Daryl M. Schumacher

Biography

Prior to founding KSR in 2010, Daryl spent the first decade of his career practicing at large, national law firms—most recently as a partner at the Washington, D.C. based Steptoe & Johnson.  Daryl’s practice focuses on business disputes, with a concentration in the areas of financial services litigation and restrictive covenant litigation.  Over the years, Daryl has participated in court and arbitration proceedings in over twenty states.  He has represented Fortune 500 companies and individuals before state and federal courts, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Illinois Appellate Court, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Illinois Securities Department, the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., NASD Dispute Resolution, Inc., the American Arbitration Association and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. Daryl has vast experience representing clients in all phases of litigation, including regulatory investigations, arbitrations, trials and appellate litigation.

Daryl received his law degree from The John Marshall Law School in 1998 where he graduated with high honors and achieved the academic distinction magna cum laude.  While in law school, Daryl was a staff editor for The John Marshall Law Review, and participated in the Herzog Moot Court Competition.  Daryl was admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois in 1998.  Daryl is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, and has served as a committee member of the Young Lawyers Division.

 

Honors and Achievements

Illinois Super Lawyers magazine has named Daryl as one of the state’s Super Lawyers each year since 2013. No more than 5 percent of lawyers in the state are recognized as Super Lawyers.

Prior to that, Daryl was named by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine as one of the state’s Rising Stars for 2011 and 2012. No more than 2.5 percent of lawyers in the state are recognized as Rising Stars.

Education

The John Marshall Law School, J.D. Magna Cum Laude (1998)

St. Norbert College, B.A. (1994)

Representative Engagements and Successes

  • Daryl obtained a direct verdict on behalf of his client after a week-long jury trial in a case where he defended a financial professional against allegations of unsuitable investments and securities fraud

  • Daryl successfully defended a broker-dealer in a FINRA arbitration involving allegations of unsuitable investments and securities fraud

  • Daryl obtained summary judgement on behalf of defendant/investment adviser in connection with investments in collapsed hedge fund.  The court entered judgement in the defendants’ favor and dismissed the case.  The plaintiffs appealed the case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Daryl successfully defended the appeal

  • Daryl obtained summary judgement against control person for plaintiffs who invested in a Ponzi scheme.  The court entered judgements that collectively exceeded $2 million

  • Daryl obtained $4 million and $2.8 million judgements on behalf of investors who lost money in connection with Ponzi schemes

  • Daryl successfully represented two clients seeking to participate in a $1 billion class action settlement involving the economic and trading rights of members of the Chicago Board of Trade in the wake of the merger between the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange

  • Daryl has secured the dismissal of enforcement proceedings which the Illinois Securities Department initiated against financial industry professionals

  • Daryl regularly represents clients seeking to pursue or defend claims involving the enforcement of covenants not to compete or other restrictive covenants

  • Daryl frequently represents clients in cases involving the theft of trade secrets

  • Daryl represents numerous retail securities customers victimized by fraudulent conduct in connection with the handling of their investment accounts

  • Daryl represents hedge funds and other companies accused of violations of state and federal securities law

  • Daryl defends broker-dealers and registered representatives against allegations of improper handling of customer accounts

  • Daryl defends financial professionals being investigated or sued by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Illinois Securities Department, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority