Biography

Edmund J. Siegert serves as managing partner of the firm. His practice focuses on the defense of product liability, commercial and construction defect claims. His product liability and commercial practice includes representation of foreign manufacturers and distributors in all aspects of litigation throughout the United States, including challenges to jurisdiction under various international treaties. He has defended product manufacturers in mass tort litigation, including class actions, in both state and federal courts. His experience in toxic tort cases has involved defending claims of exposure to lead, benzene, asbestos, volatile organic compounds and chemical groundwater contamination. He has represented masonry, glass, electrical, plumbing, roofing and general contractors in both personal injury and construction defect suits.

Ed is a graduate of Loras College (B.S., cum laude, 1983) and DePaul University College of Law (J.D., with honors, 1986), and was a member of the DePaul Law Review while in law school. He was admitted to the bar in Illinois in 1986. He is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts in Illinois; the Federal Trial Bar; and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh, Third, and Fifth Circuits. Ed has also been admitted to practice on a pro hac vice basis in state courts across the nation.

Ed is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Chicago Bar Association. He has been recognized on multiple occasions as an Illinois Super Lawyer in the civil litigation defense practice area, a recognition bestowed on only five percent of the active bar. The selection process for this honor includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Credentials

Education

  • DePaul University College of Law (J.D., with honors, 1986)
  • Loras College, (B.S., cum laude, 1983)

Admissions to Practice Law

  • Illinois Bar
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • Pro hac vice admissions in multiple states throughout the United States

Memberships

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
  • Defense Research Institute

Honors

  • Illinois Super Lawyer, civil litigation defense
 
Representative Matters

Reported Cases

  • Schaefer v. Texor Petroleum Co., 404 Ill.App.3d 1184, 996 N.E.2d 779 (Table) (3rd Dist. 2010)
  • Pillsbury Co., Inc. v Wells Dairy, Inc., 752 N.W.2d 430 (Iowa 2008)
  • Mastondrea v Occidental Hotels Management S.A., 391 N.J. Super. 261, 918 A.2d 27 (2007)
  • Padillas v Stork-Gamco, Inc., 186 F.3d 412 (3rd Cir. 1999)
  • Spinozzi v ITT Sheraton Corporation, 174 F.3d 842 (7th Cir. 1999)
  • Wolfe v Stork RMS Protecon, Inc., 683 N.E.2d 264 (Ind. App 1997)
  • Jones v Coleman Co., Inc., 39 F3d 749 (7th Cir. 1994)
  • Illinois Masonic Medical Center v A C & S, 266 Ill.App.3d 631, 640 N.E.2d 31, (1st Dist. 1994)
  • Bear v Power Air, 230 Ill.App.3d 403, 595 N.E.2d 77 (1st Dist. 1992)
  • Crider v Crider, 225 Ill.App3d 954, 588 N.E.2d 439 (3rd Dist. 1992)