JOHN J. KUSTER has 20 years of experience litigating complex commercial litigation matters in Federal and state courts, as well as arbitrations. He is a partner in the Litigation Group of Sidley’s New York office. He also serves as a National Co-Chair of Sidley’s Hiring Committee. He has a diverse complex commercial litigation practice.

Mr. Kuster's experience includes serving as co-lead counsel in a three week federal jury trial which resulted in a $125 million verdict in favor of the firm’s client finding that the defendant was liable for breach of fiduciary duty and fraud. He also has served as lead trial counsel in a bench trial where the firm’s client successfully enforced the provisions of a complex purchase price agreement concerning responsibility for significant environmental liabilities relating to a gas pipeline system. Mr. Kuster also was lead counsel on behalf of several household cleaning product manufacturer defendants, successfully obtaining the dismissal of claims brought under New York environmental laws concerning product ingredient disclosures, and represented a client in a major consumer class action involving contaminated pet food. He represented a major high-tech company in a $250 million fraud case where he successfully obtained summary judgment dismissing the claims through all level of appeal. Mr. Kuster’s distressed asset cases include defending a creditor from claims seeking to subordinate $400 million in secured debt owed by the Debtor, and representing a lender in one of the first major UCC foreclosure sales in New York City. He also is representing a lender against fraudulent transfer claims in which a Trustee is seeking over $180 million. In addition, Mr. Kuster has conducted several investigations for large corporate clients, including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations for a major Japanese trading company and South American oil and gas company.