Kimrey, Blaine

A former journalist at two major metropolitan daily newspapers, Mr. Kimrey is a trial lawyer who has dedicated more than 15 years to working for and defending media entities. Mr. Kimrey’s practice, however, extends well beyond media defense, focusing on a broad range of direct and class action commercial litigation involving topics as diverse as intellectual property, entertainment, insurance, banking, real estate, civil rights, telecommunications and mass catastrophes and torts.

Named in 2008 to Chicago Law Bulletin’s "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch" list and designated a 2009 Benchmark Litigation Future Star in Illinois, Mr. Kimrey is adept in the courtroom (including first-chair federal jury trial experience) and at the negotiating table. As lead counsel, Mr. Kimrey has defended media and Internet clients in direct and class action litigation in state and federal courts across the country. His media and Internet litigation has focused on defamation, invasion of privacy, the right of publicity, rights of access, unfair competition, breach of fiduciary duty, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Communications Decency Act Section 230, CAN-SPAM Act, California Business & Professions Code § 17200, data security, Illinois Computer Crime Prevention Law, Illinois Electronic Mail Act, Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, spam, digital trespass and other related claims. He also provides prepublication and pre-broadcast review of content for media (including internet) entities. In addition, he has drafted and negotiated Web development, licensing and other technology agreements.

In his other commercial litigation work, Mr. Kimrey served on a team featured in American Lawyer magazine for its success in representing a major property and casualty insurance carrier with respect to homeowners’ policy claims arising out of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Kimrey has served as lead counsel in a multimillion-dollar employment covenant arbitration and in several breach of contract and franchise actions. Mr. Kimrey also has participated in corporate internal investigations and proceedings brought by multiple state regulatory authorities against Fortune 500 companies. In addition, he has played a significant role in telecommunications, banking, insurance and other commercial litigation matters and has substantial experience in handling digital discovery issues.

Also as part of his practice, Mr. Kimrey performs pro bono work on behalf of media entities and indigent criminal defendants.

Reported Decisions:

• Ford, et al. v. Bloosky, et al., 2011 WL 529265 (N.D. Ill. Feb. 4, 2011) (representing Bloosky)
• Abbas v. Selling Source, LLC, 2009 WL 4884471 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 14, 2009) (lead counsel) 
• Rutledge, et al. v. Cook County, et al., 2009 WL 3187905 (N.D. Ill. Sept. 30, 2009) (lead counsel)
• Jacobs, et al. v. Venali, Inc., et al., 596 F. Supp. 2d 906 (D. Md. 2009) (lead counsel)
• Christianson v. Henry Holt and Co., LLC, 2007 WL 2680822 (C.D. Ill. June 29, 2007) (lead counsel)
• Adler v. Vision Lab Telecommunications, Inc., 393 F. Supp. 2d 35 (D.D.C. 2005) (lead counsel) 
• Travel Marketing Assoc., Inc. v. Theatre Direct Int’l, 2002 WL 31527737 (D. Kan. Oct. 8, 2002) (lead associate)
• National Inspection & Repairs, Inc. v. George May Int’l Co., 208 F.R.D. 323 (D.Kan. 2002) (lead associate) 
• National Inspection & Repairs, Inc. v. George May Int’l Co., 202 F. Supp. 2d 1238 (D.Kan. 2002) (lead associate) 
• Medicine Shoppe International v. Tambellini Pharmacy, 191 F. Supp. 2d 1065 (E.D. Mo. 2002) (lead counsel)
• The Wichita Eagle v. Owens, 27 P.3d 881 (Kan. 2001) (lead associate) 
• Sky v. MRI, 125 F. Supp. 2d 286 (S.D. Ohio 2000) (lead associate) 
• Versailles Enter. v. Schlotzsky's Inc., Bus. Franchise Guide (CCH) 11,788 (E.D. Mo. 2000) (lead counsel) 
• Bosley v. HBO, 59 F. Supp. 2d 1147 (D. Kan. 1999) (lead associate) 
• Simon v. The Kansas City Star, 28 Media L. Rptr. 1240 (Ariz. Super. Ct. 1999) (lead associate)

Prior Legal Experience:

• 2006-2009 - Partner, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP, Chicago, Illinois
• 2003-2006 - Associate, Winston & Strawn LLP, Chicago, Illinois
• 1998-2003 - Associate, Lathrop & Gage LLP, Kansas City, Missouri