Criminal Law

• Wrongful Death
  Our Admiralty / Maritime Practice Group has, for nearly 40 years, helped foreign and domestic clients find safe passage by providing legal and business counsel in all aspects of the admiralty / maritime industry. We have represented foreign and domestic companies, vessel owners and underwriters throughout the world in maritime matters, including Jones Act and wrongful death claims, cargo claims and property loss, as well as marine insurance coverage issues. Read More
• Sex Crimes
  Congratulations to John O'Donnell, Sr., Sara E. Spratt and John O'Donnell, Jr. who recently obtained summary judgment for the client, a sailing club. The sailing club operated a bar during a sailing regatta, and during discovery it was revealed that it had violated its liquor license by selling alcohol outside the confines of its building. At some point during the regatta and related social events, the plaintiff (a minor) alleged that she was sexually assaulted by another regatta participant. The plaintiff sued the sailing club, the alleged assailant and another regatta sponsor, alleging, among other things, negligence and premises liability. While businesses invite patrons onto their premises and therefore undertake a duty to provide reasonably safe premises, the undertaking of such a duty does not extend to unforeseeable criminal acts. Mr. O'Donnell highlighted the fact that there was no evidence that the sailing club served the participant with alcohol, was aware of participant's allegedly intoxicated state, or knew that any of the regatta competitors had any violent propensities. In so doing, Mr. O'Donnell successfully convinced an Ohio state court that the sailing club had no duty to protect regatta participants from allegedly intentional and criminal acts because they were unforeseeable. Furthermore, the trial court also agreed and found that the alleged criminal sexual assault was not a natural and probable consequence of the sailing club's technical liquor license violation.
• Fraud
  WILLIAM P. McELLIGOTT, a Shareholder with the Firm and co-chair of its motor carrier and transportation defense group, has over 26 years of experience handling casualty defense litigation with an emphasis on commercial transportation and construction liability. He also focuses his practice on vehicular accidents, premises liability, consumer fraud litigation, and employment liability claims. Bill’s clients include a wide variety of national and local insurance carriers. He has a wealth of experience in defending insurance carriers and their insureds in personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
• Burglary
• Theft
• Assault
• Arson
  Our Arson and Fraud Practice Group has, for over 30 years, been involved in the investigation and defense of fraudulent and exaggerated insurance claims. Practice Group attorneys have served as Cook County Bomb and Arson prosecutors, Chairman of the State Arson Advisory Committee, Members of the Illinois State Arson Award Committee, Governor’s Fire Advisory Commission, Illinois Committee on Arson Prevention, Illinois Fire Investigator Strike Force, National Society of Professional Insurance Investigators and International Society of Special Investigators. These positions reflect the experience and skill of firm attorneys as well as an awareness of the value and need for public and industry service. Arson and Fraud Practice Group attorneys regularly serve as panelists in industry programs and trainers at S.I.U. meetings.

Business and Corporate Law

• Corporate Law
  Our Business and Commercial Practice Group has, for over 15 years, provided small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, and entrepreneurs with superior legal advice and cost-effective results. Our Business and Commercial Practice Group continues to represent business clients over a wide-range of matters including contract review, contractual disputes, corporate governance, administrative compliance, employment and labor issues, and real estate matters. Our experience includes representing clients before state and federal courts, administrative and regulatory agencies, as well as mediators and arbitration panels. Our Business and Commercial Practice Group also counsels its business clients in connection with a variety of general business and transactional matters such as contract drafting, review, and negotiation, corporate transactions, and corporate formation and organization.
• Business Disputes
  During law school, Thomas served as a member of the ISBA moot court team, winning first place, best team brief, and best individual oralist. He also worked as a clinician in Loyola University School of Law’s Business Law Clinic, and served as a judicial extern for the Hon. Susan Pierson Sonderby (Ret.), of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of Illinois.
• Antitrust
  David has extensive experience successfully defending motor carriers in claims involving significant injuries and wrongful death. David has also been involved in litigation arising from equipment rental and is well versed in the nuances of the equipment rental industry. He also has extensive experience representing landlords, tenants and snow plowing contractors in premises liability lawsuits. In addition resolving claims of general negligence within all major industries, David has also successfully resolved claims and advised clients on issues related to insurance coverage, commercial disputes and antitrust violations.

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  For over 43 years, our Workers' Compensation Practice Group has been engaged in the defense of Workers' Compensation matters, including protection and recovery of employers' 5(b) lien interests and defense of third-party matters. Leahy, Eisenberg & Fraenkel has a long history of successful trial work before the Arbitrators at the IWCC and a history of winning strategies at each appellate level. Our three office locations give our clients coverage throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Missouri.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Our Business and Commercial Practice Group has, for over 15 years, provided small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, and entrepreneurs with superior legal advice and cost-effective results. Our Business and Commercial Practice Group continues to represent business clients’ over a wide-range of matters including contract review, contractual disputes, corporate governance, administrative compliance, employment and labor issues, and real estate matters. Read More
• Premises Liability
  Our Liability Practice Group has been providing cost-effective representations to the insurance industry for over 35 years. The Liability Practice Group's attorneys are experienced in auto/truck liability, products liability, premises liability (including toxic torts), and other general liability matters. Recent successful verdicts include...
• Construction Litigation
  Our Construction Defect Practice Group is engaged in the representation of general contractors and specialty sub-contractors. Successful resolution of construction defect cases is furthered by early analysis, pre-trial discovery directed to narrowing the case issues, and the efficient use and management of our clients’ input.
• Property Damage
  Thomas A. Gamache, Adam L. Fraenkel, and Daniel J. Offenbach were successful before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in defending an appeal of a denial of class certification. Plaintiffs suffered property damage following a fire caused by a nearby lightning strike. Plaintiffs alleged the fire was caused by defective gas piping installed in the property, claiming that it caused the structure to be electrically energized such that the energy created a hole in the piping, resulting in fire. Plaintiffs sought nationwide and state-specific class certification on behalf of property owners in which the gas piping was installed; LEF, representing the manufacturer of gas piping, opposed class certification. The District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania denied Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification, ruling that Plaintiffs had failed to meet the standards for class certification under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. The Third Circuit granted Plaintiffs’ Rule 23(f) petition for permissive appeal, but, following hearing, affirmed the District Court, agreeing that Plaintiffs had failed to satisfy necessary elements of Rule 23, thereby precluding class certification.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  JAMES A. HOLEVAS, an Associate with the Firm, concentrates his practice in all aspects of insurance defense. Prior to joining the Firm, James clerked for two years at a personal injury firm where he focused...
• Medical Malpractice
  JAMES A. HOLEVAS, an Associate with the Firm, concentrates his practice in all aspects of insurance defense. Prior to joining the Firm, James clerked for two years at a personal injury firm where he focused on medical malpractice and general litigation.
• Auto Accidents

Finance Law

• Bankruptcy