Michael F. Iasparro

Michael Iasparro focuses his practice on complex litigation and internal investigations, as well as counseling clients on antitrust and compliance-related issues. He has significant experience litigating complex cases in state and federal courts — with particular emphasis in federal court — including matters involving environmental, white collar crime, civil rights, antitrust, and labor and employment law, as well as commercial litigation. Mr. Iasparro has served as lead counsel in more than 25 jury trials and has conducted hundreds of depositions of lay and expert witnesses. He also has authored and orally argued more than 20 appellate briefs before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Drawing on his years as a former federal prosecutor, Mr. Iasparro also has extensive experience representing clients in relation to government investigations, as well as conducting internal investigations on behalf of his clients, from employee-related matters to complex investigations that are international in scope, including those relating to possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and export control regulations. He has worked extensively with government regulators and investigators from various federal agencies on behalf of his clients, including from the U.S. Departments of Justice, Treasury and Commerce. 

Mr. Iasparro also has significant experience counseling his clients on antitrust matters.

Mr. Iasparro joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in November 2008. Previously, he served for more than six years as an assistant United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. During his time as a federal prosecutor, he directed complex criminal investigations and convicted more than 150 defendants of felony crimes in federal court. He also litigated 19 cases to jury trial, securing guilty verdicts in every case. One of Mr. Iasparro's cases, which involved the prosecution of 16 members and associates of the Titanic Stones street gang, a violent drug-trafficking gang that controlled much of the heroin and crack cocaine trade in Rockford, Illinois, was featured on the MSNBC documentary, "Inside a Crack House" in late 2010.

Mr. Iasparro began his legal career in 2001 as an assistant state's attorney in the Winnebago County State's Attorney's Office in Rockford.

During his undergraduate studies, Mr. Iasparro maintained the highest grade point average among all Phi Beta Kappa inductees at Rockford College.

• Winnebago County Bar Association, Member
• Chair of the Federal Section (2007–2008), (2010–2011), (2014–2015)
• Past President of the Young Lawyers Section (2005–2006)

• Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© for Commercial Litigation, 2023 – 2024

Examples of some of Mr. Iasparro's recent litigation experience include:

• Representing a police officer in a high-profile wrongful death and Section 1983 action brought in federal court, which involved the shooting death of an unarmed assailant.
• Bringing an action in federal court under the National Environmental Policy Act, challenging the General Services Administration's entering into a Renewable Energy Contract without completing an environmental impact statement.
• Representing a health care system client in both federal court and before the Federal Trade Commission against the commission's challenge to the client's acquisition of another health care system.
• Representing a Fortune 500 manufacturer in federal court in a suit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice alleging violations of the federal Superfund (CERCLA) statute.
• Representing numerous companies in federal court against allegations of employment discrimination, including claims based on age, race, gender and disability.

Examples of some of Mr. Iasparro's recent white collar crime / internal investigation experience include:

• Representing a physician in relation to a U.S. Department of Justice criminal and civil health care fraud and False Claims Act investigation.
• Representing a company executive in relation to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's administrative and criminal investigation relating to a worker death at a recycling facility.
• Conducting an internal investigation on behalf of a manufacturing client relating to possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and export control regulations, including a voluntary self disclosure to the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Justice and Treasury.
• Conducting an internal investigation on behalf of a local school district concerning allegations of sexual abuse by a former teacher.

Mr. Iasparro's recent antitrust experience includes:

• Successfully obtaining early approval from the Federal Trade Commission after a Hart-Scott-Rodino filing in relation to the sale of a manufacturing client's business to a foreign equity venture.
• Successfully obtaining early approval from the Federal Trade Commission after a Hart-Scott-Rodino filing in relation to an online pet retailer client's sale to Petco.
• Representing a health care system client in both federal court and before the Federal Trade Commission against the commission's challenge to the client's acquisition of another health care system.
• Counseling a construction company client on the implications of antitrust laws in relation to multiple acquisitions of competitors in the same and related markets.
• Representing a managed care organization in relation to a class action lawsuit pending in federal court alleging violations of antitrust laws.

• Co-Presenter, "Navigating the Changing Landscape of Law Enforcement Liability," Munich Re Specialty Insurance, Webinar, May 17, 2022
• Moderator, "Internal Investigations for Illinois Municipalities," 2018 Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference, Chicago, Illinois, September 20, 2018
• "Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Compliance: A Must For International Trade," Rockford Area Economic Development Council, Rockford, Illinois, March 20, 2013

Mr. Iasparro is a graduate of Boylan Central Catholic High School in Rockford, Illinois, and a past president of the school's Alumni Board of Directors. He also served on the Boylan Institutional Advancement Task Force, and was previously a member of the Board of Directors of Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden. He currently serves on the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the chamber's Public Safety Council.