Stephen D. Phillips—Managing Partner

Email address: Stephen D. Phillips | Phone: (312) 470-6761

Areas of practice

Admitted to practice

• Illinois, 1985
• Northern District of Illinois, United States District Court, 1985

Awards

• Inducted into the International Academy of Trial Lawyers 2011. The Academy is limited to 500 lawyers worldwide.
• AV^® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated^SM by Martindale-Hubbell^® (highest rating for legal ability and ethics)
• 2005 Illinois Trial Lawyers Association President’s Award
• 2000–2012 Law and Leading Attorneys Statewide Survey of Lawyers, Leading Lawyer
• 2005–2012 Illinois Super Lawyers
• 2008–2012 re-election as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Illinois by The National Trial Lawyers
• Chicago Lawyer Magazine survey as for the "Most Million Dollar-Plus Settlements in Illinois" in a single year
• Who's Who in Collegiate Faculty - Montclair Publishing -  selected to the 2010/2011 Edition of “Who’s Who in Collegiate Faculty” by Montclair Publishing.

Education

• Juris Doctor, Loyola University, 1985
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Iowa, 1981
• 2006-2012 Loyola University School of Law - Adjunct Professor of Law - Illinois Civil Litigation Prior to Trial and Personal Injury Law

Bar associations

Illinois State Bar Association

• 1985–1987 Member
• 1993–Present Member
• 1995–1996 Board Liaison, Young Lawyers Division
• 1995–1997 Board Liaison, South Suburban Bar Association
• 1995–1997 Board Liaison, Justinian Society of Lawyers
• 1995–1997 Board Liaison, Admiralty & Maritime Section
• 1996–1997 Board Liaison, Arab American Bar Association
• 1996–1997 Board Liaison, Justinian Society of Du Page County
• 1996–1997 Board Liaison, Tort Law Section Council
• 1996–1997 Member - Ad Hoc Committee for Judicial Advisory Polls
• 1995–1997 Assembly Member
• 1995–1997 Elected Governor (Cook County under Age 37)
• 1996–1997 Member, Standing Committee on ISBA Properties
• 1997–1998 Member, Standing Committee on Legislation
• 1999–2004 Assembly Member

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

• 1984–1996 Member
• 1991– ____ Chairman, Expert Testimony Exchange
• 1992–1994 Sustaining Member
• 1993– ____ Elected Manager, Board of Managers
• 1993– ____ Member, Medical Negligence Committee
• 1994–2003 Co-Chairman, Publications Committee
• 1994–____ Contributing Member
• 1995–1996 Parliamentarian
• 1996–1997 Treasurer
• 1996–1997 Member, Special Advisory Committee to the Constitutional Challenge Committee
• 1996–____ Member, Legislative Committee
• 1997–1998 Executive Committee
• 1998–____ Editorial Board—ITLA Journal
• 1999–2000 Treasurer
• 2000 Nominating Committee for ITLA Officers
• 2002–2004 Executive Committee
• 2003–2009 Co-Chairman Medical Negligence Committee
• 2004–2012 Co-Chairman Publications Committee
• 2010 3rd Vice President
• 2011 2nd  Vice President (President in 2013)

American Trial Lawyers Association

• Member, 1985–present
• Member, Birth Trauma Litigation Group

American Bar Association

• Member, 1985–1997

Other associations and honors

• Fellow - Illinois Bar Foundation
• Justinian Society of Lawyers - Mentor for Mentor Program
• Justinian Society Scholarship Committee
• John G. Phillips Scholarship Chairman
• Loyola University - Presidents Club
• University of Iowa Alumni Association - Lifetime Member
• Elected to Consumer Guide Book - Leading Attorneys in Illinois 1995 --present (Determined by a state-wide survey of lawyers.) Published by American Research Corporation.
• International Who's Who of Professionals (1995), Published by Gilbralter Marketing
• Strathmore’s Who’s Who Registry (1999 -2000 Edition)
• Society of Trial Lawyers (1999 to present)
• Illinois Network of Leading American Attorneys (2000 to present)
• Recognized in the Chicago Lawyer Magazine as resolving the most million dollar plus cases than any other lawyer in Illinois in 1999 survey.
• Martindale-Hubbell Rating
  AV - Legal Ability Very High to preeminent.
  Ethical Standards - Very High.
  Highest Rating for Both
• 2005 Illinois Trial Lawyers Association President’s Award
• 2004 – 2009 Law and Leading Attorneys Statewide Survey Lawyers.
   Advisory Board – Top 5% of Lawyers in the State of Illinois
• 2005 – 2009 Recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer in a statewide survey of lawyers.
• 2006 – 2008 Loyola University School of Law – Adjunct Professor – Illinois Civil Litigation Prior to Trial
• 2009 - 2012 Loyola University School of Law – Adjunct Professor - Illinois Personal Injury Law
• 2007 - 2011 Highest rating for Personal Injury Lawyer in Illinois by Avvo.com Also highest ratings for Trucking Lawyer, Brain Injury Lawyer and Birth Trauma Lawyer.
• 2008 – 2012 Voted Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Illinois. American Trial Lawyers Association - Now National Trial Lawyers
• 2010-2011 "Who's Who in Collegiate Faculty" Montclair Publishing
• April 2011 Inducted as a Fellow in the International Academy of Trial Lawyers (Academy is limited to 500 lawyers worldwide.)
• Included in 2012 Top Rated Lawyers Guide to Transportation Law
  The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel Magazine

