Chicago injury attorney Phil Berenz has secured substantial settlements and verdicts for clients in personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. He has also successfully defended businesses and individuals against lawsuits, winning judgments that far exceeded the amounts plaintiffs originally sought.
As lead trial attorney, Phil has handled both bench and jury trials in Illinois State and Federal Courts. His experience extends beyond Illinois, having been admitted pro hac vice in Virginia, Florida, and California—allowing him to litigate cases for clients facing legal disputes across state lines. His clients range from individuals to international businesses in the U.S., Canada, Ukraine, and the Sultanate of Oman.
Phil frequently litigates nationwide, working alongside a network of local counsel to represent clients in complex, high-stakes cases.
Before becoming an attorney, he spent five years in the securities and derivatives division of one of the world’s largest banks, working as a financial analyst and Assistant Vice President. This financial background gives him an edge in cases involving business disputes, fraud claims, and financial litigation.
Education
- Indiana University School of Law—Bloomington: JD, 2000
- Purdue University: B.S. in Finance & Accounting, 1992
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA): 1993
Bar Admissions
- Illinois (2000)
- Federal Court, Northern District of Illinois (2000)
- Federal Trial Bar, Northern District of Illinois (2011)
- Federal Court, Western District of Virginia (pro hac vice)
- Florida (2010) (pro hac vice)
- California (2013) (pro hac vice)
Memberships / Associations
- The National Trial Lawyers- Top 100 Trial Lawyers
- Avvo Clients Choice-Superb Rating
- AV Preeminent
- Martindale-Hubbell-15 Year Anniversary
- Martindale-Hubbell- Top Rated Lawyer- Litigation
- Lawyers.com- Client Distinction Award
- Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
- American Association for Justice
- International Network of Social-Eco Entrepreneurs
- Taxpayers Against Fraud
Publications
- Chicago Trial Attorney Blog: 2008-present; Main and sole author
- Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), Co-Author, Chapter 4, Recent Federal Legislation—HIPAA Update, ISSUES IN LONG TERM CARE Practice Handbook, 2002 (a 40+ page chapter on healthcare privacy rules
- Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Lead Article Co-Author, Arbitration in 1997-1998, The Year in Review in the ISBA’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Publication, IN THE ALTERNATIVE, November 1998 (Volume 5, Number 1) (Survey of ‘97-’98 national case law
