Chicago, IL. Nixon Peabody is pleased to announce the appointment of John Ruskusky, a trial attorney representing companies and individuals in high-stakes business disputes, as leader of the global law firm’s Complex Disputes practice.
John takes the helm of the nationally recognized practice, which leverages technology to try and arbitrate numerous cases to successful conclusion, both in person and virtually.
Nixon Peabody’s Complex Disputes practice has a deep bench of seasoned trial lawyers who advise public and private companies, corporate officers, directors, and shareholders in “bet-the-company” disputes, class actions and aggregate litigation, and international arbitration. The firm’s attorneys continue to find innovative ways to align and partner with clients, deploying deep expertise in the industries they serve.
“It’s an honor to take the reins of one of the country’s premier litigation practices,” said John. “The pandemic has brought on uncharted legal territory—across all sectors of the U.S. economy—and it is our team’s priority to help our clients navigate the fast-changing landscape ahead.”
With more than 20 years practicing as a trial attorney, John also has extensive experience in arbitration and counseling with regards to the management of complex business disputes.
His litigation practice focuses on counseling businesses and their executives, members, and owners in a wide range of disputes, including large business transactions (such as distribution and purchase agreements), life sciences and medical devices concerns, fiduciary duty claims, data privacy matters, and dissolution and valuations. In addition to his role as Complex Disputes practice leader, John will maintain his role as leader of the firm’s Medical Device, Pharmaceutical, and Diagnostic Health team and co-leader of the Biometric Information Privacy Act team.
One of his notable representative experiences includes serving as lead counsel for a large pharmaceutical company in an expedited trial in Delaware Chancery Court claiming fraud against a defendant client in the biotech space. Following a six-day bench trial, the court found in favor of John’s client and later awarded over $49 million in damages and pre-judgment interest.
John represents corporate clients in a variety of False Claims Act cases, including those at the pre-intervention stage, and his experience includes Department of Defense, Department of Education, and General Services Administration matters. He also advises corporate clients in a variety of construction and real estate disputes, including construction defect and delay, property management, general contract, indemnity, Fair Housing Act, and zoning matters.
John assumes the practice leadership reins from Robert A. Weikert and Stephen M. LaRose, the former co-chairs of the firm’s Complex Disputes practice.
“John has led some of our firm’s biggest cases on behalf of our clients, and I cannot imagine another attorney more suited for this leadership role,” said Anthony Barron, leader of Nixon Peabody’s Litigation Department, of which the Complex Disputes practice is a part. “John will also make an excellent mentor for our rising attorneys, in addition to partnering with our colleagues who are advising on disputes of the highest stakes.”
John attended George Washington University Law School, graduating with highest honors, and earned a B.S., cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame. He also serves on Nixon Peabody’s Pro Bono Committee.
