Biography

A director of the firm, Bob is a trial lawyer who concentrates his practice in the defense of medical professionals. Since joining the firm over 30 years ago, Bob has represented physicians, practice groups and hospitals at trial and alternative dispute resolution forums. He has successfully defended doctors in nearly every medical specialty and has obtained favorable verdicts on behalf of internists, cardiologists, gynecologists, obstetricians, general surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, spine surgeons, immunologists, pediatricians and family physicians, among others. As the firm liaison with a major medical insurer, Bob understands the challenges facing medical professionals in our litigious time. Lawsuits charging professional negligence are deeply personal affairs and can make even the most hardened medical practitioner question the legal system or even his/her own medical judgment. Bob recognizes the key to success in this arena is an aggressive defense coupled with sensitivity to his clients’ needs. Of course, there is no substitute for a deep understanding of the medicine as well as the flow of medical and administrative events in a practice group or hospital setting.

Bob’s practice, however, has not been limited to medical negligence defense. Over the years, he has been involved with numerous high profile cases that have attracted regional and national media attention. He has acted as lead counsel in commercial disputes requiring the supervision and coordination of teams of lawyers. Bob was lead defense counsel in major pharmaceutical litigation involving alleged contamination of drugs distributed worldwide. He represented the insurer at binding arbitration in coverage claims arising out of the closing of Historic Route 66 in Illinois. He also served as lead counsel in substantial securities fraud litigation and other disputes arising under the Uniform Commercial Code. Bob has acted as counsel to major insurers in declaratory judgment actions, bad faith litigation and equitable subrogation claims, some resulting in ground-breaking appellate court decisions.

Bob is a member of the Illinois Bar, the Trial Bar for the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, as well as a member of various other Federal District bars. He has an AV® rating with Martindale-Hubbell indicating the highest ranking in legal ability and ethical standards as determined by his peers in the legal community, and has been selected a “Leading Lawyer” in the Illinois Leading Lawyer Network.

Bob graduated first in his class from Northern Illinois University School of Law where he also served as an editor of the law review and received the Dean’s Scholarship award. Following law school, he served a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Philip G. Reinhard of the Illinois Appellate Court.

Bob and his wife, Janie, are proud parents of triplets, Matt, Jenny and Meggie, recent college graduates who are seeking to blaze their own trail.

• Colletti v. Janopoulos,

  169 Ill. App. 3d 1068, 523 N.E.2d 1222 (1st Dist. 1988)

• Ponziano v. K.R. Kleiner and Co.,

  216 Ill. App.3d 22, 576 N.E.2d 158 (1st Dist. 1991)

• Block v. Pepper Const. Co.,

  269 Ill. App. 3d 745, 645 N.E.2d 207 (1st Dist. 1993)

• Hansen v. Demarakis,

  259 Ill. App. 3d 166, 630 N.E.2d 1202 (1st Dist. 1994)

• American States Ins. Co. v. Natl. Cycle,

  260 Ill. App.3d 299, 631 N.E.2d 1292 (1st Dist. 1994)

• CHRPP v. ISMIE,

  325 Ill. App. 3d 970, 758 N.E.2d 353 (1st Dist. 2001)

• Domin v. Shelby Ins. Co.,

  326 Ill. App. 3d 688; 761 N.E. 2d 746 (1st Dist. 2001)

• CHRPP v. ISMIE II,

  397 Ill. App. 3d 512, 925 N.E. 2d 1216 (1st Dist. 2010)

• Chicago

  Illinois 60603

  10 South LaSalle Street

  Chicago, Illinois 60603

  T: 312.855.1010 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick

• New York

  New York 10005

  28 Liberty Street 39th Floor

  New York, New York 10005

  T: 212.805.3900 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 212.805.3939 Office Managing Partner: Carl M. Perri

• Mission Viejo

  California 92691

  27285 Las Ramblas

  Suite 200

  Mission Viejo, California 92691

  T: 949.260.3100 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 949.260.3190 Office Managing Partner: Ian R. Feldman

• Florham Park

  New Jersey 07932

  100 Campus Drive

  Florham Park, New Jersey 07932

  T: 973.410.4130 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 973.410.4169 Office Managing Partner: Carl M. Perri

• Michigan City

  Indiana 46360

  200 Commerce Square

  Michigan City, Indiana 46360

  T: 219.262.6106 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partners: Paige M. Neel, Kimbley A. Kearney

• Milwaukee

  Wisconsin 53202

  250 E. Wisconsin Avenue

  Suite 1800

  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

  T: 414.279.5525 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: James M. Weck

• Stamford

  Connecticut 06902

  68 Southfield Avenue

  2 Stamford Landing Suite 100

  Stamford, Connecticut 06902

  T: 203.921.0303 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 212.805.3939 Office Managing Partner: Matthew J. Van Dusen

• Tampa

  Florida 33609

  4830 West Kennedy Boulevard, One Urban Center

  Suite 600

  Tampa, Florida 33609

  T: 813.509.2578 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick Co-Managing Partner: Kelly M. Vogt

• San Francisco

  California 94111

  100 Pine Street

  Suite 1250

  San Francisco, California 94111

  T: 415.287.2744 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 949.260.3190 Office Managing Partner: Ian R. Feldman

• Houston

  Texas 77019

  2929 Allen Parkway

  American General Center, Suite 200

  Houston, Texas 77019

  T: 346.229.4612 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Ramy P. Elmasri

• Dallas

  Texas 75201

  325 N. Saint Paul Street

  Suite 3100

  Dallas, Texas 75201

  T: 469.942.8635 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Ramy P. Elmasri

• Boca Raton

  Florida 33434

  7777 Glades Road

  Suite 405

  Boca Raton, Florida 33434

  T: 561.765.5305 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick Co-Managing Partner: Kelly M. Vogt