Overview
George Desh focuses his practice on complex commercial and environmental litigation. He has successfully represented clients—including manufacturing, chemical, and life-sciences companies—in a broad range of matters including mass torts, environmental litigation, consumer class actions, First Amendment issues, data security, and intellectual property disputes. George regularly advises clients in all stages of civil litigation, from early phase discovery through trials and appeals. He has deposed key witnesses, supervised the preparation of expert reports and defended experts in their depositions, briefed successful dispositive motions, argued evidentiary issues, and led post-trial and appellate briefing efforts. George has represented clients in federal and state courts around the country.
George's background in biomedical engineering also gives him a thorough understanding and ability to analyze the technical and scientific issues that are often crucial to obtaining favorable results for our clients.
George also has been active in pro bono work, representing clients in cases relating to juvenile criminal records expungement, voting rights, students’ educational rights, and other civil and administrative law matters.
- Illinois
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- US Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
- J.D., University of Chicago Law School, 2011
- B.S., Northwestern University, 2007
Representative Matters
- Representing manufacturer of specialty chemicals in various suits brought by governmental entities and private plaintiffs, in a series of cases related to alleged PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) environmental impact.
- Successfully represented global chemical manufacturer in a putative class action involving pressure-treated lumber. Prevailed on a motion to dismiss and subsequent appeal to the Fourth Circuit.
- Successfully represented client on appeal against claims for adverse possession and prescriptive easement, resulting in affirmance of lower court's decision granting summary judgment in client's favor.
- Represented client in suit brought by the United States, several Gulf Coast states, and numerous private plaintiffs under the Clean Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, and other theories of liability resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Part of trial team during multi-moth trial with responsibilities for exhibit and evidence management, creation of demonstratives, and creation of outlines for trial witnesses and cross-examination outlines for opposing witnesses.
- Represented client in suit where plaintiff (a trust that owned thousands of acres of land) alleged that environmental cleanup operations on its land violated access agreement and failed to comply with industry standards and environmentally sensitive practices. Supervised preparation of expert report regarding environmental remediation techniques, prepared expert for deposition, drafted Daubert motion for opposing expert, and began trial preparations.
- Represented several clients in various consumer class actions. For example, defended client in a purported class action involving client's financial product that was alleged to violate the Truth in Lending Act and state usury laws. Responsibilities included managing written and oral discovery (including several depositions), supervision of expert report, and successfully defending expert's deposition and opposing plaintiff's Daubert motion.
- Represented client in a suit brought by a national bank alleging breaches of representations and warranties in a stock purchase agreement. Responsibilities including deposing multiple key witnesses, drafting successful motion for summary judgment, and drafting appellee’s brief in the Seventh Circuit.
Speaking Engagements
- "US Environmental PFAS Litigation," PFAS Litigation in the US and the EU, Steptoe LLP, February 4, 2025
Events
Webinars
PFAS Litigation in the US and the EU:
February 4, 2025
Speakers: Anthony G. Hopp, Eléonore Mullier, George Desh