Thompson Hine LLP is pleased to announce that Gregory Fouts has joined the firm as a partner in its Business Litigation practice group, based in the Chicago office. He joins from Morgan Lewis, where he was a partner for 10 years.
Fouts brings a wealth of experience in complex litigation matters, particularly in consumer class action defense and consumer privacy litigation. “With his extensive background in handling high-stakes litigation across federal and state courts, Greg is well-positioned to enhance the firm's capabilities and provide robust support to clients facing complex legal challenges,” said Jonathon Vinocur, who leads the firm’s Chicago office.
Fouts advises clients on complex litigation matters, focusing largely on consumer class action defense. Handling cases in federal and state courts across the United States, he primarily represents financial services firms, technology companies, retailers and other consumer-facing clients in class actions alleging his clients have violated federal statutes and state consumer fraud and privacy statutes and including breach of fiduciary duty and breach of contract claims. Fouts also represents clients in class actions filed under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).
Fouts’ BIPA experience includes high-stakes cases involving advanced technologies for Fortune 50 companies. He was part of the trial team for the only BIPA case that has been tried to verdict so far, and he secured the first two defendant summary judgment victories in other BIPA cases.
In addition to defending class action cases, Fouts represents clients in investigations, enforcement actions and litigation brought by regulators including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and state attorneys general.
His experience also includes representing clients in commercial disputes. He defends clients in accounting malpractice suits, lender liability, breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty matters.
“Thompson Hine stood out to me as a firm that is not only excellent in terms of legal firepower, but also forward-thinking in its approach to business and case management,” said Fouts. “The firm's long-term focus on efficiency, predictability and transparency—particularly in regard to how it addresses client concerns about cost and uncertainty, making inherently difficult planning more manageable—is commendable, and something I wanted to be a part of. We’re living in an era where skyrocketing rates at law firms can shock clients, and Thompson Hine's creative approach to delivering high-quality legal services, only without the sticker shock, offers a refreshing alternative and client advantage.
“I felt a strong connection from my first meeting with the team,” Fouts emphasized. “The firm has a Midwestern feel, which appeals to me, and the collaborative atmosphere and supportive culture will allow my practice to thrive. These were crucial factors in my decision to join.”
Fouts is the latest in a series of distinguished litigators to join the firm in recent months. Notable recent hires include Brittain Shaw, a seasoned prosecutor from the United States Department of Justice's Fraud Section, based in D.C.; Mark Cipolletti, who served as the Principal Assistant Chief in the DOJ's Criminal Division's Fraud Section, also based in D.C.; and Ernest Badway, a former attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission, who joined from Fox Rothschild and is based in New York. These additions underscore the firm's commitment to strengthening its litigation capabilities with top-tier legal talent.
Fouts received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University School of Law, and his B.A, magna cum laude, from Wake Forest University.