Istim, Inc. v. Chemical Bank

OPINION OF THE COURT

Hancock, Jr., J.

Both parties to this appeal claim a right to a settlement fund from a terminated Illinois Federal court action in which neither party was a litigant. Petitioner Istim, Inc.’s claim is based on a default judgment, and respondent law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher’s claim is based on a disputed statutory attorney’s charging lien. The issue before us is a choice-of-law question: whether the Illinois or New York attorney’s lien statute applies. If Illinois law applies, Willkie’s asserted lien did not attach because it failed to provide the notice apparently…