Experience 

Jeff Sarles divides his dispute resolution practice between appellate and international arbitration work, and also handles a variety of other litigation matters.  He joined Mayer Brown in 1994 and is the Co-Group Leader of both the firm's Supreme Court and Appellate group and International Arbitration group.

In appellate matters, Jeff has briefed and argued numerous appeals in the federal and state courts, involving such issues as free speech, patent infringement, employment discrimination, ERISA, securities fraud, environmental, telecommunications, consumer class actions, arbitration and antitrust. He is included in the 2009 edition of Best Lawyers in America in the field of Appellate Law.

Jeff has represented companies in commercial arbitrations before such leading bodies as the AAA, ICC, CPR, and LCIA, as well as under the UNCITRAL Rules.  His numerous domestic and international arbitrations have involved such issues as construction disputes, post-closing purchase price adjustments, the adequacy of custom-ordered software technology, auto production shortfalls, and indemnification for a product recall.  He has practiced before courts of first instance and appellate courts in cases involving arbitrability, arbitral jurisdiction, and judicial review of arbitration awards.  Jeff has also represented governments and investors in investor-state arbitrations and annulment proceedings before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes and in appellate litigation involving the scope of arbitral jurisdiction over foreign governments.

As part of an active litigation practice, Jeff has briefed and argued dispositive motions in federal and state trial courts throughout the country, resulting in numerous cases being dismissed on the pleadings or on summary judgment.  He has substantial experience in briefing discovery and evidentiary issues.

Notable Engagements 

• Recently won a Seventh Circuit appeal for a financial services company upholding dismissal of a False Act Claims Act case as a sanction for the misconduct of the plaintiff’s attorney.
• Recently obtained substantial damages for a US manufacturer in a NAFTA investment arbitration against the government of Mexico.
• Recently won a Seventh Circuit appeal upholding an arbitration award for an insurer over objections to changes in the composition of the arbitral panel mid-way through the arbitration.
• Recently argued two patent infringement appeals on the same day in the Federal Circuit on behalf of a gaming products manufacturer.
• Currently representing a US automobile manufacturer and a European airline in commercial arbitrations before the International Chamber of Commerce.

Education 

Northwestern University School of Law, JD, cum laude, 1994; Editor-in-Chief, Northwestern University Law Review • University of Chicago, MA with honors • Wesleyan University, BA; Phi Beta Kappa

Admitted

• Illinois, 1994
• US Supreme Court
• US Court of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, District of Columbia, and Federal Circuits