly being granted in full and affirmed in the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second Circuit. In other cases, whether they be disputes related to Louis Vuitton’s retail operations, distribution, or its critical intellectu- al property, Nick similarly displays an attention to detail with a consistent eye on how each step in a matter advances the cli- ent’s strategic goals, in numerous cases achieving early resolu-
excellent results in a very efficient manner." Laird also has a long track record of representing client Volk- swagen Group of America, Inc., in franchise and other disputes across the country. For one, Nick guided Volkswagen through a long-running dispute in New Jersey state court concerning the failure of a dealership, defending against breach of con- tract, fraud, and other claims concerning the opening of the business and three failed attempts to sell the franchise. With Nick leading the charge, Volkswagen achieved a string of critical victories—exclusion of the dealer’s damages expert, spoliation sanctions barring any evidence of claimed lost profits, and final- ly, summary judgment in full. That decision too was affirmed in the court of appeals, bringing a decisive end to a significant case. Nick’s work for the Volkswagen Group continues, with ongo- ing matters pending in Illinois, California, Colorado, to name a few, and with several crucial victories achieved for Volkswagen along the way. "I feel that Nick is the future of Barack Ferrazzano," said Antonio Elias, Corporate Counsel at Volkswagen Group of America. "Nick is able to handle complex matters and issues that I would ordinarily only trust to more senior litigators."
tions with minimal, if any, concessions. These results aren't unusual for Laird.
"Nick is an extremely strategic partner," said Tiffani Mc- Donough, Senior Director of Litigation and Employment with Louis Vuitton Americas. "He has been able to achieve
40 Under Forty 2025
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CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
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