2016 list includes Chairman John Simmons, Managing Shareholder Michael Angelides and Shareholders Perry Browder, Brian Cooke and Randy Cohn in top 5 percent of Illinois attorneys
Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national complex litigation firm, is proud to announce the inclusion of several attorneys on the 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers list. The list recognizes firm Chairman John Simmons, Managing Shareholder Michael Angelides and Shareholders Perry Browder, Brian Cooke and Randy Cohn as top attorneys in their practice areas. In addition, firm attorney John Foley is included in the 2016 Illinois Rising Stars list.
Simmons makes the list for the fifth consecutive year in the Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff practice area. Since he founded the firm in 1999, it has grown under his leadership from eight to more than 200 employees. Headquartered in Alton, Illinois, the firm now has 70 attorneys and additional offices in St. Louis, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The firm’s practice areas include mesothelioma, dangerous drugs and devices, environmental law, consumer protection, commercial litigation, personal injury and other mass torts.
Angelides debuts on the list in the Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff practice area. He has represented mesothelioma patients against some of the nation’s largest companies, garnering a reputation for absolute dedication to his clients. As Managing Shareholder, he oversees all the firm’s practice areas and its daily business operations. Through his leadership, the firm files the most asbestos cases of any other law firm in the country.
Browder is listed in the area of Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff for the sixth consecutive year. A skilled litigator, he oversees the firm’s asbestos litigation department and has represented victims of asbestos exposure in hundreds of mesothelioma lawsuits. He has successfully recovered millions of dollars on behalf his clients, including a $250 million verdict against U.S. Steel, the largest verdict of its kind in U.S. history.
Cooke makes the list for the first time in the area of Personal Injury—Products: Plaintiff. Cooke’s focus is asbestos cancer victims. He uses rigorous investigation practices in every case to secure justice for his clients. Before joining the firm in 2004, he obtained a law degree and served two tours of duty with the United States Marine Corps. Besides his work as a prosecutor and company commanding officer, Cooke also served as legal adviser to the Iraqi Ministry of Justice in Baghdad, prosecuting acts of terrorism, political corruption, and organized crime.
Cohn received the distinguished accomplishment of ranking in the Illinois Super Lawyers: The Top 100 list for 2016. The list recognizes the Illinois Super Lawyers’ picks for the top 100 lawyers in the state. This is his second year ranking in the area of Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff. Previously, he was listed as an Illinois Rising Star from 2012-2014. Cohn oversees a team of mesothelioma attorneys and investigators and has developed a unique focus on helping victims of Navy-related asbestos exposure. He has recovered millions of dollars on behalf of his clients, including a $2.86 million asbestos verdict against R.T. Vanderbilt.
Foley returns for a fourth consecutive year as an Illinois Rising Star in the area of Personal Injury – Products: Plaintiff. Foley represents people who have been harmed by dangerous drugs and medical devices, including transvaginal mesh implants, Yaz birth control, and the diabetes medication Actos.
Inclusion on these lists indicates excellence as honorees in the Illinois Super Lawyers list make up only 5 percent of Illinois attorneys, and no more than 2.5 percent of all Illinois lawyers are named Rising Stars. Rising Stars must be 40 years old or younger, or have been in practice for 10 or fewer years.
Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a rigorous multi-phased process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.
The complete list of the 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers appeared in the January edition of the Illinois Super Lawyers magazine. For more information, visit www.superlawyers.com.
About Simmons Hanly Conroy, LLC
Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC is one of the nation’s largest mass tort law firms and has recovered more than $5 billion in verdicts and settlements for plaintiffs. Primary areas of litigation include asbestos and mesothelioma, pharmaceutical, consumer protection, environmental and personal injury. The firm’s attorneys have been appointed to leadership in numerous national multidistrict litigations, including Vioxx, Yaz and Toyota Unintended Acceleration. The firm also represents small and mid-size corporations, inventors and entrepreneurs in matters involving business litigation. Offices are located in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Alton, Illinois. Read More at www.simmonsfirm.com.