Lectures and presentations

• 05/02/92 – ITLA – Young Lawyers Seminar – “Obtaining and Presenting Expert Witnesses”
• 09/12/92 – ITLA – Civil Practice “Update and Review Seminar” – Moderator
• 09/11/93 – ITLA – Civil Practice “Update and Review Seminar” – “Settlement/Kotecki Update/Confidentiality Order”
• 02/20/95 – ITLA – “The Nuts and Bolts of Handling Automobile Accident Cases” – “Preparing Your Case For Trial”
• 12/02/95 – ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – “Combating Defense Tactics”
• 03/13/96 – CBA – Countdown to Trial – “Preparing Your Case For Trial”
• 09/07/96 – ITLA – Update and Review Seminar – “Structural Work Act and Construction Negligence”
• 11/11/96 – SBA – Trial Techniques Seminar – Getting a Case Ready; Getting A Verdict - “Opening Statements”
• 2/07/96 – ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – “Presenting the Plaintiff’s Expert for Deposition”
• 2/17/97 – ITLA – Maximizing results through settlement and TRIAL – “Prosecuting the Negligence Case”– Opening Statement and Closing Argument
• 5/3/97 – ITLA – Shot Gun Seminar – “Subsequent Remedial Measures”
• 9/6/97 – ITLA – Issues, Answers, and Legal Trends. “Liens” 1/29/98 – Valparaiso Law School – Litigation – Plaintiff vs. Defense Practice
• 2/16/98 – ITLA – Negotiating and Settling Personal Injury Cases – “Initial Settlement Considerations”
• 8/14/98 – Ross and Hardies Litigation Group Lectures – "Preparing a Case for Trial"
• 10/19/98 – John Marshall Law School – Preparation and Trial of a Product Liability Case – Plaintiff’s Perspective
• 12/5/98 – ITLA – "Under the Microscope: The Anatomy of a Malpractice Trial" – Jury Instructions
• 4/6/99 – IICLE – Modern Medical Malpractice Litigation – “Standard of Care”
• 10/11/99 – ITLA – Trial Techniques Seminar – Moderator
• 10/9/00 – ITLA – Anatomy of a Trial Seminar – Handling the Defense Experts
• 12/9/00 – ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – Investigating the Defense Witnesses
• 11/29/01– IICLE – How to Depose a Doctor – Moderator
• 12/8/01 – ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – "Cardiac Cases"
• 1/19/02 – ITLA – Tort Litigation: "From Intake to Verdict Seminar" – Moderator
• 5/21/02 – Ross and Hardies Litigation Group Lectures – "Preparing a Case for Trial"
• 1/18/03 – ITLA – Overcoming Juror Bias Seminar – Trial Story – "Presenting the Case"
• 3/14/03 – American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine – Occupational Medicine: “Where Medicine Meets the Workplace” – How to Prepare to Testify
• 5/22/03 – Wilmette Rotary Club, Wilmette, "Illinois Tort Reform – What it Means"
• 12/6/03 – ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – Obstetrics and Gynecology Malpractice.
• 3/11/05 – The American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Greater Miami Chapter, Miami Teaching Institute – How to Avoid the Deposition Jitters
• 4/7/05 – Tort Reform Debate Participant – Hellenic Bar Association
• 5/7/05 – ITLA – Advocacy Showcase: The Art of Advocacy – A one day Trial. Cross Examination of Plaintiff’s Damage Exert Witness.
• 12/2/06 – ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar – "Crunch Time 120 Days to Trial"
• 6/27/08 – IICLE – Personal Injury Practice Update – "Top developments in motor vehicle cases, premises liability, product liability, governmental immunity, insurance coverage, etc."
• 12/6/08 – ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar. "Deposing and Cross Examining Defendants and Defense Experts"
• 2/27/09 – ISBA – Law Education Series – "Sharpen Your Trial Skills – Opening Statement"
• 3/28/09 – ITLA – Insurance, Liens & Settlements Seminar – "Maximizing Settlement"
• 4/7/10 – University of Notre Dame – "Depositions of Defendants in Automobile Cases and Medical Malpractice Cases"
• 5/7/10 – ITLA – Ethics and Professionalism in Personal Injury Practice Seminar – "Client Relationship Issues"
• 6/23/10 – IICLE – Personal Injury Practice Update – "Emerging Issues for 2010, Jury Instruction Update"
• 9/10 – Minnesota Lawyers Mutual - 2010 Update: Preventing Legal Malpractice Claims and Ethics Complaints in Your Law Practice-Panelist
•  2/16/11 –ITLA –Webinar on Medical Literature
• 2/18/11 – ITLA – Medical Malpractice Seminar Opening Statement
• 4/6/11 –University of Notre Dame Law School (South Bend, Indiana):  Deposition and Cross-examination of Defendants and Defense Experts.
• 3/5/12 – ISBA – Foundations, Evidence, and Objections Seminar - Jury Selection
• 3/23/12 – IICLE – Pretrial Preparation in Civil Practice Seminar – How to Chose your Case
• 3/23/12 – IICLE – Pretrial Preparation in Civil Practice Seminar – Developing a Prosecution or Defense Plan.

