Matthew L. Willens

From www.willenslaw.com

Matthew L. Willens is recognized by the Illinois legal community as the “Best of the Best” in personal injury law. He has been designated by his peers as a top 100 “Illinois Super Lawyer” – an honor given to less than 1% of Illinois lawyers. This honor was received after an independent research, peer nomination and peer evaluation process. He has an AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5 peer review rating – the highest rating possible in personal injury and medical malpractice – in the highly distinguished Martindale-Hubbell® legal directory. He has a 10/10 (Superb) Avvo Rating with the highest possible marks in all categories including experience, industry recognition and professional conduct. He is recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” in Personal Injury Law and Professional Malpractice – based on a survey of legal peers conducted by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Leading Lawyer Network. In 2004, he was named one of the ’40 Attorneys Under 40 in Illinois to Watch’ by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company – an honor given to less than 1% of the lawyers in Illinois. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum – where membership is limited to trial attorneys who have obtained million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements – where less than 1% of lawyers in the United States are members. He is also listed in Who’s Who in American Law and Strathmore’s Who’s Who, publications that honor the best and brightest lawyers in the country.

Mr. Willens has a unique understanding of the dynamics and strategies of serious personal injury and wrongful death cases because he has had experience from both sides of the aisle. Before starting his own firm, he was a partner at Clifford Law Offices where he successfully litigated and tried a wide variety of serious personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death cases on behalf of plaintiffs. Prior to that, he worked for a major insurance company where he coordinated and managed the strategic direction of million-dollar-plus personal injury and wrongful death cases. His knowledge of the defense industry is indispensable in prosecuting cases for individuals who have been victims of negligence.

Mr. Willens gives back to the legal profession as well. He is an adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law where he teaches Advanced Trial Advocacy. He writes a monthly column for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, the nation’s oldest daily legal publication. In addition, he has authored articles in legal periodicals and has been a regular speaker at legal seminars throughout the country on various topics related to trial advocacy.  In addition to giving back to the legal profession, he donates his time and money generously to many good causes.

When he’s not at work, Matt dedicates his time to his three children.  If he’s not attending one of their many activities, he’s likely on a bike ride or playing the sport of the day with them.

Learn more about Matthew Willens – personal biography

Admitted to all Illinois Courts – 1995

Loyola University Chicago School of Law, JD – 1995

Founder – Willens Law Offices – 2007 to present

Adjunct Professor Loyola University Chicago School of Law – Advanced Trial Advocacy – 2007 to present

Partner – Clifford Law Offices – 2003 – 2006

Management – CNA Insurance Company – 2001 – 2003

Associate – Rapoport Law Offices – 1995 – 2001

Voted by peers as “Best of the Best” – a designation given to the top 100 lawyers in Illinois

Selected for membership into The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Trial Lawyers

Designated by peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer – an honor given to only 5% of Illinois lawyers

Designated by peers as a Leading Lawyer in Personal Injury Law and Professional Malpractice – a distinction earned by fewer than 5% of all Illinois lawyers

Has an AV® Preeminent™ 5 out of 5 peer review rating in personal injury and medical malpractice – Martindale-Hubbell® legal directory

Has a 10/10 Avvo Rating with the highest possible marks in all categories including experience, industry recognition and professional conduct

Nominated by the Trial Lawyer Board of Reagents as a top 1% Trial Lawyer

Recognized as one of Chicago’s Top Lawyers as published in The National Law Journal

Recognized as one of the Top Attorneys in Illinois as published in Chicago magazine

Member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum where membership is limited to trial attorneys who have obtained million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements – less than 1% of lawyers in the United States are members

Adjunct professor at Loyola University Chicago School of Law where he teaches Advanced Trial Advocacy since 2007

In 2004, named one of the ’40 Attorneys Under 40 in Illinois to Watch’ by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company – an honor given to less than 1% of the lawyers in Illinois

Wrote a monthly column for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin called “Words of Willens”

Listed in Who’s Who in American Law

Worked for a major insurance company where he coordinated and managed the strategic direction of million-dollar-plus cases
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Has authored articles in legal periodicals and is a regular speaker at legal seminars throughout the country on various topics related to trial advocacy

