William B. Berndt

Partner

312.701.9376
berndt@sw.com
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Education

Bio  •  Publications

William Berndt’s practice encompasses a wide variety of complex commercial disputes. Mr. Berndt has litigated matters involving claims for fraud, breach of contract, product liability, trade secret misappropriation, professional malpractice, trademark and patent infringement.

The following are examples of Mr. Berndt’s recent matters:

• Defense of retail supply company against trade secret, tortious interference and breach of contract claims regarding rights to new technology;
• Prosecution of fraud and trade secret misappropriation claims on behalf of software corporation against its principal competitor;
• Prosecution of fraud and breach of contract claims on behalf of large retailer against its primary logistics provider arising from billing and accounting fraud;
• Defense of a large telecommunication company in several matters, including defense of allegations of fraud, breach of contract, and related business torts, including a successful trial and appeal, and dismissal of several actions through motion practice;
• Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of former internet conglomerate against major financial institution;
• Prosecution of fraud and breach of contract claims on behalf of one of the largest retail companies in the United States against provider of greeting cards for stores nationwide;
• Prosecution of breach of contract, fraud and related claims on behalf of former Chief Executive Officer of privately-held electronic trading firm;
• Successful trial and verdict on breach of contract claims on behalf of a real estate owner and manager against the United States Department of Justice;

Mr. Berndt is a member of the Illinois State Bar, and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third, Seventh and Ninth Circuits. He has tried matters in both District Courts and the United States Court of Federal Claims, and has argued before the Seventh Circuit.

Mr. Berndt received his J.D. cum laude from University of Michigan Law School. He served as Associate Editor for the Journal of International Law. Mr. Berndt received a B.A. magna cum laude from Indiana University in 1996 where he was a Balfour Scholar and Phi Beta Kappa.