Publications

• 1993 – Proving and Disproving Damages in Personal Injury Cases
• 1993 – Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Chapter 1 — Physical Injuries - Plaintiff’s Perspective
• 1993 – Illinois Structural Work Act Practice 1993 Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education. Chapter 5 — Trial Practice - Plaintiff
• 1995 – Illinois Politics December 1995 – Viewpoint “Why We Don’t Need a Law Prohibiting Jury Selection Consultants”
• 1996 – Illinois State Bar Association Bar News Volume 36, No. 14, February 1, 1996 - Jury Selection Consultants Are Needed
• 1996 – Proving and Disproving Damages in Personal Injury Cases 1996; Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Chapter I - Supplement for Physical Injuries - Plaintiff’s Perspective
• 1996 – Letter to the Editor, “Unethical Conduct–Allstate Insurance”. Crain’s Chicago Business, June 3 - 9, 1996, pg. 23, Vol. 19
• 1996 – Illinois Civil Discovery Practice, 1996 Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Chapter 2. “Limitations on Discovery”
• 1996 – Illinois State Bar Association Bar News Volume 37, No. 12, January 3, 1997 - Tort Reform Uninformed
• 1997 – ITLA Edition of the Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook - Learned Medical Treatises
• 1998 – Letter to the Editor, Response to “Publishers’ Prerogative” on Tort Reform. Illinois Legal Times. Vol.12, No.131. March 1998
• 1998 – ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook — Learned Medical Treatises Supplement
• 1998 – IICLE - Modern Medical Malpractice Litigation — “Standard of Care”
• 1998 – ITLA Trial Journal — Lost Pension Benefits in a Wrongful Death Action - A Wrong without a Remedy
• 1998 – ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook Supplement
• 1999 – ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook – Learned Medical Treatises
• 2000 - ITLA Trial Journal — The Use and Abuse of Medical Literature, Volume 2, Number 1, Winter 2000
• 2000 – IICLE Practice Handbook — Proving and Disproving Damages in Personal Injury Cases, 2000 Edition
• 2002 - Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education “Development of the Case on Fact and Law"
• 2003 – Chicago Tribune – Voice of the People Letter to the Editor 2/17/03. Medical Malpractice Insurance Premiums
• 2003 – Chicago Sun Times –  Letter to the Editor 7-10-03 "Medical Malpractice Premiums, Legal Malpractice Premiums and Boat Insurance Premiums."
• 2004 – Present Justinian Society Newsletter "From a Plaintiff’s Lawyer’s Desk" – Quarterly Columnist
• 2006 – ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook Supplement
• 2007 – ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook Supplement
• 2008 – ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook Supplement
• 2008 – IICLE – Illinois Civil Practice Vol. 1, Chapter 2, Development of the Case on Facts and Law
• 2011 - ITLA Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook: Learned Medial Treatises and Assistant Editor
• 2011 - Trial Journal of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association: Winter 2011 - Practice Tips: Cross Examination of the Expert Witness: Rutherford et al vs Kochell et al.