ITLA

ISBA

CBA

• Matthew L. Willens invited to join Trial Masters, an organization that selects members based upon hard-earned trial experience – 35 civil cases to verdict before either a judge or a jury (March, 2015)
• Matthew L. Willens recognized as one of Chicago’s Top Rated Lawyers of 2015 (March, 2015)
• Matthew L. Willens and David A. Baez obtain an award of nearly nine times more than last pre-trial offer in a car accident case (January, 2015)
• Matthew L. Willens Named 2015 Illinois Super Lawyer (January, 2015)
• Matthew L. Willens selected by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the nation (January, 2015)
• Matthew L. Willens chosen by NAOPIA to receive a Top 10 Attorney Award for the state of Illinois (December, 2014)
• Willens Law Offices nominated for a 2014 Litigator Award for winning million and multi-million dollar cases – a feat achieved by less than 1% of all lawyers (November, 2014)
• Willens Law Offices awards scholarship to music teacher (October, 2014)
• Willens Law Offices announces the addition of well regarded trial lawyer, David A. Baez, to the firm. (September, 2014)100
• Matthew L. Willens named 2014 Top 100 Attorneys in Illinois as published in Chicago Magazine (February, 2014)
• Matthew L. Willens named 2014 Illinois Super Lawyer (January, 2014)
• Octavio Duran works tirelessly helping people who were victims of negligence achieve justice.Read more.
• Matthew L. Willens named 2013 Top 100 Attorneys in Illinois as published in Chicago Magazine (February, 2013)
• Willens Named 2013 Illinois Super Lawyer (January, 2013)
• Octavio Duran hosted an event called “Lunch with a Judge” sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association (CBA).
• Octavio Duran Appointed Local Chapter Liaison for MSU Law School Alumni
• Lawsuit: Man set on fire at Batavia Chinese restaurant – A negligence suit has been brought against a local restaurant after a repairman was burned while performing services.
• Repairman sues Batavia restaurant – Matthew Willens is representing a man who was burned while repairing a stove at a local restaurant.
• Small Firms Nab Big Settlements– Matthew L. Willens featured in Chicago Lawyer magazine for his multi-million dollar settelment on behalf of a young man injured when a porch railing collapsed. October, 2010
• Transition From Working at a Small Firm To Starting Your Own – Matthew L. Willens featured in Blackacre, Loyola Law School, February, 2010
• Alumni Spotlight – Matthew L. Willens featured in Loyola University Chicago School of Law Newsletter, February, 2010
• Q & A – Matthew L. Willens featured in Chicago Lawyer Magazine, January, 2010

• Jury Selection – Matthew L. Willens selected to moderate and speak at Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s (IICLE) seminar on Jury Selection – June 5, 2015.
• Your First Car Accident Case – Matthew L. Willens presented to lawyers at the Illinois State Bar Association’s 9^th Annual Solo and Small Firm Conference – October, 2013.
• Anatomy of a Motor Vehicle Crash Case – Matthew L. Willens presented to lawyers and judges regarding jury selection and trial at the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s legal seminar on Motor Vehicle Crash Cases – September, 2013.
• Starting Your Own Practice – Matthew L. Willens  was the moderator and a speaker at the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s (IICLE) legal seminar on Starting Your Own Practice – June 3rd through June 6th, 2013. Read more
• Presenting Expert Testimony at Trial – Matthew L. Willens presented to law students at Loyola University Chicago School of Law School – Winter, 2013
• Advocacy in Mediation –Matthew L. Willens presented to lawyers and judges regarding mediating high value cases at the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Conference entitled Winning at Alternative Dispute Resolution:  Understanding Advocacy in Arbitration and Mediation – Fall, 2012.
• Basics of Personal Injury Litigation –Matthew L. Willens presented to lawyers at the Illinois State Bar Association’s 8^th Annual Solo and Small Firm Conference – Summer, 2012.
• Career Advice -Matthew L. Willens presented to law students at Loyola University Chicago School of Law School – Winter, 2012
• What Lawyers Do – Matthew L. Willens presented to law students at Loyola University Chicago School of Law School – Fall, 2010
• Career Choices – Presented to law students and lawyers at Loyola University Chicago School of Law School – Winter, 2010
• 90 Days Before Trial: The Final Countdown – Detailing Your Case for Trial – Presented to lawyers at the Chicago Bar Association – Fall, 2006
• Traumatic Brain Injuries – Presented at the Lake County Center for Independent Living in Mundelein – Spring, 2006
• Liens – Contractual Reimbursements – Presented at two Illinois Trial Lawyer Association Seminars – Winter and Summer, 2006
• Presenting Psychological and Neuropsychological Evidence in a Personal Injury Case – Presented to lawyers, academics and experts from around the country at the American Bar Association – Spring, 2005
• Traumatic Brain Injuries – Illinois Trial Journal (republished in The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Journal, Issue 499, 2005), 12/01/2004
• Top 10 Mistakes Made by Attorneys – Presented to lawyers in Illinois, New York, Texas, California, Florida, Tennessee, Georgia – 2003
• How Personal Injury Law and Workers’ Compensation Law are Related – Matthew Willens presents to law students at Kent Law School – 1998, 1999, 2000

• City Bike Laws You Should Know – Matt Willens, interviewed by Outside The Loop Radio, September 12, 2013
• How to stay in “trial” shape – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, May 3, 2013
• Trading fantasy jobs for reality work – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 8, 2013
• Lawyers gain satisfaction from helping others at their firms – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 17, 2013
• Thanksgiving Ends, But Idea Lasts – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, December 7, 2012
• Lawyer Decides To Give Back – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, November 2, 2012
• Personal Interaction Remains Important – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, September 6, 2012
• Top Lawyers Make Themselves Available – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, August 13, 2012
• Leaders inspire others in the profession – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, July 16, 2012
• Lawyers should strive to protect civility – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 11, 2012
• Everyone needs to quit the blame game and do our part to help the economy – May 8, 2012
• Lawyers must avoid becoming a ‘bad apple’ – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, April 17, 2012
• Faith makes a difference for firm owner – featured in the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 2, 2012
• Traumatic Brain Injuries, By Matthew Willens Published in the Trial Journal Volume 7, Number 1, Winter 2004 (republished in The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers Journal, Issue 499, 2005)