Robert "Bob" McLaughlin is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who handles high-stakes and complex litigation matters in courtrooms throughout the United States. He devotes 100% of his law practice to litigation. He concentrates in the areas of mass torts, class actions, catastrophic bodily injury, business litigation, and workplace harassment and discrimination. Bob serves as trial and coordinating counsel in national industry-wide litigation and also as lead trial and appellate counsel in lawsuits pending in state and federal courts in Illinois. Bob is regarded by his peers as a tireless and zealous advocate for each of his clients, whether the matter is bet-the-company litigation or a lawsuit involving more moderate liability exposure.
From 2017 to 2024, Bob has been chosen by his attorney peers in the legal community as a "Leading Lawyer" in the areas of mass torts, class actions, product liability and bodily injury. The distinction of being named a Leading Lawyer has been earned by fewer than 5% of all attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois. Notably, lawyers cannot nominate any lawyer within their own firm to be a Leading Lawyer. The independent Leading Lawyers Advisory Board rigorously vets nominated attorneys based on the results of annual surveys sent to every practicing lawyer in Illinois, ensuring that only the top lawyers in Illinois earn the Leading Lawyers honor. A large settlement Bob won for one of his clients in 2018 was recognized in The Chicago Tribune’s "Leaders in the Law" feature of the top settlements in Illinois. Every year from 2014 to 2024, Bob has been selected for inclusion in the Illinois "Super Lawyers" List, no more than 5% of lawyers in the state are selected for this honor. From 2018 to 2024 Bob has been one of only approximately fifty Illinois lawyers selected for the Super Lawyers class action/mass torts list. Super Lawyers utilizes a multiphase selection process which includes independent research of each nominated attorney’s peer evaluations, experience, and professional achievements, including trial verdicts, settlements, honors, and awards. As one of the Illinois class action/mass tort attorneys receiving the highest point totals from peer nominations and independent research, on multiple occasions, Bob has been given the honor of serving as a Super Lawyers “Blue Ribbon Panel Member” responsible for evaluating other candidate attorneys for selection to the Super Lawyers class action/mass torts list. In 2015, Bob was selected as a "Premier 100 Trial Attorney" for the State of Illinois by the American Academy of Trial Attorneys (AATA). This award recognizes the top 100 trial attorneys in each state. Membership into AATA’s Premier 100 requires the satisfaction of stringent criteria and standards established by the AATA Board of Directors, including notable verdicts, settlements and achievements. In 2015 and 2016 Bob was named an "Emerging Lawyer" by Leading Lawyers. The distinction of being named an Emerging Lawyer is reserved for the top 2% of Illinois lawyers who are 40 years old or younger and who have been identified by their peers as proving themselves to be professional, ethical, and experienced at an early point in their legal career. From 2009 through 2013, Bob was named to the Illinois Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" List, an honor reserved for no more than 2.5% of lawyers in the state, under the age of 40, nominated and selected by their peers in the legal community.
Bob is committed to giving back to his law firm and the community. An example of his exemplary pro bono service is the favorable monetary settlement Bob achieved on behalf of a prisoner in a Section 1983 federal lawsuit he prosecuted against the Cook County Department of Corrections involving civil rights violations for refusal to provide medical treatment. Bob also prosecuted and favorably resolved an Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and 8th Amendment cruel and unusual punishment case for an imprisoned client.
Bob lives in Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
"Your hard work and talent changed the course of my life …"
"Once again thank you. You have been so professional in every sense of the word."
"Thanks, Bob! I will absolutely keep your contact info for anything in the future, as well as sing your praises to anyone that may need legal work!"
"Thank you so much for representing us through this process! You were amazing to watch in action."
"Thank you very much for the successful ending of this long-awaited process. Besides our admiration for your professionalism and command of the law, my family is truly blessed with your friendship and kindness."
"I can’t thank you enough for all that you did to help me reach a settlement. I am very pleased with the outcome. It would not have been possible without your expertise and persistence…"
"Your tireless effort and superb legal know how, skills and sound strategies was the key to the successful outcome of this case. We feel truly fortunate to first and foremost to have you as a friend and of course as our legal counsel."
"I can’t tell you how much I appreciated your work…"
"Amazing! They obviously knew it was their fault. Thank you for everything."
"As always, thank you for your effort and your superb legal advice…"
