MICHAEL SCIACCOTTA
AGE 33
FIRM Kirkland & Ellis LLP
LAW SCHOOL Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Commercial litigation
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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P ressure? It doesn't faze Michael Sciaccotta, who has built a reputation as one of the most respected commercial liti- gation attorneys in Chicago. In fact, Sciaccotta shines when the pressure rises. Just ask William Gantz, partner with the Boston office of law firm Duane Morris LLP. He recounts a week-long preliminary in- junction hearing on which he and Sciaccotta worked together. The case was a bitterly contested licensing dispute with complicated factual issues and financial records, and Gantz said that he and Sciaccotta faced timelines and work pressures that were extreme. But Sciaccotta never wavered, eventually earning commendations from the judge for his zealous and capable representation. "You can count on him, always," Gantz said. "Mike has a strong courtroom presence and handles himself well with judges and op- posing counsel. He has the potential to be one of the best lawyers in the city." An example? Sciaccotta recently served as trial counsel for a publicly traded REIT in a complicated breach of corporate guar- anty matter in which the court awarded his client more than $7 million in damages. Sciaccotta is no stranger to big cases. He has successfully rep- resented one of the world's largest retail mall owner/operators in numerous matters throughout the country; represented a glob- al hotel chain against a putative class-action involving print-scan timekeeping clocks; and represented a group of commercial prop- erty owners in Cook County in a constitution equal-protection case in federal court.
He has the potential to be one of the best lawyers in the city. ”
In that last case, after Sciaccotta helped get an early dismissal of their claims reversed in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the commercial property owners sought more than $27 million in property taxes after their properties were taxed at significantly higher levels than those of similar landowners. "Mike's high intellect is obvious," said Kevin Hynes, attorney with the Chicago office of O'Keefe, Lyons & Hynes. "His analytical skills are top notch. What I appreciate about Mike is that he brings a level of common sense to a case or to an issue that is far beyond his years of legal experience." Sciaccotta’s clients agree. “Mike exhibits all of the lawyering skills which one would expect from sophisticated counsel, but I have been most impressed by his decorum, adaptability, intel- lectual curiosity, diligence and communication,” said Sarah Fript, Assistant General Counsel at Jet Support Services, Inc. in Chicago. Andrew Kassof, who leads Kirkland & Ellis’ litigation department and serves on the firm’s Executive Committee, had this to say about Sciaccotta, “Kirkland is always looking to bring in respected attorneys onto our platform and Mike is a prime example of that. He’s a highly motivated, talented commercial litigator and I look forward to watching his continued success for years to come.”
40 Under Forty 2024
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CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
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