Dominick W. Savaiano
Partner
Mr. Savaiano is a skilled counselor, litigator, and trial attorney, who handles commercial and catastrophic injury cases. He has tried more than sixty jury cases, winning outright all but three. Almost all of his trials took place in difficult jurisdictions, much more apt to return verdicts of millions of dollars. In almost all of these cases, Mr. Savaiano represented the target defendant. These victories resulted in savings in the hundreds of millions of dollars in judgments to his clients. He recently successfully defended in New Orleans an automotive products liability case, which involved catastrophic injuries to eight individuals, including a quadriplegic on a ventilator and a death.
Mr. Savaiano’s practice has predominantly involved the trial and litigation defense of corporations, business entities, individuals and insurance companies in a variety of complex claims, many of which evolve out of lawsuits for injuries to person and property or breach of contract. He has experience in products liability, including mass accident and toxic torts, professional liability, healthcare litigation, construction-related litigation, liability insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. He also handles commercial litigation and other business matters.
Mr. Savaiano is routinely called upon by clients to take over difficult litigation or cases set for trial which have been prepared by other firms. He is often asked to take the cases to trial, evaluate a claim or exposure, or resolve it on behalf of clients. He is requested to handle matters throughout the United States, in order to avoid local alliances or to circumvent local counsel’s reluctance to aggressively pursue the client’s interests against judges and opposing counsel. His advice is sought out to evaluate the propriety of coverage positions or to defend insurance professionals who have previously taken such positions. At times, he has been asked to assume the handling of lawsuits after cases were tried by others and lost, but reversed on appeal. He is asked to consult with corporations and not-for-profit organizations concerning contractual, commercial and employment matters.
Mr. Savaiano works with a group of attorneys whom he has trained in both litigation skills and in the courtroom. This provides consistency in skill and results. The group is able to handle the most complex or difficult matter, anywhere in the country.
Mr. Savaiano is also the supervising partner and coordinator for Asian operations. He oversees the Asian office and employees and coordinates the work that arises from Asia with our offices in the United States and Europe.
Mr. Savaiano’s interest and experience in trial advocacy is evident not only from the cases he has tried, but also from recognition he has received from his peers and his membership in various local, state, and national professional associations. He has been elected as a member of the Society of Trial Lawyers, an exclusive and prestigious organization formed to foster and encourage high ethical standards in the trial of cases. He has been named a “Leading Illinois Attorney” and a “Leading American Attorney” by the American Research Corporation as a result of an extensive survey involving thousands of members of the Illinois Bar. He has also been elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates, a select national organization of trial attorneys, whose common qualities include professionalism and a high degree of trial and litigation skill, knowledge, and experience. He has been named an Illinois “Superlawyer,” and he has achieved the highest ranking, AV, by Martindale Hubbell.
Mr. Savaiano joined Clausen Miller in 1981, immediately following graduation from law school. While receiving his juris doctor degree, he was one of the editors of the Law Journal, as well as one of the school’s representatives on the National Trial Advocacy Team.
Since 1981, Mr. Savaiano has lectured at, and published for, the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, the Chicago Bar Association, the Professional Liability Underwriters Society, the Risk and Insurance Management Society, as well as gatherings for many organizations and clients. He has served as an instructor in trial advocacy in law school. He was responsible for developing and running the in-house trial education program, as well as other educational programs, at Clausen Miller. He is not only an equity partner, but also a member of the board of directors of the firm.
Mr. Savaiano can be reached at 312-855-1010 or dsavaiano@clausen.com.
Education
- J.D. Loyola University, 1981
- B.A. University of Illinois, 1978
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1982
Organization Affiliations
- Martindale Hubbell A/V Rated
- Leading Illinois Attorneys
- Leading American Attorneys
- Crain's Superlawyers
- Society of Trial Lawyers
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Defense Research Institute
- American Bar Association
