Chambers on Freeborn & Peters: "Big-Firm Capability with Small-Firm Responsiveness and Flexibility"

Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has once again ranked Freeborn & Peters LLP as one of the top law firms in Illinois in its 2010 publication. The firm was praised for its work in the fields of Antitrust, Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Media & Entertainment: Transactional.

Four of the firm’s Partners were individually ranked: Jeffery M. Cross and Eugene F. Zelek, Jr. for Antitrust; Aaron L. Hammer for Bankruptcy/Restructuring; and Andrew L. Goldstein and Eugene F. Zelek, Jr. for Media & Entertainment: Transactional. This is the first year that Mr. Hammer has received this distinction.

Chambers USA 2010 Rankings Excerpts

Antitrust
This litigation-focused group is best known for distribution and retail matters: it handles price-fixing, retail strategy and advertising claims work. The team has "great knowledge of the law and rulings in the pricing space; the team takes a pragmatic approach to counseling on how desired pricing strategies and tactics can be executed." Although the firm does represent plaintiffs, the majority of its work is on the defendant side in both civil and criminal cases. Pricing expert Eugene Zelek has "thorough, up-to-date knowledge of marketing and pricing law and recent rulings in the area." He is renowned as a counselor, while Jeffery Cross is an esteemed trial lawyer and "extremely smart guy."

Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Freeborn & Peters LLP has "Big-firm capability with small-firm responsiveness and flexibility." This team regularly advises its clientele of Fortune 500 companies on Chapter 11 cases. It has gained a particularly strong reputation for bankruptcy proceedings involving real estate and telecoms, as well as for its handling of cross-border workouts. Aaron Hammer is a favorite of clients, who praise his business judgment and report that "he understands the delicate balance between achieving the perfect answer and just providing an answer on time."

Media & Entertainment: Transactional
This firm acts on the business side of media law, counseling clients in relation to IP and trademark issues. "The team responds to clients' needs in a timely and efficient manner, providing clear communication and depth of knowledge." "Entertainment law expert" Andrew Goldstein has a broad practice, which includes video production work and advising on advertising and promotion law. Eugene Zelek is experienced in the video games sector. He has advised a major international games company on its IP issues.

Chambers USA is published annually by Chambers & Partners. More than 7,000 in-depth interviews were conducted with clients and private-practice attorneys for the 2010 publication. Rankings are assessed on such qualities as technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by the client.