We have resolved nearly every type of dispute imaginable since the firm’s founding over 25 years ago. Today, our focus remains on the following broad areas of practice:
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CONSTRUCTION
We have vast experience advising contractors, developers and design professionals in all areas where construction and the law intersect. We have extensive experience in commercial matters dealing with disputes involving delay, non-conforming work, breach of contract, mechanics liens and insurance coverage matters, as well as drafting and negotiating construction contracts. Our attorneys have also represented some of the most prominent parties in the construction field in tort cases involving personal injury, wrongful death, construction defects and property damage.
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GENERAL LIABILITY DEFENSE
The backbone of our practice for businesses and insurers is the defense of tort liability claims. Our attorneys evaluate these claims quickly to advise our client of our opinion as to liability and damages and work creatively to reach an early resolution or a favorable outcome at trial.
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INSURANCE COVERAGE
Our attorneys have extensive experience with a wide range of property and casualty (including CGL, professional, EPLI, D&O, wrap–up, media), life, accident and health insurance, as well as with self–insurance, high deductible programs, risk pools and alternative risk vehicles. We also counsel insurance companies on bad faith issues, including claims handling matters and relations between and among primary and excess insurance companies.
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LABOR & EMPLOYMENT
We help employers comply with all federal, state and local laws and vigorously represent employers in federal and state courts as well as before the various public agencies that enforce employment and labor laws. In addition, we counsel employers and assist with hiring, establishing and implementing policies, drafting employment–related agreements, investigating employee and third–party claims and conducting termination proceedings.
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MUNICIPAL PRACTICE & SCHOOL LAW
Our clients have included numerous governmental bodies, including the State of Illinois, counties, municipalities, townships, park districts, school districts and government officials. We also represent individual schools and institutions of higher learning. As a result, the firm regularly finds itself litigating highly publicized cases involving Section 1983 and Constitutional Law, invoking rights under the Due Process Clause, the Equal Protection Clause and the First Amendment. We are also involved in representing these clients in business litigation, contract and employment matters, and discrimination claims under Title VII, the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA.
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PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY
We defend professionals, such as attorneys, insurance agents and brokers, financial advisors, real estate agents and brokers, directors and officers, construction managers and architects and engineers. These cases cover various issues, including breach of fiduciary duty, misrepresentation, fraud, negligence, statutory violations, and other alleged errors and omissions.
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PRODUCT LIABILITY
We have defended manufacturers and distributors of a variety of products ranging from consumer products, industrial equipment and machinery and motor vehicles. We have also taken the lead in counseling businesses worldwide on product liability issues and have organized U.S. and international conferences focusing on the successful defense and reduction of product liability exposures.
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REINSURANCE & REGULATORY PRACTICE
We represent cedents, reinsurers, retrocessionaires, intermediaries and pool managers in a variety of matters before courts and arbitration panels around the country. We have also served as umpires in reinsurance disputes and are recognized in various publications as being among the leading reinsurance counsel in the world. We also have represented companies and pools concerning regulatory compliance and insolvency issues and have advised with regard to policy forms and market practice.