Johanna Spellman represents clients in multi-plaintiff and class action litigation as well as in complex commercial litigation.

Johanna represents clients on high-profile matters in state and federal court, including matters related to:

  • Class actions, including multidistrict proceedings
  • Information privacy, including with respect to the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA)
  • Mass torts
  • Toxic torts
  • Product liability
  • Complex commercial matters, including energy and oil and gas contracts

Johanna has experience in all aspects of complex cases, including fact and expert discovery, motions practice (including dispositive motions), and trial. She particularly excels in early case strategy and written advocacy. She draws on extensive knowledge of class action defense to devise strategies that help clients achieve successful outcomes.

She also maintains an active pro bono practice, handling asylum, custody, education, and police misconduct related matters.

Johanna clerked for Judge Richard D. Cudahy of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Johanna’s experience includes representing:

Class Actions

  • The NCAA in more than 550 putative class actions related to head injuries in college football
  • Union Pacific in class actions alleging unlawful collection, use, storage, and disclosure of finger scans in violation of BIPA
  • The University of Chicago in class action litigation seeking tuition refunds after transition to remote instruction due to COVID-19 pandemic
  • Hard Rock Stadium in class actions related to 2024 Copa America soccer final match
  • A consumer product manufacturer in class actions involving broad allegations of consumer protection violations related to pricing practices
  • Mobile gaming and video game companies in litigation asserting consumer protection claims related to in-game purchases
  • A natural gas marketing company in Texas in a putative class action alleging claims of overbilling during the February 2021 severe winter storm
  • A major global automobile manufacturer in class action litigation alleging RICO and other claims stemming from the alleged maintenance of undisclosed emissions “defeat devices”
  • Reckitt-Benckiser in defending false advertising claims related to nutritional supplement
  • A dispersant manufacturer in numerous class actions arising out of Gulf of Mexico 2010 oil spill

Mass Torts

  • A national pipeline company in defending toxic tort claims of approximately 400 plaintiffs relating to a gasoline pipeline release; plaintiffs alleged personal injuries, emotional distress and diminution of property value as a result of the contamination of well water in the area
  • A national pipeline company in defending environmental claims brought by State authorities following gasoline pipeline release

Commercial Litigation

  • A natural gas marketing company in cases throughout the Midwest and Texas related to Winter Storm Uri
  • An energy trading company as plaintiff in a trial alleging a breach of contract claim involving a crude-by-rail facility in Houston, Texas
  • A Canadian dairy company in a breach of contract case
  • A medical waste services company in litigation related to alleged overbilling

Bar Qualification

  • Illinois

Education

  • JD, Yale Law School, 2007
  • BA, Harvard University, 2001
    magna cum laude