Nilofer Umar

NILOFER UMAR leads teams in representing public and private companies, boards of directors and officers in high-stakes commercial litigation and investigations, including federal securities class actions, shareholder derivative suits, M&A litigation, contract disputes, special committee investigations, and in response to shareholder demands.

“Nilofer is lightning smart, excellent with client service, and extremely accommodating with her time. She goes above and beyond. She is both as professional and aggressive as they come.”
Chambers USA 2025

Nilofer has handled matters around the country for clients including Walgreens, United Natural Foods, TreeHouse Foods, Caterpillar, Discover Financial Services, Allstate, NiSource, Power Solutions, Brunswick, Cabela’s, Diplomat Pharmacy, Keurig, and others.

“Nilofer is thoughtful, knowledgeable and sensitive to business concerns. She is a good partner for our company.”
Chambers USA 2025

Nilofer is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers USA within the Litigation: Securities—Illinois category (2025). She has received numerous other recognitions throughout her career:

• Chicago United — In August 2025, she was named to the 2025 Business Leaders of Chicago list.
• The American Lawyer — In July 2025, a runner-up for “Litigator of the Week” by after leading a Sidley trial team to a full victory.
• Legal 500 United States — Recommended for Securities Litigation: Defense (2025).
• Crain’s Chicago Business — In 2021, recognized as a “Notable Rising Star in Law.”
• Chicago Daily Law Bulletin — In 2021, recognized as one of “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch.”
• Law360 — A “Rising Star” in the area of Securities Litigation (2020).
• Legal 500 United States — Named a “Next Generation Lawyer” in the area of M&A Litigation (2017).
• Leading Lawyers — An “Emerging Lawyer” in the areas of Directors & Officers Liability Law and Commercial Litigation (2015–2016).

Nilofer is Chicago co-chair of Sidley’s Inclusion Committee. She is a member of the board of directors of CARPLS, Cook County’s largest provider of free legal services. She is a member of the Philanthropy and Engagement Advisory Council for the Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities at Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Securities Litigation

• Representation of specialty pharmacy in defense of a federal securities litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. Case settled while motion to dismiss was pending.
• Representation of producer of specialty chemical products in defense of federal securities litigation in the Southern District of Florida. Motion to dismiss granted.
• Representation of an insurance holding company in defense of federal securities litigation in the Southern District of New York. Complaint voluntarily dismissed by plaintiffs.
• Representation of a multinational quick-service restaurant company in defense of a federal securities litigation in the Western District of Kentucky. Complaint dismissed and dismissal affirmed by Sixth Circuit.
• Representation of the leading global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment in defense of federal proxy claim. Motion to dismiss granted.
• Representation of leading manufacturer of engines and power systems in defense of federal securities litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. Case settled while motion to dismiss was pending.  
• Representation of specialty pharmacy in defense of a federal securities litigation in the Eastern District of Michigan. Case settled during discovery.
• Representation of former chief financial officer of a global management consulting company in defense of federal securities litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. Case settled during discovery. 
• Representation of companies, individuals and a Big Four accounting firm in connection with investigations by the SEC.

Shareholder Derivative Litigation

• Representation of a Fortune 50 retail pharmacy company in defense of shareholder derivative litigation in Delaware Chancery Court. Complaint dismissed and dismissal affirmed by the Delaware Supreme Court.
• Representation of one of the country’s largest fully regulated utility companies and its current and former officers and directors in defense of shareholder derivative litigation. Motion to dismiss District of Delaware complaint granted, and motion to dismiss Delaware Chancery Court complaint pending.
• Representation of a special committee of directors of a Fortune 100 insurance company in an investigation of a shareholder demand and related derivative litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. Motion to dismiss granted.
• Representation of a Fortune 500 credit card company in defense of derivative litigation in the Northern District of Illinois and an appeal to the Seventh Circuit. Complaint dismissed and plaintiffs voluntarily abandoned their appeal of the dismissal.
• Representation of leading manufacturer of engines and power systems in defense of shareholder derivative litigation in state and federal court. State court case dismissed and dismissal affirmed by the Illinois Appellate Court. Federal derivative case settled, and settlement was approved over objections. Approval of the settlement was affirmed on appeal by the Seventh Circuit.
• Representation of an insurance and financial services holding company and its current and former officers and directors in defense of derivative litigation in Indiana state court. Dismissal of the complaint affirmed by the Indiana state appellate court. 
• Representation of the leading global manufacturer of construction and mining equipment in defense of numerous shareholder derivative actions in the Central District of Illinois. Motions to dismiss the actions were granted, and dismissal was affirmed on appeal by the Seventh Circuit.
• Representation of former chief financial officer of a global management consulting company in defense of derivative litigation in the Northern District of Illinois and in Illinois state court. Complaints dismissed. No appeal taken from dismissal of the Northern District of Illinois complaint. Dismissal of the state court complaint affirmed by the Illinois Appellate Court.
• Representation of a Fortune 50 retail pharmacy company in defense of derivative litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. Case resolved at an early stage through a favorable settlement.

Mergers and Acquisitions Litigation

• Representation of leading company in marine industry through trial in connection with post-transaction dispute in Delaware Superior Court. Partial victory on summary judgment, followed by full victory after three-week bench trial.
• Representation of a leading manufacturer of coffeemakers and producer of specialty coffee in expedited merger litigation in the Delaware Chancery Court. Action was voluntarily dismissed by plaintiff and plaintiff’s petition for attorney’s fees was denied.
• Representation of a Fortune 50 drugstore company in defense of shareholder challenges to its proposed acquisition of a Fortune 500 drugstore company in Delaware Chancery Court and the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Delaware action dismissed by plaintiff after court denied plaintiff’s motion for expedited proceedings. Pennsylvania plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction denied.
• Representation of a special committee of directors of Fortune 500 beauty products company in defense of shareholder challenges to a partial tender offer in Delaware Chancery Court. Case favorably settled after close of fact discovery.
• Representation of a healthcare services company in defense of shareholder challenges to the acquisition by another healthcare services company in Delaware Chancery Court. 
• Representation of a leading life sciences and technology company in defense of shareholder challenges to the acquisition by a multinational life sciences company in state court in Missouri and Delaware. 
• Representation of a multinational spirits company and its directors in defense of shareholder challenges to the acquisition by a Japanese spirits company in state court in Illinois and Delaware. 
• Representation of a Fortune 500 freight transportation and logistics company in defense of shareholder challenges to the acquisition by a transportation and logistics company in Delaware Chancery Court. 
• Representation of a major telecommunications company and its directors in defense of shareholder challenges to an acquisition in the Northern District of Illinois.

Publicly-Disclosed Board Investigations

• Representation of board of food company in response to multiple shareholder demands. Motion to dismiss on basis of investigation granted.
• Representation of a special committee of directors of a Fortune 100 insurance company in an investigation of a shareholder demand and related derivative litigation in the Northern District of Illinois. Motion to dismiss granted.