LaRue L. Robinson

Prior to joining Willkie, LaRue was a partner at another major law firm. He also previously served as a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's Corps where, in addition to serving as a prosecutor, he helped guide high-profile military investigations and was lead litigator on labor and employment matters. He also served as a military magistrate, which involved making probable cause determinations regarding searches and seizures on a military installation.

• Benchmark Litigation – 40 & Under List – ERISA Litigation and Dispute Resolution, 2023 and 2024
• Black Men Lawyers' Association (BMLA) – Rising Star, 2024
• The Legal 500 United States – Labor and Employment - ERISA Litigation, 2024
• Cook County Bar Association – Next Generation Award, 2024
• Bloomberg Law – They’ve Got Next: 40 Under 40, 2022
• Crain’s Chicago Business – Notable Military Veteran Executive, 2021
• The Chicago Committee – Pathway to Partnership Fellow, 2019
• Firm Mentorship Award, 2019
• Chicago Scholars – 35 Under 35 Honoree, 2018
• The Chicago Committee – Rate My Pitch Program, 2015
  Effective Communication Award; Best Team Pitch
  
  

LaRue currently serves on the board of directors and executive committee of the Grant Park Music Festival, and as a vice president on the board of directors of the Columbia Law School Association, and as a member of the Law360 Diversity & Inclusion Editorial Advisory Board in 2021 and 2022, and as a member of its Benefits Editorial Advisory Board in 2024. He also serves on the board of Public Service Promise, the advisory board of the National Student Defense Legal Network, and the alumni of color committee at Columbia Law School. LaRue has previously served on the associate boards of Chicago Scholars and the Chicago Committee.

He currently or previously has served as a member of the American Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, National Bar Association, Black Men Lawyers’ Association, and the Louis D. Brandeis American Inn of Court in Louisville, Kentucky.

LaRue has been a fellow with the Truman National Security Project since 2009 and was an advocacy fellow for the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues in 2009.

• Co-Author, “The Year in ERISA Litigation: 2024 Trends and What We’re Watching in 2025,” Willkie Insights, January 2025
• Panelist, “The Evolution of Retirement Plan Fees in Today’s Litigious Environment," Fiducient Advisors Investor Conference 2024, September 26, 2024
• Panelist, “The Big (and Little) Things Outside Counsel Wish Their Clients Knew,” The Garden State Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel New Jersey, May 2, 2024
• Panelist, “Hot Topics in Trade Secrets Protection, Enforcement, and Litigation conference,” Sandpiper Partners LLC, December 14, 2023
• Co-Author, “Crisis Management,” Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts, Fifth Edition; Thomson Reuters & The American Bar Association Section of Litigation
• Co-Author, “Causes of Action under ERISA,” Lexis Practical Guidance Practice Note
• Speaker, “How to Succeed in a Law Firm and Still Find Balance,” SEO Law CareerCon, June 26, 2021
• Panelist, “Class Action Trends,” Black In-House Counsel Network Elevating Black Excellence Regional Summit Series, June 17, 2021
• Moderator, “Navigating Law Firm Dynamics,” The Chicago Committee Law Firm Junior Associate Boot Camp Series, May 25, 2021
• Guest Speaker, “Leadership Seminar,” Gannon University, April 12, 2021
• Panelist, “Litigation 101,” NYU Law Black Allied Law Students Association, October 15, 2020
• Speaker, "Hot Topics in Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation," Chicago Bar Association, March 5, 2020
• Panelist, "Dress for Success and Mock Interview Workshop," Cook County Bar Association, June 16, 2018
• Panelist, "In the Long Run: Developing a Sustainable and Fulfilling Legal Practice," PracticePro Career Conferences, June 7, 2018
• Panelist, “What I Wish I Knew Then,” The Chicago Committee Associate Law Firm Boot Camp, March 2, 2018
• Panelist, "The Criminalization of Pregnancy," Northwestern Law School's Chapter of Law Students for Reproductive Justice, February 15, 2016
  
  

Some of LaRue's recent representations include*:

Commercial Litigation

•  Achieved successful resolution of $750M+ contract dispute for global chemical manufacturer in advance of trial in the Southern District of Texas.
• Served as a key member of trial team for leading chemical distributor in anti-dumping case in the U.S. Court of International Trade.
• Served as key member of trial team for leading global insurance brokerage client in trade secrets/non-compete litigation in California state court and the Northern District of Illinois.
• Won dismissal of IP dispute for foreign energy client over the use of $100M software in the Northern District of Illinois.
• Attained dismissal of broker negligence claim against global insurance brokerage client in Illinois state court.

Class Actions/ERISA Litigation

• Won dismissal of putative class action in Illinois state court filed against global professional services firm following a data breach incident.
• Won dismissal of putative class action for elite university brought by participants in university retirement plans alleging mismanagement of the plans in the Northern District of Illinois.
• Obtained dismissal of putative class action for Fortune 100 client brought by retirees regarding the calculation of pension benefits in the Eastern District of Michigan.
• Represented leading investment consultant in various 403(b) plan fee class action lawsuits against top universities.
• Represented leading benefits administrator in several COBRA notice class action lawsuits against major corporations.

Investigations

• Conducted investigation and advised board of health system regarding anonymous allegations of racial insensitivity, toxic work environment, and operational and management failures.
• Secured a non-prosecution agreement with the US Department of Justice for Fortune 100 client after conducting expansive internal investigation regarding bribery and corruption.
• Represented former politician in ethics investigation before the City of Chicago Board of Ethics.

Pro Bono

• Achieved dismissal of criminal charges against client after winning a motion to suppress evidence due to an illegal search by police following a traffic stop.
• Represented South Carolina voters in voting rights litigation challenging state absentee voter requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic in advance of the 2020 election.
• Secured a rare Certificate of Innocence for a client wrongfully convicted on an Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon (AUUW) charge and subsequently had the same client’s Unlawful Use of Weapon (UUWF) charge vacated.
• Regularly defend individuals facing criminal charges in Cook County Criminal Court.

*LaRue advised on some of these matters prior to joining Willkie.