Julian Solotorovsky

Partner

Location
Chicago
Phone number
(312) 857-7083

Julian Solotorovsky focuses his practice on litigation, including white collar crime, internal investigations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) matters, commercial litigation and product liability/toxic torts. Defending cases valued into the hundreds of millions of dollars, Julian has tried more than 40 jury trials, and has represented clients at SEC and in arbitration hearings. He has also represented plaintiffs, including in an antitrust case that yielded a $125 million settlement in the middle of the trial. Julian is former chair of the firm’s White Collar, Investigations and Compliance practice group.

Julian defends corporations and individuals facing criminal charges and civil and administrative claims. He navigates clients through and beyond investigations, enforcement actions, indictments and other lawsuits, and has achieved a track record of positive results in successfully resolving matters without prosecution, litigation or unwanted publicity.

An aggressive litigator and trial advocate, Julian has defended major claims in federal and state courts in a wide range of jurisdictions, as well as before regulatory and compliance agencies. He also represents clients in grand jury investigations and defends businesses and individuals in white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions in parallel civil enforcement and related third-party proceedings.

Under Julian’s leadership, the firm’s White Collar and Investigations practice group received a Tier 1 – National ranking in the ​“Criminal Defense: White Collar Litigation” category in the 2011 ​“Best Law Firms” study published by U.S. News and Best Lawyers. The group also received Metropolitan First-Tier rankings in Chicago and New York.

Julian is greatly valued for his pragmatism, smart advice, veritable defenses and highly persuasive arguments. Notably, he served as assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois (1978―1987), holding positions such as the deputy chief of Special Prosecutions (1985―1987) and deputy chief of Criminal Receiving and Appeals (1983―1985).

“I leverage my decades of advocacy and trial experience to effectively analyze my client’s position, to develop a strategy that serves their needs and achieves their goals.”

White Collar Crime

Represented a vice president of a large health care company, in the federal prosecution in Minneapolis, MN, of alleged payment of kickbacks to doctors for referrals of patients. The client was acquitted of all charges following a 10-week trial.

Represented a health care company sales executive in the federal prosecution in East St. Louis, MO, of the alleged payment of kickbacks to a medical equipment distribution company. The judge granted a motion for judgment of acquittal at the conclusion of the government’s case in chief.

Representing a foreign currency trader in a Department of Justice criminal investigation of possible fraud and antitrust violations, which resulted in decisions not to prosecute.

Representing the owner of an heirs location services company in a criminal antitrust investigation by the Department of Justice.

Represented an executive of a company in a grand jury investigation of possible FCPA violations. No charges were brought.

Represented the owner of a large construction company in Mexico and Panama in a grand jury investigation of bank loans. Conducted an internal investigation and presented the findings to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, which resulted in a decision not to prosecute.

Represented an executive of a freight forwarding company in an investigation of a worldwide antitrust criminal conspiracy relating to Automated Manifest System fees.

Represented one of the largest banks in the world in a grand jury investigation relating to the possible violation of the Export Control Act. Conducted an internal investigation and presented the findings to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which resulted in a decision not to prosecute the bank.

Represented a worldwide air freight company in an investigation concerning the shipment of military aircraft parts to Iran. Conducted an internal investigation and presented the findings to the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, which resulted in a decision not to prosecute the company.

Represented a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company in a Federal Drug Administration (FDA)/Customs investigation of illegal importation of misbranded antibiotics into the United States. Our representation also included conducting an internal investigation. The company was not indicted, while other individuals were indicted.

Represented a Fortune 100 company in all matters relating to illegal bond trading activities of the senior vice president of the company pension fund, including interacting with the prosecuting U.S. Attorney, pursuing civil actions to recover funds, representing the company before various federal agencies, as well as before the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), and pursuing recovery under criminal RICO forfeiture statutes.

Internal Investigations

Conducted parallel internal investigations for a telecommunications company during a False Claims Act investigation by the Department of Justice.

Conducted an investigation for a money transfer company relating to possible complicity of the company in consumer fraud transactions and money laundering by agents of company.

Conducted an investigation for one of the nation’s largest professional organizations relating to the sale of a valuable city block of land that it owned.

Conducted an investigation for a Big Ten university relating to gambling activities by student athletes. At the conclusion of the investigation, the results were provided to the U.S. Attorney, which subsequently led to the indictment of a number of individuals.

Conducted an investigation for a defense contractor relating to allegations involving a possible debarment proceeding, and filed a detailed response with the government agency involved.

Conducted an investigation for one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies relating to possible violations of the Iranian Transaction Regulations with contracts for TV broadcasting via satellite.

Conducted an investigation for a Big Ten university relating to the death of a football player during training drills, and whether NCAA violations had occurred.

Conducted an investigation for the purchaser company relating to fraud in the acquisition of another company. The investigation resulted in the seller returning a significant portion of the sales proceeds to the purchaser.

SEC

Represented a former New York Stock Exchange specialist in an SEC hearing involving allegations of stock fraud relating to trading activity. The matter resulted in a ruling of no violations of the SEC Securities Act.

Represented the broker in an SEC fraud investigation relating to the sale of Asset Backed Commercial Paper. Filed a Wells response, which resulted in an SEC decision to close out the case without seeking any changes.

Represented three individuals in insider trading investigations.

Represented an options trading firm in investigations by the SEC and a receiver relating to fraudulent activity by a customer.

Represented the executive of an energy company in a federal prosecution for accounting fraud and before the SEC, where a favorable settlement was reached.

Represented the director of a company in an SEC investigation of stock options backdating. The enforcement division decided to drop the investigation.

Represented the former chief financial officer of a company in accounting fraud allegations. Received a highly favorable settlement with the SEC.

Commercial and Antitrust Litigation and Arbitration

Lead trial counsel for an in-store promotion company in action against a dominant competitor in the in-store advertising industry alleging violations of federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws. Three days into the jury trial in the District of Minnesota, the case settled for payment of $125 million to our client and a business deal granting them a 10-year exclusive right to market its product in a national retail network.

Represented a large consulting company in a lengthy arbitration hearing relating to an agreement for consulting work performed on the implementation of a large computer software system ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning).

Represented a worldwide broker of nuclear fuel in a contract dispute with a public utility company. The utility company sued for declaratory judgment; we counter-sued for breach of contract and won the case on a motion for summary judgment.

Represented an insurance company in a lawsuit filed by a corporation charging that the insurance company improperly forced the company into involuntary bankruptcy. The case was dismissed after we filed a motion to dismiss.

Represented the founders of a boiler manufacturing company in a dispute with a former employer relating to alleged violations of a non-compete agreement. The case settled very favorably after a lengthy injunction hearing.

Represented an insurance company in several lawsuits relating to large second-to-die insurance policies.

Product Liability/Toxic Torts

Represented several companies in litigation throughout the United States brought by individuals alleging harm from exposure to ethylene oxide.

Represented a large manufacturer of asbestos products in cases in Illinois and Michigan.

Represented a wallcovering manufacturer in the San Juan DuPont Plaza Hotel fire litigation.

Represented a barge line in a series of maritime cases relating to hydrogen sulfide exposure at an oil refinery dock.

The Best Lawyers in America© (Woodward/White, Inc.), Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Product Liability Litigation, Defendants, 2008, 2010-2025.

Selected among the 500 Leading Litigators in America by Lawdragon, 2023-2025.

Listed in Illinois Super Lawyers, 2010-2018 and 2020-2023.