Richard Chapman

Richard H. Chapman practices in Clark Hill's Litigation Department where his focus is on business counseling and business litigation. His depth of experience across all industries gives him invaluable strategic insights, both legal and business, that he brings to every client’s table.

Richard has over 23 years of successful experience as a leading trial lawyer concentrating in business litigation in federal, state and bankruptcy courts, as well as in arbitration, throughout the United States.

He has earned honors and recognition by courts and peers. The Illinois Supreme Court appointed him to be a member and the secretary of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases. Additionally, his peers selected him as an "Illinois Leading Lawyer" in Bankruptcy and Workout Law (Commercial), and Commercial Litigation, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2006). Richard has also been selected as an "Illinois Super Lawyer" (Top Five Percent) in Business Litigation, Law and Politics - Illinois Super Lawyers (2006).

Richard vigilantly watches over his clients’ businesses and industry trends to leverage their growth and market share. He is trusted to reduce litigation costs by bringing best business practices into their organizations.

• Closely held and publicly held corporations
• Banks
• Stock and investment brokerage firms
• Leasing companies
• Manufacturers of consumer and industrial goods
• Professional service firms and consultants
• Others having business operations throughout the United States

Richard has litigated cases in Illinois state, federal and bankruptcy courts, as well as courts in California, Texas, North Carolina, Florida and Michigan. He has successfully prosecuted, argued and won appeals in the Illinois Appellate Court, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Ninth Circuits, as well as the California Court of Appeals.

• Represented heirs of decedent in recovering over $500,000 in decedent's funds converted by other heirs by virtue of prohibited power of attorney.

• Represented defendant in trial and appellate courts in obtaining dismissal of claims of violations of federal securities laws based on plaintiff's lack of standing to pursue claims.

• Represented defendant corporation president in trial and appellate courts in obtaining dismissal of oppression and tort claims based upon plaintiffs' lack of standing where they did not own stock in corporation.

• Represented defendant corporation against usury and breach of license agreement claims in obtaining favorable judgment and rulings in trial and appellate courts.

• Represented sales representative in declaratory judgment action finding that representative had continuing right to over $1 million in sales commissions.

• "Illinois Leading Lawyer" in Bankruptcy and Workout Law (Commercial), and Commercial Litigation, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network (2006)

• "Illinois Super Lawyer" (Top Five Percent) in Business Litigation, Law and Politics - Illinois Super Lawyers (2006)

• Speaker: FagelHaber LLC Seminar "Avoiding the Pitfalls of the Electronic Era" (October 2005)

• Speaker: Land Trust Council of Illinois, "Challenges to the Land Trustee - A Case Analysis" (1993), and "Land Trustee Liability - Continuing Trends In the 1990's" (1995)

• Speaker: Illinois Society of Home Inspectors, "Considerations In Drafting A Contract That Works For You" (1994)

• Bar Association Civil Practice Committee Seminar (1990)

• Speaker: Chicago Midwest Credit Management Association, "Secured Transactions" (1990)

• Speaker: "2-615 and 2-619 Motions," North Suburban Bar Association Civil Practice Seminar (1990)

• Motions, Affidavits and Orders (2006) Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education's Contract Law publication

• Motions, Affidavits and Orders (1989 and 1994 Supplement, 1992 and 1997 Revision) Vol. I Illinois Civil Practice, Illinois Institute For Continuing Legal Education

• The Dual Capacity Doctrine in Illinois Vol. 12, No. 4, Summer, 1981 Loyola University Law Journal

• The Trial Lawyer's Guide Co-Editor West Group

• Illinois (1982)
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit (1982)
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, including Trial Bar (1982)
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan (1982)
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2001)

• Chicago Bar Association, (Member, Board of Managers, 1994-96)
• Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions In Criminal Cases (Member and Secretary, 1987-90)

• J.D., Loyola University Chicago School of Law (1982), Student Articles Editor and Member, Loyola University Law Journal (1981-82)

• B.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1979), high distinction in history