Meet Leonard E. Hudson
Leonard Hudson handles high-stakes cases, with an emphasis on complex business and commercial disputes as well as contingent-fee cases. He has been called a “deep-water lawyer” by his co-counsel, and his own fellow attorneys have trusted him to represent them in their own personal legal matters, exceeding $150 million at stake. Len is a results-oriented, hard-nosed litigator.
Len’s work and results for plaintiffs in commercial cases include:
- $5 million recovery – breach of contract
- $3.5 million recovery – breach of contract and tortious interference with contract against public company
- $1 million recovery – for technology firm in software development dispute
- $861,000 settlement – breach of stock sale agreement
- $800,000 recovery – breach of contract and successful appeal against public company
- Confidential settlement – breach of contract in federal case for intellectual property licensing dispute
- Won a TRO in federal court to enforce trademark rights
- Won a TRO in state court for a mandatory injunction and access to business records in a mining partnership dispute
- Won summary judgment declaring a 400-year ground lease to be unconstitutional
- Won summary judgment upholding restrictive covenant / non-compete agreement
Examples of his current contingent-fee cases include:
- Defamation: individual falsely accused of criminal acts and financial misconduct, seeking over $1 million
- Defamation: individual falsely accused of criminal conduct and heinous acts
- Pursuing multiple cases on behalf of parents and their children who were wrongfully separated after false accusations of abuse
- Representing family of child with cystic fibrosis who was exposed to infection, necessitating life-long medical care
Len also has substantial experience defending complex commercial cases:
- Defended officers, directors, and attorneys in fraud case that settled after Len won a ruling that barred the opposing expert from testifying about over $110 million in claimed damages
- Defended manufacturer in antitrust and trade secrets case seeking $300 million
- Won dismissal for bank customer accused of fraud and breach of $3 million loan
- Won dismissal and judgment on behalf of receiver of failed bank accused of in case seeking over $3.4 million
- Defeated emergency TRO seeking control of company, and defended officers, directors, and attorneys accused of breach of fiduciary duty and shareholder oppression – negotiated settlement for complete control of company
- Defeated emergency TRO seeking to stop sale of real estate investment trust holdings
- Won a ruling to vacate an adverse judgment after prior counsel lost a trial in a non-compete case
- Won trial on behalf of a propane supplier accused of negligence
- Won summary judgment on behalf of propane supplier in fire/explosion case
- Won dismissal along with sanctions and attorneys’ fees in antitrust and fraud case accusing commercial real estate lender of manipulating LIBOR interest rates
- Defended and advised individuals and companies in numerous securities fraud cases seeking over $100 million, and in investigations and enforcement proceedings by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), state regulators, FINRA, CME, CBOT, NYMEX, and ICE
Len has experience with arbitration proceedings in AAA, JAMS, and FINRA.
Len’s pro bono practice has ranged from death penalty proceedings to small fraud cases. He argued for life on behalf of a man sentenced to capital punishment in post-conviction proceedings and on appeal; defended the treasurer of a non-profit against claims of accounting improprieties; obtained major surgery for a pre-trial detainee in federal civil rights litigation; and has helped numerous individuals of limited means obtain relief in small commercial disputes.
Len holds an appointment as adjunct professor of law at the University of Illinois Chicago Law School, where he has taught legal writing and appellate advocacy.
Education
- J.D., University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, 2007
magna cum laude
Law Review Executive Editor
Distinguished Scholar (full tuition scholarship)
Judicial Extern, Illinois Supreme Court
Judicial Extern, Illinois Appellate Court
CALI Awards for the highest grade in Torts, Property, and Constitutional Law
- B.S., Philosophy, Illinois State University, 1997
magna cum laude
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Illinois
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Current or past pro hac vice admissions
- Ohio
- U.S District Court Minnesota
- U.S District Court Southern District New York
- U.S District Court Northern District of Ohio
- U.S District Court Northern District of Texas
