Mark Karasik

Mark L. Karasik

Senior Counsel
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Biography

Mark Karasik is an experienced trial lawyer, appointed to the Firm's NALGE National Trial Team. Mark has defended and prosecuted many commercial civil litigation matters at trial for international product manufacturers, healthcare conglomerates and insurers and real estate firms. Mark formerly held the title of Hearing Board Chair at the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission where he sat as a trial judge in attorney disciplinary matters for over 20 years. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission for more than 30 years.

Practice Focus

As a trial lawyer, Mark has defended employers in wrongful termination and employee discharge cases and handled breach of fiduciary duty litigation. He has been involved in many jury trials, bench trials, national and international arbitrations. Mark also has significant trial experience in the areas of negligence; professional negligence; asbestos, product liability; professional and fiduciary litigation; financial advisor/consultant litigation; and real estate and construction litigation. He has commercial litigation experience in the areas of UCC cases, industrial and manufacturing cases, contract cases, partnership and fiduciary disputes, commercial disputes, insurance and re-insurance litigation and arbitration. He has handled NASD and retaliatory discharge arbitrations and has been involved in complex multi-party insurance coverage litigation. Mark is a member of the Firm's National Trial Team.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Successfully obtained judgment for a general pension fund consultant in a USD 95 million alleged breach of fiduciary duty and statutory violations matter.
  • Successfully prosecuted a commercial fraud breach of a contract lawsuit resulting in a seven figure judgment for his client.
  • Successfully defended a loading dock owner in connection with its loading policies and procedures in a personal injury action sustained by the plaintiff. This case resulted in a defense verdict.
  • Successfully defended an anesthesiologist in a perforated esophagus case, which perforation occurred during an intubation. The case results in a defense verdict.
  • Successfully defended an anesthesiologist in a failure to diagnose congestive heart failure claim. The case resulted in a defense verdict.
  • Successfully defended a fast food's franchise owner in connection with a claim of negligent hiring when a convicted juvenile sex offender co-employee raped a co-worker after hours. The case resulted in a defense verdict.
  • Successfully defended an anesthesiologist in a wrongful death claim alleging an overdose of anesthetic administered during a routine, 5-minute ear tube surgery. The case resulted in a defense verdict.
  • Successfully defended an age discrimination lawsuit. The case resulted in a defense verdict.
  • Successfully defended an anesthesiologist in a wrongful death action alleging failure to monitor the decedent mother following the birth of her third child. The case resulted in a defense verdict.
  • Successfully defended an anesthesiologist in a wrongful death action alleging negligence in the preparation of a patient for neurologic surgery. The case resulted in a defense verdict.

Professional Honors

  • Recognised Practitioner, Chambers Illinois: Litigation General Commercial, 2018

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • American Board of Trial Advocates - Member
  • Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Hearing Board - Chairman appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court
  • Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission - Served various capacities since 1987
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Illinois Bar Association - Member
  • Chicago Bar Association - Member

Admissions

  • Illinois~United States (1981)

Education

  • University of Southern California Gould School of Law (J.D.) (1981)
  • University of Southern California (B.A.) (1978)

Languages

  • English