Illinois attorney disciplinary authorities are pressing allegations that a Chicago partner at a 75-lawyer intellectual property boutique falsified hundreds of expense reimbursement claims to his former firm.

The complaint, filed April 28 to the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, alleged that Thomas Wettermann, a former partner at McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff, submitted 382 false reimbursement claims—totaling $361,646.47—to the firm between January 2015 and December 2019.

The allegations read like a Johnny Cash song: The complaint says Wettermann faked travel to Brookfield, Oshkosh, Milwaukee, Madison, Appleton and Green Bay, Wisconsin; Wauconda, Rockford, Cary, Crystal Lake and Vernon Hills, Illinois; Indianapolis, South Bend, West Lafayette and Fort Wayne, Indiana; Austin, Dallas and Houston, Texas; Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose and Orange County, California; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Charleston, South Carolina; Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Columbus, Ohio; Phoenix; Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida; Atlanta; Newark, New Jersey; Washington, D.C.; Boston; St. Louis; Binghamton and New York City; Philadelphia; Arlington, Virginia; Toronto, Ontario; and Vancouver, British Columbia.

Wettermann allegedly purchased travel reservations, canceled them, and then submitted the original proof of purchase to McDonnell Boehnen, where he had worked for nearly 23 years, to receive reimbursement for expenses he had not actually paid for trips he did not take. (Wettermann was an associate at Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione earlier in his career.)

McDonnell Boehnen repaid Wetterman $1,171.67 in 2015 for three falsified expenses; $37,600.19 in 2016 for at least 68 falsified expenses; $66,448.88 in 2017 for at least 116 false expenses; $82,836.95 in 2018 for at least 104 false expenses; and $91,807.46 in 2019 for at least 91 false expenses, the ARDC alleged.

In all, Wettermann asked for, and received, $279,865.15 in reimbursement for travel not actually taken. According to the complaint, a review by the firm found an additional $81,771.32 undocumented travel expenses paid out to him.

While the complaint says Wettermann wrote off the fraudulent charges from clients' bills in most cases, reclassifying client-related matters as business development for the firm, he was not entirely successful. The administrator alleged that at least four times, and to the tune of $4,624.96, Wettermann's fraudulent travel charges were passed along to, and paid by, clients, although the firm eventually reimbursed them when it discovered the payments.

After McDonnell Boehnen reviewed Wettermann's finances last year and uncovered the alleged fraud, he repaid the firm $100,000 in partial restitution in November. Later, he paid another $20,000 in restitution and forfeited his capital amount and part of his monthly draw. The firm fired him in December, according to the complaint.

Neither Wettermann nor representatives for McDonnell Boehnen responded to requests for comment on the complaint.