Heather Benzmiller Sultanian

Heather’s recent representative matters include:

Securities and Shareholder Litigation

• Representation of a Fortune 50 healthcare, pharmacy, and retail company in a $2 billion federal securities class action and related derivative lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois, relating to missed financial projections for a multi-billion dollar international merger, resulting in a partial victory on summary judgment followed by a favorable settlement.
• Representation of a global manufacturer of electrical and infrastructure products in a federal securities class action and related derivative lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois, relating to alleged anticompetitive conduct.
• Representation of the former CEO of an energy company in securities litigation in the Northern District of Illinois
• Representation of the former CFO of an industrial and specialty chemical products company in securities litigation in the District of Delaware and a related derivative lawsuit in the Delaware Chancery Court.
• Representation of a leading accounting firm in securities litigation in the Southern District of New York, resulting in early dismissal of all claims.
• Representation of a SPAC and its board of directors against breach of fiduciary duty claims relating to a merger with an electric vehicle company in Delaware Chancery Court and on appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court, resulting in a first-of-its-kind dismissal of litigation challenging SPAC transactions under the “entire fairness” doctrine and affirmance by the Delaware Supreme Court.
• Representation of a SPAC and its board of directors against breach of fiduciary duty claims relating to a merger with a property technology company in Delaware Chancery Court, resulting in an early favorable settlement.

Data Breach Litigation

• Representation of a prominent healthcare provider in a putative class action arising from a data breach of a third-party vendor in a multidistrict litigation pending in the District of New Jersey.
• Representation of an insurance company in a putative class action arising from a data breach of software utilized by a third-party vendor in a multidistrict litigation pending in the District of Massachusetts.

Additional Trials and Appeals

• Representation of a major sports and leisure company in a three-week bench trial regarding breach of contract and fraud claims arising from the sale of a subsidiary in Delaware Superior Court, resulting in partial victory on summary judgment and a full victory after trial.
• Representation of a global industrial company in an appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court regarding liability for cleanup of environmental contamination, resulting in a favorable reversal of the trial court’s allocation of liability.
• Representation of a financial services company in an appeal to the First Circuit, resulting in affirmance of the denial of class certification.
• Representation of an energy company in a five-day bankruptcy trial, resulting in a favorable order confirming the client’s proposed plan of reorganization.

Heather maintains an active pro bono practice. Among other matters, she has represented a veteran in his appeal of a denial of benefits for service-related disabilities, an inmate who challenged the constitutionality of a state’s execution procedure, and inmates who have sought compassionate early release due to serious illnesses. In 2025, Heather was recognized by the judges of the Northern District of Illinois with an award for “Excellence in Pro Bono Service” for her representation of an inmate who challenged the constitutionality of the state’s provision of care for his debilitating medical conditions.