SETH REMY YOHALEM

Seth Yohalem joined Scandaglia & Ryan in 2008 after working as an associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP for more than three years. He has represented clients involved in contract disputes, class action defense litigation, antitrust actions and insurance coverage cases.

CASES IN POINT

• Defended a petroleum company in a suit asserting claims for negligence, nuisance, trespass, intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress and punitive damages arising out of alleged oil contamination in a rural town.
• Defended a major hotel company against various contract and quasi-contractual claims arising out of two failed hotel deals.
• Representing an individual and two companies owed tens of millions of dollars by a convicted felon in multiple forums, including U.S. Bankruptcy court, U.S. District Court and Illinois State Court.
• Represented a leading chemical manufacturer in a contract dispute against an electronics manufacturer over the supply of chemicals for all of the manufacturer's North American refrigerator plants. Case settled under favorable terms two days into trial.
• Represented a major automotive company in an international arbitration against its Bermuda-based excess liability insurer.
• Defended a major oil company in a lawsuit brought by its franchisees in the Twin Cities alleging breach of contract and Robinson-Pattman act violations.
• Defended a major chemical manufacturer against a class action arising out of its historical contamination of an adjacent river.
• Defended a national convenience store against a class action arising from alleged releases of petroleum from its underground storage tanks at one of its locations.
• Successfully represented, on a pro bono basis, a Congolese victim of torture in his efforts to obtain political asylum and in his related Freedom of Information Act suit.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• "We'll Always Have Parish: The Ninth Circuit Decision and Its Implications for Enforcement of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines," 37 Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems. 525 (2004), Author.

ADMISSIONS, AFFILIATIONS AND HONORS

• Federal Bar: Northern District of Illinois
• State Bar: Illinois
• Metro Board, Metropolitan Family Services, Member

EDUCATION

• Columbia Law School, New York, New York
  
  • Juris Doctor - 2004
  • Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar 2001-2004
  • Writing and Research Editor, Columbia Journal of Law and Social Problems
• Amherst College, Amherst, Massachusetts
  
  • Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, 2001
  • Gail M. Kennedy Award (Best thesis in the Philosophy department)
  • Hardy Prize - Second Place (Extemporaneous Speaking)
  • Bancroft Prize - Second Place (Prepared Oration)
  • Vice President - Amherst Parliamentary Debate Society