Norman T. Finkel

Norm is not only an experienced commercial litigator, but also a legal and business advisor. He uses his business and finance background and experience to anticipate issues and advise clients on business matters, and he helps devise solutions to a variety of legal and business problems and issues that may arise.

Norm serves as general corporate counsel for companies, large and small, and also serves as trial and appellate counsel in federal and state courts throughout the United States. He serves as an arbitrator for the Circuit Court of Cook County, is an Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University School of Law, where he teaches trial advocacy, and is active in a number of professional, charitable and civic organizations.

Norm has repeatedly been selected by his own peers in a statewide evaluation as one of “Illinois’ Leading Lawyers” in Commercial Litigation and Closely and Privately Held Business Law, a distinction accorded to less than 5% of the state’s most respected and experienced practicing attorneys. He has also been featured as one of Illinois’ top attorneys in the area of business litigation in Chicago Lawyer Magazine and Illinois Super Lawyers Magazine. Norm most recently was selected to become a Fellow in the society of the Litigation Counsel of America, whose membership is limited to one-half of one percent of North American lawyers, judges and scholars.

One particular industry that Norm has represented for many years is the health and fitness industry, where he has represented health and fitness clubs in class actions, contractual and employment matters and defending premises liability and personal injury cases.

Norm has served on the Decalogue Society of Lawyers’ Judicial Evaluation Committee, the Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee, the Circuit Court and Alternative Dispute Resolution Committees and as a subcommittee chairman of its Commercial Litigation Committee.

• J.D., University of Illinois, Urbana
• M.B.A., University of Illinois at Urbana (Highest Honors)
• B.S. (Finance), University of Illinois at Urbana (Highest Honors)

• Trial Law Institute
• Diversity Law Institute
• Barrister, Order of Justitia
• Association of Trial Lawyers of America
• Decalogue Society of Lawyers
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
• First Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. Tax Court
• U.S. Court of Claims
• Admitted pro hac vice to handle cases in other state and federal courts throughout the country

• Illinois Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association
• American Bar Association