News & Developments
John Gekas is re-elected as Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine.
CHICAGO, IL - John Gekas has been re-elected as an Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine for 2011.
Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Based on a peer nomination process and attorney-led research team, Illinois SuperLawyers identifies attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less as candidates for recognition as Rising Stars. After a final selection process, those with the highest point totals are named to the list. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Illinois are named.
Steffes Family denies charges of insider trading, condemns S.E.C. tactics
P R E S S R E L E A S E
www.gekaslaw.com
Email: info@gekaslaw.com
CHICAGO, IL - On Thursday, September 30, 2010, the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a civil action against our clients Rex R. Steffes, Rex C. Steffes, Cliff M. Steffes, and Bret W. Steffes. At the same time, the lawyers from the SEC’s Chicago Office issued a press release which inappropriately exaggerated the charges and mischaracterized the underlying facts.
Unlike the SEC, our usual practice is to litigate cases in the courts, not the press. But because the SEC’s press release was so objectionable, we respond briefly as follows:
Rex Steffes and his family categorically denies these charges. There is nothing illegal about trading securities of a company where relatives work. They did not receive any inside information of any kind and committed no other misconduct. The SEC’s investigation was materially incomplete and has resulted in these unjust charges.
This is not the first court case involving the Steffes family and the SEC. On February 8, 2010, Rex. C. Steffes was forced to file a Rule 27 Petition to Preserve the Testimony of his elderly and seriously ill father-in-law, whom the SEC had threatened with prosecution. A copy of that Petition is attached and provides additional details about the Steffes family’s view of these baseless charges.
An open mind should be kept about these charges until the conclusion of this matter. Cases should not be tried in the press, but only in the Courts under the applicable principles of law and the rules of evidence. Unfortunately, the SEC does not respect that important principle.
Gekas Law LLP wins jury verdict against City of Crystal Lake and Union Pacific Railroad.
P R E S S R E L E A S E
www.gekaslaw.com
Email: info@gekaslaw.com
WOODSTOCK, IL - On Friday, June 18, 2010, Chris and John Gekas obtained $600,000.00 in damages from a McHenry County jury against the Union Pacific Railroad and the City of Crystal Lake on account of their flooding of vacant land located at the intersection of Route 176 and Erick Street in Crystal Lake caused by the City and Railroad’s installation and maintenance of storm water control structures on adjacent land.
The award was in favor of the land owners Shirley and Wayne Rockstead of El Cajon, California, and Carol and William Henderson of Peoria, Arizona. The Rocksteads and Hendersons are co-owners of the property, which they inherited from Mrs. Rockstead’s and Mrs. Henderson’s parents in 1975. Mrs. Rockstead and Mrs. Henderson grew up in Crystal Lake and, for several years, their parents lived on the property which was originally farm land.
The damage award came in Case No. 96 CH 297 after a two week jury trial before the Hon. Michael J. Sullivan, Chief Judge of the McHenry County Circuit Court. The jury awarded $200,000.00 against the Railroad and $400,000.00 against the City. Proceedings continue on the plaintiffs' request for a cease and desist order.
Gekas Law LLP prevails in $223 Million arbitration trial before the National Futures Association.
NEW YORK, NY - On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, a three member arbitration panel of the National Futures Association released its ruling in favor of a futures commission merchant represented by Gekas Law LLP following an arbitration trial held from April 13-16, 2010 in New York, New York.
The arbitration involved trading in sugar futures contracts on the Intercontinental Exchange (“ICE”) by a Brazilian manufacturer/supplier, whose unauthorized trading in violation of ICE position limits caused the Exchange to take the extraordinary step of declaring a market emergency and ordering a forced liquidation of the trader’s positions spread across ten brokerage houses in the United States and England.
Gekas Law’s client, a Chicago-based FCM and wholly-owned subsidiary of a Fortune 50 company, prevailed as claimant on its affirmative claim, while simultaneously winning a complete defense verdict against the respondent’s counterclaim for $223 Million USD.
John Gekas is named 2010 Illinois Rising Star.
CHICAGO, IL - Gekas Law LLP is pleased to announce that John C. Gekas has been named as a 2010 Rising Star by Illinois SuperLawyers.
Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Based on a peer nomination process and attorney-led research team, Illinois SuperLawyers identifies attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less as candidates for recognition as Rising Stars. After a final selection process, those with the highest point totals are named to the list. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in Illinois are named.
Chris and John Gekas announce the formation of Gekas Law LLP.
CHICAGO, IL - As of September 1, 2009, Chris and John Gekas are pleased to announce the formation of their new law firm, Gekas Law LLP. Chris and John are excited to combine their experiences and background towards the representation of clients in all manners of complex litigation.
A veteran trial lawyer, Chris’ past experience includes four years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney and three years as Regional Counsel of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission Division of Enforcement. He is also an experienced appellate advocate, having briefed and argued over 40 appeals in federal and state appellate courts across the country, including the United States Supreme Court.
John has extensive commercial litigation experience representing clients in a wide variety of disputes in both state and federal courts, in arbitration, and in mediation. John is a member of the Trial Bar of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and is also an experienced appellate advocate. Prior to joining his father Chris Gekas in founding Gekas Law LLP, John was with Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
The Firm’s offices are located at The Roanoke Building at the corner of LaSalle and Madison in Chicago, Illinois.