Jeannie Evans is a seasoned trial lawyer and partner at Agrawal Evans LLP. After beginning her career in securities litigation and other complex commercial litigation at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in Palo Alto and Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago, Jeannie co-founded Agrawal Evans—a trial and appellate boutique firm headquartered in Chicago. Jeannie represents leading U.S. corporations and professional firms, as well as their officers, directors, and partners, in high-stakes business disputes.

Jeannie has successfully represented clients in multi-million and multi-billion dollar disputes in state and federal courts and arbitrations around the country. She brings broad experience in a variety of practice areas, including securities fraud, accounting fraud, shareholder disputes, government investigations, breach of contract, and bankruptcy litigation. Jeannie regularly represents private equity firms, hedge fund managers and investors, and others in cases involving alleged financial misconduct. She is particularly skilled at working with experts on cases with complex damages claims.

Prior Experience

Kirkland & Elllis LLP (Chicago)

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Palo Alto)

Education

Harvard Law School, J.D., 1997, cum laude
Executive Editor, Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy
Federalist Society
Asia Law Society

Brigham Young University, B.A., Political Science, 1994 summa cum laude
University Honors
Ezra Taft Benson Scholar
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of International and Area Studies

Judicial Clerkships

Hon. Alex Kozinski, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, summer 1997

Hon. Susan Illston, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, summer 2003

Admissions

Illinois

California

Languages

Cantonese

Mandarin

Notable Wins:

Represented private equity company and its portfolio hospital company in a $250 million theft of trade secret and corporate opportunity suit in Texas state court. Successfully defended clients from potentially onerous temporary injunction provisions that could have crippled the hospital chain’s operations and growth plans.
Defended large public corporation and its officers and directors from securities fraud claims following the company’s financial restatement. Devised winning defense to Section 11 claim seeking over $200 million in damages, prompting an unexpectedly favorable settlement.
Represented holder of debtor’s senior debt in federal bankruptcy proceedings in Delaware. After fast-tracked discovery and an evidentiary hearing, obtained plan confirmation over all objections. Elicited key deposition admissions from adverse expert witness, which led to a voluntary withdrawal of the expert’s report and the chief objection to the plan.
Defended General Motors in a shareholder derivative suit seeking to unwind GM’s $3 billion acquisition of AmeriCredit Corp. Authored winning motion to dismiss, which allowed the merger to proceed without disruption and avoided costly, burdensome discovery.
Represented corporate client in a DOJ merger investigation. Collaborated with client to successfully respond to demands for information and to resolve DOJ concerns.
Represented Tessera Technologies in a patent infringement action before the U.S. International Trade Commission, against Texas Instruments and Sharp Corporation for importing semiconductor devices in “chip scale packages” that infringed Tessera’s patents. Following a favorable ITC determination, Sharp and Texas Instruments settled and agreed to pay royalties to client.
Represented the City of Chicago before the Illinois Appellate Court. Prevailed in defending the City’s home-rule authority to enforce its condominium ordinance in the face of conflicting state statutes.
Represented pro bono client seeking custody of her granddaughter in a child dependency court bench trial in California. Against the odds, prevailed in achieving custody for grandmother in the face of contrary recommendations by social worker and state district attorney. Following Jeannie’s effective cross-examination of the state’s two lead witnesses, the Court immediately excused the remaining witnesses and ruled in favor of Jeannie’s client from the bench.