Mark Premo-Hopkins, P.C.
Overview
Mark Premo-Hopkins is a trial partner in Kirkland’s Chicago office. Mark serves as lead trial counsel in a broad range of complex disputes – handling matters as diverse as plaintiff-side commercial claims and defense of massive product liability cases – for some of the world’s largest technology, pharmaceutical and chemical companies.
Mark also has deep experience on behalf of private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies in matters ranging from employment-related disputes to post-closing fraud matters.
Mark’s clients benefit from the unique perspective and strategic insights he gained during four years as a successful plaintiff’s attorney.
Experience
Representative Matters
Mass Tort/Product Liability Cases
- GLP-1 RA Products Liability Litigation (MDL): Won motion to front-load key defense issues as lead counsel for Eli Lilly in nationwide mass tort alleging adverse side effects from Mounjaro and Trulicity, medicines for treatment of diabetes and chronic weight management. Representation ongoing.
- Uber Technologies, Passenger Sexual Assault Litigation (MDL and Cal. St. Ct): Lead counsel for Uber in nationwide mass tort alleging Uber failed to implement appropriate safety precautions to protect passengers against risk of sexual assault or misconduct by Uber drivers. Representation ongoing.
- Exactech Polyethylene Orthopedic Device Litigation (MDL): Won dismissal for TPG Inc. and affiliates in nationwide mass tort alleging TPG portfolio company, Exactech, designed and manufactured defective knee, hip and ankle implants.
- 3M Earplug Litigation (MDL): Lead trial counsel in multiple bellwether trials where plaintiff alleged that defective ear plugs caused servicemen and women to suffer hearing injuries.
- In re Paraquat Products Liability Litigation (MDL) (S.D. Ill.): Trial counsel for Syngenta in nationwide mass tort suits alleging exposure to herbicide caused farmers to develop Parkinson’s Disease.
- In re Heparin Products Liability Litigation (N.D. Ohio; Ill. St. Ct.): Trial counsel for Baxter Healthcare in nationwide mass tort suits regarding contaminated heparin. Obtained dismissal of hundreds of cases on summary judgment. Three-week jury trial of bellwether case resulted in verdict totaling less than 5% of plaintiff’s requested damages.
- Dow Louisiana Groundwater Litigation (La. Dist. Ct; La. Ct. App.; La.): Represented Dow Chemical Company in class action seeking additional remediation of groundwater in aquifer. After a five-week trial, the court adopted Dow’s existing clean up plan and rejected plaintiffs’ claims for $130 million pump-and-treat remedy.
Commercial Cases
- Endless River Tech. v. TransUnion (N.D. Ohio): Hired by TransUnion as lead trial counsel in months leading up to federal jury trial, after court issued adverse ruling at summary judgment. Won zero damages judgment for TransUnion on all claims, which was affirmed on appeal. The American Lawyer selected Mark and his partner as “Litigators of the Week” based on the win.
- In re Bracket Holding Corp. Litigation (Del. Sup. Ct.): Won $100 million+ fraud judgment in jury trial as co-lead counsel for plaintiff Bracket Holding Corp. The American Lawyer selected Mark and his partner as “Litigators of the Week” based on the win.
- Adviser Investments v. Powell (Del. Sup. Ct.; Del. Ch.): Lead counsel for plaintiff, Adviser Investments, in dispute alleging seller committed fraud in sale of investment advisory business. Case settled on eve of trial.
- Alfieri Frank v. Alfieri (N.J.; AAA): Lead counsel for plaintiff, trustee of a family real estate trust, in dispute alleging breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties and fraud related to mishandling of trust interests in $1 billion+ real estate empire. Representation ongoing.
- Plastic Reclamation Partners v. MRC Polymers (Ill. Cir. Ct.): Hired as lead trial counsel for plaintiff Plastic Reclamation Partners after close of fact discovery in dispute alleging sellers committed fraud in sale of plastic recycling technology. Representation ongoing.
- Confidential Pharma Contract Arbitration (AAA): Won confidential award as trial counsel for plaintiff pharmaceutical company in dispute over supply agreement.
- Confidential Computer Hardware Arbitration (AAA): Won confidential award as lead trial counsel for plaintiff technology company in dispute over supply agreement.
- Confidential Crop Protection Arbitration (AAA): Won confidential award as lead trial counsel for plaintiff agrichemical company in dispute over R&D joint venture.
- iBio v. Fraunhofer (Del. Ch.): Lead trial counsel for plaintiff iBio, Inc. in dispute alleging former development partner secretly used iBio’s plant-based protein technology, breaching its contracts with iBio and willfully misappropriating trade secrets. Case settled favorably on the eve of trial.
- DaVita Healthcare vs. Baxter Healthcare (Colo. Dist. Ct.): Trial counsel for Baxter Healthcare in breach of contract suit over dialysis supplies. Reduced Baxter’s potential damage exposure by 97% at summary judgment and won dismissal of treble damages claim. Case settled favorably between closing argument and court ruling.
- Citadel vs. Malyshev (Ill. Cir. Ct.; AAA): Litigation counsel for Citadel LLC in preliminary injunction and related arbitration against former employees who formed competing electronic trading firm. Won preliminary injunction enforcing non-compete agreements, $2.2 million in sanctions for destruction of evidence and arbitration award.
- AbbVie v. Williams (Ill. Cir. Ct.): Trial counsel for AbbVie Inc. Won temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against former employee who secretly joined competing pharmaceutical company. After a one week-long evidentiary hearing, the court granted AbbVie’s requested preliminary injunction in full barring defendant’s employment at competitor.
Clerk & Government Experience
Honorable Emilio M. GarzaUnited States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit2007–2008
Pro Bono
Monroe v. Ill. Dept. Corrections (S.D. Ill.): Counsel for statewide Illinois class of transgender prisoners in Section 1983 action. Won permanent injunction against Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) officials for ongoing violations of transgender prisoners’ constitutional rights, including illegal strip searches, as well as repeated misdiagnoses and deliberate indifference towards serious medical conditions. Court issued immediate oral ruling at close of trial, followed by a written ruling in what is recognized as the first instance of injunctive relief granted on behalf of a certified class of transgender inmates in the United States.
More
Recognition
Litigator of the Week — Litigation Daily, January 2023
“40 & Under Hot List” — Benchmark Litigation, 2020–2022
Rising Star (General/Business Litigation) — Illinois Super Lawyers, 2017–2021
E-Discovery — The Legal 500 U.S., 2021 & 2023
Litigator of the Week — Litigation Daily, June 2019
“40 Under 40” — Chicago Lawyer and The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, 2018
Rising Star (General/Business Litigation) — Colorado Super Lawyers, 2014–2015
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2008Illinois
- 2012Colorado
Courts
- United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- United States District Court for the District of Colorado
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Education
- University of Chicago Law SchoolJ.D.with Honors2007
Editor-in-Chief, University of Chicago Legal Forum
Donald E. Egan Scholarship
Ann Watson Barber Outstanding Service Award
- University of AlabamaB.A., Religious Studiesmagna cum laude2003
News &
Insights
- In the News Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout Outs
- In the News Encore! One Last Look at 2023’s Litigators of the Week
- In the News Litigators of the Week: In Case of ‘Phantom Damages,’ Kirkland Scores a Come-From-Behind Win for TransUnion
- Award 40 & Under Hot List 2022
- Award 40 & Under Hot List 2021