Lawrence H. Heftman

Client Work

• Lead counsel representing FDIC as Receiver for Silicon Valley Bank in director and officer litigation in Northern District of California
• Secured preliminary injunction for major telecommunications carrier against Fortune 100 technology company and successfully defended injunction on appeal before New York First Appellate Division
• Lead counsel representing large chicken producer in antitrust actions in the Northern District of Illinois, District of Utah and District of Maryland and related actions in Washington, Alaska, and New Mexico.
• Co-trial counsel for FDIC as Receiver for Colonial Bank prosecuting audit malpractice claims resulting in $625 million damages award, the largest ever auditing malpractice damages award, after five-week bench trial.
• Represented a Fortune 500 financial institution in four-week jury trial resulting in a complete trial victory, successfully defeating claims for more than $65 million in damages and obtaining a judgment for more than $1.2 million for his client.
• Conducted numerous investigations of financial institutions and audit firms relating to lending, underwriting, internal controls and audit practices.
• Prosecuted director & officer claims leading to multimillion dollar verdict after several week jury trial in Eastern District of California.
• Represented a real estate seller in multi-week bench trial, defeating claims of breach of contract and for specific performance, achieving a complete victory resulting in full recovery to client on counterclaim.
• Won summary judgment defending trustee of $150+ million trust against breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by a state attorney general and contingent beneficiaries.
• Defeated multimillion dollar fraud and breach of fiduciary duty claim on behalf of Fortune 100 financial institution. Won motion to dismiss with prejudice, avoiding any discovery cost to his client.
• Defended corporate directors against shareholder class action resulting in summary judgment ruling upheld by Delaware Supreme Court.
• Represented plaintiff in fidelity bond lawsuit involving fraud and conflict of interest in loan approval resulting in favorable settlement.
• Prosecuted trust construction claim and achieved summary judgment for beneficiary compelling trust distribution. Affirmed on appeal.
• Prosecuted claims for breach of fiduciary duty and legal malpractice claim against individual trustee and law firm involving hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, leading to favorable settlement.
• Bench trial in commercial landlord-­tenant dispute resulting in complete verdict in client’s favor for possession and damages.
• Tried multi-day arbitration regarding contingent attorney fee and legal ethics dispute leading to favorable settlement during arbitration.

Recognitions

Recognitions

• Chambers USA – Litigation: General Commercial, Illinois (2026)
• The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers (2021-2027)
• Illinois Leading Lawyer, Law Bulletin’s Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2020-2021)
• Emerging Lawyer, Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Leading Lawyers (2016-2019)

Professional Activities

Larry regularly represents indigent clients at the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services clinic addressing their critical needs in bankruptcy, divorce, and child custody.

Larry has also taken on significant and complex pro bono litigation. Larry has litigated two related federal lawsuits, including a federal jury trial, on behalf of an individual falsely accused and detained after the 9/11 attacks. He also represented an inmate on Georgia’s death row in state habeas evidentiary proceedings.