John Chen is a litigator. Having practiced law for over 30 years, John has a wide breadth of experience. He has handled all manner of commercial disputes and tort claims. His areas of expertise include: commercial litigation; business torts; trade secret litigation; environmental litigation; insurance and reinsurance litigation; class action defense; professional liability litigation; and business and employment disputes.
John believes that thoroughly understanding the facts and law and forming a litigation strategy at the beginning of a case is the way to get the best results. John understands complex commercial transactions and difficult factual patterns. He listens to his client’s goals and desired outcomes. He factors everything into the litigation strategy.
John is a trial lawyer. He has successfully tried many cases to verdict in state and federal court. He has received favorable rulings in arbitration proceedings before the American Arbitration Association. He has successfully mediated cases before JAMS, and understands that some clients prefer to use alternative dispute resolution methods.
Prior to forming the Chen Law Firm, Ltd., John was a partner at the law firm of Piper Rudnick and its predecessor firm Rudnick & Wolfe (now DLA Piper LLP), where he spent the majority of his career.
John graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law where he was a Harno Scholar. He graduated with High Honors and Distinction in Economics from the University of Illinois College of Commerce and Business Administration. He has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer (2019 through 2024) in business litigation.
John is an adjunct professor at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law where he teaches trial advocacy. John has taught at Northwestern’s nationally ranked trial advocacy program since 1997.
Throughout his career, John has had a commitment to community service. John chaired the Asian American Legal Services Clinic in Uptown for ten years. The Clinic served the poor in Chicago’s Asian and Southeast Asian populations. John was awarded the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award in 1997.
John is an avid runner. He has run ten marathons, including Boston. Most recently he ran rim to rim across the Grand Canyon.