John W. McCauley
Madison, Partner
Education
- University of Pennsylvania Law School (J.D., cum laude, 2007; Levy Scholar)
- Harvard University (A.B., cum laude, 2002)
- University of Virginia (Jefferson Scholar, 1997-98)
Bar Admissions
- State of Wisconsin
- State of Texas
- State of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Awards
- Recognized in the Best Lawyers in America© for commercial litigation (since 2024)
- Pro Bono Honor Roll, Eastern District of Wisconsin (2021-22)
- Levy Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania Law School (full-tuition merit scholarship)
- Legal Writing Honors, University of Pennsylvania Law School
- Associate Editor, University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law
Biography
John McCauley is a trial and appellate lawyer with over fifteen years’ experience handling complex cases throughout the country. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide range of commercial, intellectual-property, energy, antitrust, and constitutional matters. Before joining the firm, John clerked for Judge Michael Kanne on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and practiced commercial litigation with Susman Godfrey (Houston) and Morgan Lewis (Philadelphia). He graduated with honors from Harvard College, where he played football, and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he won a full-tuition merit scholarship.
Experience
Representing engine manufacturer Briggs & Stratton in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against its CGL insurers seeking “all sums” coverage of asbestos losses. Won an affirmative ruling on summary judgment that the insurers breached their policies.
Co-counsel in one of the largest shareholder-oppression cases in U.S. history. Obtained over $300 million for minority shareholders of biotech company Promega after a successful month-long bench trial.
Defended a seller of timberlands against the buyer’s indemnification claim seeking tens of millions of dollars in carbon credits. Won an early favorable court ruling and developed evidence undermining plaintiff’s claimed damages. Settled for a fraction of the original demand.
Defeated nine-figure contract, fraud, and RICO claims against a large pharmaceutical company in federal court.
Defeated President Trump’s challenge to the 2020 election results in Wisconsin. Prevailed at every level of the federal and Wisconsin court systems.
Defended municipalities and law-enforcement officers against a variety of Section 1983 constitutional claims in federal district court and before the Seventh Circuit.
Secured a multimillion-dollar settlement on the eve of trial for a consultant who negotiated licensing deals in the medical-device industry. Won summary judgment on liability and defeated fiduciary and contractual counterclaims.
Represented a “micro-hospital” developer in federal court pursuing multimillion-dollar claims for misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary information. Defeated motion to dismiss and resolved the case out of court.
Defended Natus Medical against patent-infringement claims in federal jury trial and on appeal. Negotiated a favorable resolution.
Member of defendants’ trial team in multimillion-dollar patent infringement lawsuit involving LED technology. Resolved the case on favorable terms.
Obtained relief for an Ohio-based energy company against an emerging competitor that was infringing on client’s trademark and trade name.
Vindicated Murray Energy Corp.’s mining rights in a property dispute with the operator of a natural-gas pipeline. Defeated pipeline’s claims of federal preemption and eminent domain.
Successfully challenged Mine Safety & Health Administration’s promulgation of a new “pattern of violations” rule. Argued the case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Established legal precedent in Pennsylvania permitting the holder of mining rights to subside the surface estate. Defeated eminent-domain and adverse-possession defenses.
Defended Fortune 100 drug wholesaler against opioid lawsuits filed in Wisconsin.
Defended egg producer in multi-district litigation against price-fixing and other antitrust claims.
Defended trucker fuel card company against class action and competitor lawsuits alleging monopolization and related antitrust claims.
Defended major chemical company in billion-dollar environmental-indemnity dispute.
*This list includes matters handled before joining Hansen Reynolds LLC.