Frederic T. Knape
Associate
T: 312-609-7559
F: 312-609-5005
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Chicago
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Frederic T. Knape is a senior associate at Vedder Price and a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Area and Unfair Competition Sub-Practice Group. He represents clients in state and federal courts across the United States and has considerable experience in a wide variety of complex commercial matters including counseling clients and litigating issues pertaining to the protection of trade secrets, enforcement and enforceability of restrictive covenants, copyright and trademark infringement matters, shareholder and partnership disputes, professional liability and legal malpractice claims, and breach of contract and business tort actions. Mr. Knape has developed a particular expertise in counseling clients and litigating matters involving defamation law and the First Amendment.
In addition to his trial work, Mr. Knape has a dynamic appellate practice. He has been involved in a number of cases before the Illinois Supreme Court, including a first impression common law parentage action premised on contract law principles, a suit to enforce a foreign country judgment, and a case involving the enforceability of restrictive covenants in the medical profession. He also has principally authored briefs for numerous appeals before the Illinois Appellate Court and the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Tenth Circuits. Most recently, Mr. Knape has been involved in the appeal of a multimillion dollar defamation claim that was dismissed on the basis of First Amendment protections.
Mr. Knape has built a highly successful career and gained the respect of clients, colleagues and the courts based on a philosophy that success stems from the credibility of persuasive and reasoned advocacy.
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- Represented international manufacturing company against former employees and new employer in trade secrets misappropriation, restrictive covenant and breach of fiduciary duty case arising out of theft of technology and establishment of a competitive enterprise. Clarcor, Inc. v. Doug Muennich et al., 1:07-CV-189 (S.D. Ohio 2007).
- Represented international publishing company in dismissal of multimillion dollar defamation case. Rose v. Hollinger Int’l, Inc., 874 N.E.2d 202 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007), judgment vacated for reconsideration, 882 N.E.2d 596 (Ill. 2008).
- Represented Houston-based energy company in dismissal of multimillion dollar employment contract dispute brought by the former Chief Executive Officer. Sullivan v. Leor Energy LLC, No. H-05-3913, 2006 WL 2792909 (S.D. Tex. Sept. 27, 2006).
- Represented Illinois medical practice in action to enforce physician restrictive covenants in employment agreements where the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the enforceability of the restrictions. Mohanty v. St. John Heart Clinic, 832 N.E.2d 940 (Ill. App. Ct. 2005), judgment affirmed, 866 N.E. 2d 85 (Ill. 2006).
- Represented Illinois political action committee in dismissal of $110 million defamation suit brought by former Illinois Appellate Court judge and candidate for the Illinois Supreme Court. Maag v. Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, No. 3:05-CV-00711-DRH, 2006 WL 408231 (S.D. Ill. Feb. 17, 2006).
- Represented Atlanta-based recovery audit service provider in action against competitor for copyright infringement, trade secrets misappropriation and related claims that resulted in a favorable settlement after defeating competitor’s motion for summary judgment. PRG Schultz Corp. v. Kirix Corp., No. 03 C 1867, 2003 WL 22232771 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 22, 2003).
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- J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, 1998 (Member, Chicago Kent Law Review)
- B.A., University of Michigan, 1994
- Illinois, 1998
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1998
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Chicago Bar Association
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