John Gekas is a trial lawyer representing businesses and individuals in jury trial and arbitration proceedings across the country, with a focus on business litigation, contract disputes, insider trading defense, securities and investment fraud, and construction and real estate litigation.
In addition to his own trial practice, John is an experienced appellate advocate, taking over as post-trial counsel for clients in post-trial proceedings and the appeal process in both state and federal courts. He is also frequently asked to counsel and advise small businesses and start-ups on a variety of legal matters.
John serves as both Co-Chair of the Distance CLE Sub-Committee and a News & Development Editor for the Trial Practice Committee of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation. He is also a proud member of the Board of Directors for Housing Opportunities for Women, a non-profit organization dedicated to permanent solutions for poverty and homelessness in the Chicago area and beyond.
Prior to founding Gekas Law LLP with his father, Chris Gekas, John practiced at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago, Illinois.
Representative Experience
Defense counsel vs. the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission in a civil enforcement action in the Northern District of Illinois asserting insider trading in violation of Section 10(b) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder
Trial counsel for a futures clearing merchant and wholly-owned subsidiary of a Fortune 50 company in arbitration before the National Futures Association
Trial counsel for property owners in a two-week jury trial in the Circuit Court of McHenry County, Illinois
Representation of a global provider of equipment and services for electric power systems in a products liability action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
Defense of a global energy company against a putative class action regarding wholesale gasoline pricing in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
Representation of electrical engineering subcontractor in breach of contract action involving the design and construction of the electrical collection system of a turbine powered wind farm in construction arbitration in Boise, Idaho
Representation of a steel company in construction litigation against contractor arising from construction of a steel plant in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
Representation of a pharmaceutical company seeking damages for breach of contract and fiduciary duty against corporate joint venture partner in U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Representation of an individual appellant before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit arising out of a motion to suppress in a federal criminal prosecution in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin