Stavros S. Giannoulias PARTNER
Stavros focuses his practice on all aspects of business and fiduciary litigation in state and federal courts, including pre-litigation counseling through trial and post-trial matters, and in arbitration hearings and mediation in various forums.
Clients rely on Stavros as a trusted advisor and general counsel for timely, creative but practical, direct, and solution-driven advice for their business and personal needs.
Stavros is a problem solver and represents individuals and entities involved in disputes. He partners with individuals, privately-held businesses and owners, executives, banks, lenders, corporate trustees, investors, physicians, and physician practice groups, general contractors, and real estate developers among others. Likewise, Stavros represents clients in a variety of matters including contract disputes, ownership (corporation/partnership and LLC) disputes, real estate and lease disputes, trade secret misappropriation, fraud and other business torts, restrictive covenants, and more.
Stavros also represents trustees and beneficiaries in trusts and estate litigation and related disputes, including matters involving estate claims, trust and will contests due to undue influence, tortious interference with inheritance expectancy, and breach of fiduciary duty claims.
Practical, Creative and Strategic Approach to Dispute Resolution
Stavros approaches client matters with an eye towards preventing disputes when possible. Clients rely on Stavros’s practical approach to preventing disputes, as well as his creative pursuit and defense of claims at trial, in state or federal court, or through arbitration and mediation. When problems arise and litigation becomes necessary, Stavros works with clients to identify their goals and develop and implement the appropriate strategy to vigorously pursue their interests and enforce their rights.
Practice Areas include:
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Business disputes including breach of contract and business torts
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Complex commercial litigation including post-closing M&A disputes
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Real estate and lease disputes
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Business ownership and “business divorce” disputes (Corporations, LLC's and partnerships)
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Restrictive covenant and employment disputes
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Advising corporate and individual fiduciaries
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Advising executors, trustees, and beneficiaries
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Fiduciary litigation, including trust and estate disputes
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General counsel services for individuals and businesses
Representative Matters include:
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Successfully represented a non-profit Congregation at trial on claims to enforce two oral pledges including a pledge of $1 million against an estate, resulting in allowance of claims after post-trial briefing in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Probate Division.
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Created and executed strategy to file suit on behalf of clients, company and CEO, against former employees upon receipt of demands and threats of various legal, statutory, and equitable claims for alleged promises of $1 million each upon sale of the company, resulting in controlling litigation forum and favorable settlement.
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Successfully represented boutique hotel owner in complex multimillion-dollar ownership dispute involving fraud, fiduciary duty, contract, Illinois LLC Act, and other equitable claims resulting in favorable settlement after several weeks of trial with post-trial motions pending.
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Defended national bank and officer against lender liability claims in excess of $50 million including breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, consumer fraud, tortious interference with prospective economic advantage, conversion, and disposition of collateral in a commercially unreasonable manner in the Circuit Court of Cook County, dismissed on summary judgment, affirmed on appeal in First District Appellate Court of Illinois.
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Defended a majority shareholder and director in the post-sale of business litigation involving fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of contract claims based on alleged material adverse changes (MAC or MAE clause) in excess of $70 million, leading to a favorable settlement immediately prior to trial, including obtaining subsequent court rulings enforcing settlement terms dispute in favor of client after plaintiff’s attempts to renegotiate and invalidate terms.
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Prevailed in a jury trial in Las Vegas, Nevada, resulting in a jury verdict in defendant client’s favor on all claims including fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, conversion, unjust enrichment, and unauthorized trading.
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Obtained an arbitration award including an award for attorneys’ fees in favor of a family-owned business defending against a broker and investment banker claim for over $500,000 in commission pursuant to the sale of a business.
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Aided multiple beneficiaries and attorneys mired in litigation for over 6 years to resolve a will contest and attorney fee petition claims after only a few months of involvement as counsel for corporate fiduciary.
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Obtained trial verdicts in multiple commercial lease disputes in favor of landlords/owners of commercial real estate in lease disputes and eviction matters, including obtaining awards for attorneys’ fees in favor of our client against tenants.
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Prosecuted, defended, and advised clients in various shareholder, membership, and partnership disputes and related claims
Stavros joined Greiman, Rome & Griesmeyer in August 2021. Prior to that, Stavros was a partner in the Litigation and Private Client, Trusts, and Estates practice groups at HMB Legal Counsel (Horwood Marcus & Berk) for over 16 years.
MEMBERSHIPS:
Chicago Bar Association, Member
Hellenic Bar Association, Member
Illinois State Bar Association, Member
BAR ADMISSIONS:
State of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
EDUCATION:
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law - J.D, with Honors, 2002
Miami University - B.A., Psychology 1999