Representative cases

• ___ v. Methodist Medical Center, et al. Court No.: 06 L 117, recovery of $17.5 million
• ___ v. Price Waterhouse Coopers, Case No. 03 L 11042, recovery of $10.0 million
• ___ v. Suburban Lung Associates, et. al., Court No. 02 L 04984, recovery of $7.4 million
• ___ v. Loyola University Hospitals, Court No. 96 L 04665, recovery of $7 million
• ___ v. Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, et al., Court No. 90 L 6080, recovery of $5.6 million
• ___ v. Watts, et. al., Court No. 93 L 04210, recovery of $5.1 million
• ___ v. Frezza, M.D., et. al., Court No. 02 L 008907, recovery of $5 million
• ___ v. St. Francis Hospital of Evanston, et al., Court No. 86 L 11283, recovery of $4.25 million
• ___ v. FSC Paper Corp., et. al., Court No. 00 L 6154, recovery of $4.032 million
• ___ v. Rush Trucking and Gary Turner et al., Court No. 97 L 5791, recovery of $4 million
• ___ v. Pace Suburban Bus Co., et al., Court No. 96 L 2566, recovery of $3.5 million
• ___ v. Metrick,Court No. 84 M4 273126, recovery of $3.45 million
• ___ v. Little Company of Mary Hospital, et al., Court No. 85 L 18457, recovery of $3.4 million
• ____v. Confidential Defendant, Court No. 05 L 855, recovery of $3.25 million
• ___ v. Stephen Behnke, M.D., et al., Court No. 02 L 002309, recovery of $3,052,283
• ___ v. Columbia Michael Reese Hospital, et al., Court No. 99 L 03453, recovery of $2.8 million
• ___ v. Circle W Tractor & Equipment, et al., Court No. 91 L 2014, recovery of $2.7 million
• ___ v. ABK Construction, Court No. 04 L 14157 recovery of $2.7 million
• ___ v. Pace, Court No. 01 L 012443, recovery of $2.7 million
• ___ v. Children’s Memorial Hospital, et, al., Court No. 04 L 008717, recovery of $2.5 million
• ___ v. Holy Cross Hospital, et. al., Court No. 96 L 13007, recovery of $2.5 million
• ___ v. Shipley Co., Court No. 87 L 22709, recovery of $2.5 million
• ___ v. Zadeh, et. al., Court No. 95 L 00840, recovery of $2,425,000.00
• ___v. Confidential Hospital, Court No. 08 L 009157, recovery of $2,400,000.00
• ___ v. Harrison, et.al., Court No. 91 L 2014, recovery of $2,000,000.00
• ___ v. Hunter, et.al., Court No. 02 L 16138, recovery of $1,950,000.00
• ___ v. Loyola, et al., recovery of $1,875,000.00
• ___ v. Moore, et al., Court No. 86 L 02240, recovery of $1.8 million
• ___ v. St. Francis, et al., Court No. 81 L 28974, Court No. 96 L 12855, recovery of $1.575 million
• ___ v. Double D Express, et al., Court No. 09 L 53, recovery of $1,500,000
• ___ v. Multack, et al., Court No. 08 L 004117, recovery of $1,210,000
• ___ v. Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center, Court No. 93 L 02134, recovery of $1.35 million
• ___ v. Abrams, et al., Court No. 01 L 05374, recovery of $1.3 million
• ___ v. Miczuga, et al., Court No. 84 L 25597, recovery of $1.25 million
• ___ v. Gardner, et. al., Court #99 l 141251, recovery of $1.125 million
• ___ v. Rosi, et al., Court No. 90 L 10323, recovery of $1,085,000.00
• ___ v.Cohen, M.D., Court No. 81 L 3025, recovery of $1.1 million
• ___ v. Werner Troesken, et al., Court No. 91 L 2014, recovery of $1,090,000.00
• ___ v. Roseland, et al., Court No. 01 L 14480, recovery of $1 million
• ___ v. Ahmadian, Court No. 93 L 9802, recovery of $1 million
• ___ v. Todd, et. al., Court No. 94 L 14442, recovery of $1 million
• ___ v. St. Joseph’s Hospital, Court No. 95 L 05838, recovery of $1 million
• ___ v. Clark Court, No. 98 L 02047, recovery of $1 million
• ___ v. Subramanian, Court No. 97 L 02951, recovery of $1 million
• ___ v. Deerbrook Medical Associates, Court #00 L 44, recovery of $1 million
• ___ v. BlueSky Taxi, et al., recovery of $1 million
• ___ v. Wilson, et al., Court No. 08 L 010107, recovery of $1 million

Community service

• Volunteer baseball coach
• Volunteer AYSO soccer coach

Click here to download complete Curriculum Vitae in PDF format.

Serving injured individuals and families in Illinois for over 65 years

From offices in Chicago, the attorneys of Phillips Law Offices offer quality and comprehensive legal services to the injured and their families throughout Illinois. Call (312) 470-6761, or contact us online today for a free consultation with one of our attorneys about your case.