Overview
John F. Zabriskie, partner and litigation lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP, has more than 30 years’ experience litigating trade secrets, freedom of information act, health care, and complex commercial matters. He has tried cases — to juries, the bench, and arbitrators — in federal courts, state courts, and arbitration — hearings around the country. He has been identified by The Legal 500 US as a leading trade secrets lawyer.
Representative Trade Secret and Freedom of Information Act Experience
Mr. Zabriskie counsels clients on trade secret protection and represents clients in contested proceedings to protect their trade secrets. He frequently assists clients whose trade secrets and confidential information is the subject of a public disclosure request under freedom of information laws. Representative matters include:
- Represented major software company in a case involving alleged misappropriation of trade secrets and copyright infringement of source code; obtained injunction prohibiting further development or sale of competitor’s product
- Represented health care company in obtaining opinion from a state supreme court that key information in the client’s state contract was exempt under the state’s public information act
- Successfully represented health care company—frequently on an emergency basis—in numerous FOIA and “reverse-FOIA” cases, obtaining rulings that commercially sensitive information in government contract was exempt from disclosure
- Counsel companies on protecting from public disclosure information in public contracts or subject to compulsory reporting
Health Care and Complex Commercial Litigation
Mr. Zabriskie has extensive experience representing health care companies in disputes with network providers and suppliers. He also represents clients in complex commercial litigation cases involving the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, breach of contract, fraud, and other business torts. Representative matters include:
- Defend health care company in numerous disputes with health care providers over network termination and payment recoupment
- Represent large prescription drug purchaser in several disputes with drug manufacturers
Education
Mr. Zabriskie received his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan (J.D., cum laude, 1984; B.A., high honors, 1981).
Admissions and Professional Memberships
Mr. Zabriskie is admitted to the bar in Illinois, and is admitted to practice before (and is a member of the trial bar of) the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the U.S. Courts of Appeal for the Seventh Circuits.
Selected Publications and Presentations
- “Misapplying FOIA To Confidential Info In Government Contracts,” Expert Analysis, Law360, June 14, 2017
- "Seventh Circuit insert to ABA Trade Secrets and Interferences with Contract Committee’s," Annual Trade Secret Law Report, 2014-2016
- “Supreme Court Upholds Nonresident FOIA Restrictions,” Law360, April 29, 2013
- “Supreme Court Hears Argument on States' Ability to Exclude Public Records Access for Non-Citizens,” Foley & Lardner LLP Legal News: Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution, February 21, 2013
- "Bots, Scrapers, and Other Unwanted Visitors to Your Web Site: Can You Keep Them Out?,” The Computer & Internet Lawyer, Vol 26, No. 7, July 2009