Patrick Muench

Partner Patrick Muench is a member of the firm’s nationally-ranked ERISA, Employee Benefits & Trust Litigation Practice Group where he handles class actions and high-stakes individual actions involving employee pension benefits—focusing on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs). In addition, Patrick has handled complex trade secrets, agricultural, antitrust, energy, oil and gas, and other commercial disputes. He has represented clients through every stage of litigation, including dispositive motions, class certification, discovery, settlement proceedings, trial and appeals.

Patrick has served on Bailey Glasser litigation teams that have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients including over $180 million in a judgment and settlements in ESOP litigation for retirement plan participants. His work includes:

• Won a $30 million trial judgment in Brundle v. Wilmington Trust, a case involving multiple breaches of duty by the trustee and complex valuation issues in an ESOP transaction; won a complete affirmance by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, establishing new law on ESOPs that has been cited nationwide
• Represented the FDIC in its capacity as receiver of Colonial Bank; case resolved favorably to the FDIC as part of a multi-case, multi-agency settlement for $16.65 billion, the largest single-company settlement in U.S. history

Patrick is recognized in the 2027 edition of the Best Lawyers in America® for Litigation – ERISA.  The ERISA group is nationally ranked by Chambers USA for ERISA Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs every year since 2023.

Patrick earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law and his B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Awards & Accolades

Best Lawyers in America®, Litigation - ERISA, Chicago, Illinois (2027) 

Chambers USA, Nationwide Department Ranking - ERISA Litigation: Mainly Plaintiffs (2023 - 2026)

Clerkships

• Law Clerk, Hon. Robert M. Dow Jr., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (2007 - 2009)

Representative Matters

• Won a $30 million trial judgment in Brundle v. Wilmington Trust, a case involving multiple breaches of duty by the trustee and complex valuation issues in an ESOP transaction; won a complete affirmance by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, establishing new law on ESOPs that has been cited nationwide
• Represented the FDIC in its capacity as receiver of Colonial Bank; case resolved favorably to the FDIC as part of a multi-case, multi-agency settlement for $16.65 billion, the largest single-company settlement in U.S. history

News & Insights

Community and Professional Activities

Illinois State Bar Association