MARK BLOCKER is co-leader of the firm’s global Insurance Disputes practice, and a partner in the Chicago office.
Mark’s class action practice focuses on two primary areas: consumer and financial services and ERISA. In the consumer area, Mark has defended numerous credit card issuers, national banks, mortgage lenders, financial institutions and telecommunications companies in a broad range of class actions. He has substantial experience defending class action claims brought under federal consumer protection statutes, such as TILA, FDCPA, TCPA, EFTA and state consumer protection statutes. In the consumer mortgage lending area, Mark has also regularly litigated issues involving preemption provided by federal banking statutes, and has enforced consumer arbitration clauses to defeat class actions.
In the ERISA area, Mark has litigated a wide array of class action claims, including 401(k) stock drop cases, challenges to cash balance plan features, 401(k) plan fees and expenses, claims arising from retiree medical coverage, and other challenges to changes made to health and welfare plans. In addition, Mark also has spent a large portion of his career defending breach of fiduciary duty claims brought against trustees and other institutional fiduciaries.
Mark has also represented clients in a variety of other contexts, including patent infringement, labor and employment matters, banking litigation, condemnations, and regulated utility issues as well as more standard commercial fare, such as breach of contract and tortious interference cases. Mark also has experience in cases involving injunctions, temporary restraining orders and other emergency matters. He has tried a number of cases and is a member of the Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Mark also has extensive appellate experience, and is a member of the firm’s Appellate Resource group. Mark has both represented the parties to numerous appeals but also has represented entities as amicus curiae.
Mark received his B.A. with honors in American History and Economics from the University of Chicago in 1985 and his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1988. Mark was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1988. He was selected as being among the world’s leading pensions and benefits lawyers in Who’s Who Legal 2016. In addition, Mark was recognized in Chambers USA 2015 – 2021 in ERISA Litigation, and has been recognized by Chambers each year since 2009. Mark has also been recommended in ERISA Litigation in The Legal 500 US 2012 – 2017.