Practice Areas

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D. cum laude, 1949
  • St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa
  • Baylor University, Waco, Texas
  • Sacramento Junior College, Sacramento, California
  • University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana

Bar & Court Admissions

  • Illinois, 1949
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1965
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1949
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1956
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 1960
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1975
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit, 1983
Philip H. Corboy
Partner
33 N. Dearborn Street
21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60602
PHC@CorboyDemetrio.com    vCard

Philip H. Corboy, co-founder and named partner of  Corboy & Demetrio, is a nationally acclaimed trial lawyer who has practiced personal injury trial law for more than 50 years. Considered a pioneer in the area, Mr. Corboy represented plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death actions involving aviation, Federal Employers' Liability Act, general negligence, maritime, professional negligence, product liability and railroad law.

An advocate of trial by jury and a relentless lobbyist against tort reform, Mr. Corboy throughout his career has helped individuals receive the maximum compensation for their injuries and helped families recover for the deaths of their loved ones. His only loss at trial in the past three decades was reversed by the appellate court, with the defendant settling for $1.35 million.

Mr. Corboy has been awarded honors from law schools, religious organizations, legal associations and numerous publications. The National Law Journal has listed him as one of the top 100 most influential lawyers in the country since beginning its survey in 1985. One of only 13 lawyers nationwide to hold that distinction, Mr. Corboy also has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America since its inception in 1987. Mr. Corboy has written more than 100 articles on legal and business topics and has been the subject of news and feature articles in dozens of publications and television shows. He also has been a lecturer and panelist at legal, medical and insurance meetings and conventions around the world. Many profiles have been written - Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Chicago Magazine, and the Chicago Tribune, to name a few - which recognize his prominence in civil litigation.

He is a former president of the Chicago Bar Association, former president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, former chairman of the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association and former chair of the American Bar Association's Special Committee on Medical Professional Liability. Mr. Corboy served as general counsel for the Illinois Democratic Party and has served on the boards of directors of business, legal and charitable groups and as a member of task forces for courts, judicial and medical-related entities. He also has been active in such national and international associations as the Inner Circle of Advocates, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers, American Board of Trial Advocates, and American Association for Justice. Trial lawyers are admitted to those societies only by invitation from their peers.

View expanded bio

Profiles

  • The Power 100, Chicago Magazine, January 1998
  • Profiles in Power - The Most Influential Lawyers in America, The National Law Journal, April, 1997
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, 1997-98
  • Fighting for 'the brave,' Personal Injury Lawyer Loves to Take on Deep Pockets, USA Today, December, 1995
  • Power Lawyers, Chicago Magazine, July, 1994
  • Profiles in Power - The Most Influential Lawyers in America, The National Law Journal, April, 1994
  • America's Top Trial Lawyers, Who They Are & Why They Win, Prentice Hall Law & Business, 1994
  • The Elite Registry of Extraordinary Professionals, Oxford's Who's Who, 1992-93
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, 1995-96
  • Philip H. Corboy, Legal Dynamo, Vital Times, September, 1992
  • Chicago Law, Inside Chicago, November/December 1991
  • Chicago Profile, Philip H. Corboy, Chicago Sun-Times, May, 1991
  • Profiles in Power - The Most Influential Lawyers in America, The National Law Journal, March, 1991
  • First Person - Corboy Hits Hard at Misuse of Discovery, Merrill's Illinois Legal Times, September, 1990
  • What a Lawyer Looks For Before Suing You, Physician's Management, March, 1990
  • Million Dollar Lawyer, Phil Corboy, Chicago's Hottest Litigator, Blackacre, Loyola University Chicago Law School, November, 1989
  • The Litigators: Inside the Powerful World of America's High Stakes Trial Lawyers, 1989
  • A Talk with . . . Philip Corboy, Visual Evidence, August, 1989
  • Philip Corboy's Three C's, Trial Excellence, August, 1989
  • Courting Disaster - Flamboyant Corboy Wins Trials, Praise, Big Income, Crain's Chicago Business, July, 1989
  • Expert Witnesses - Philip Corboy Tells 'em How to Choose 'em, How to Use 'em, Chicago Lawyer, April, 1989
  • High Stakes, The Reader, March, 1989
  • The Trial Lawyers, by Emily Couric, 1988
  • Profiles in Power - The Most Influential Lawyers in America, The National Law Journal, May, 1988
  • Mock Trials, Community Attitude Surveys, Shadow Juries: A Round Table Discussion, Trial Diplomacy Journal, Spring 1988
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, 1987
  • Philip Corboy: Mastering the Science of P.I., The American Lawyer, June, 1987
  • Profile, The Loyola Patron, Summer, 1987
  • Winning - 15 of the Nation's Top Trial Lawyers Talk about Their Winning Tips and Techniques, The National Law Journal, April, 1985
  • Profiles in Power, The Nation's 100 Most Powerful Lawyers, The National Law Journal, April, 1985
  • Trial Lawyers Learn by Osmosis from Mentor, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, December, 1983
  • King of the Personal Injury Lawyers, Loyola Magazine, 1983
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Seaview/Putnam, by Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, 1983
  • How Phil Corboy Turned a Ruined Weekend into a $208,000 Judgment, Chicago Lawyer, November 1981
  • The Million Dollar Lesson in Lawyering, The National Law Journal, May, 1981
  • Windy City's Wizard - Phil Corboy: Ten Years Without a Loss, The National Law Journal, 1980
  • Who Runs Chicago, by Michael Kilian, Connie Fletcher and F. Richard Ciccone, St. Martin's Press, New York, 1979
  • What Happens If You Sue The Bastards, Money, November 1978
  • The Million-Dollar Attorney for the Maimed, Chicago Tribune Magazine, April, 1977
  • For the Plaintiff . . .Lawyers Specializing in Personal-Injury Suits Find Business is Good, The Wall Street Journal, August, 1972

News

Publications

  • Structured for a Reason
  • Abolishing Jury Awards Takes a Step Backwards
  • Holding Managed Care Accountable
  • Illinois Courts: Vital Developers of Tort Law as Constitutional Vanguards, Statutory Interpreters, and Common Law Adjudicators
  • Liability May Get Through to HMOs
  • Proof of Damages in Illinois
  • How I Solved My Evidence Problem
  • Bit o' Luck
  • Looking Back, The Lessons of the Simpson Trial: Beleaguered Jurors Did Their Job Well; the Police Did Not
  • New Technology May Boost the Jury's Role
  • Corporations Afraid of the Light
  • Tort Reform No Friend to Consumers
  • The Common Sense of American Juries
  • Streamrolling Tort Reform

Honors

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law Building Named Philip H. Corboy Law Center, 2009
  • Honorary Law Degree, John Marshall Law School, 2008
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, American Association for Justice, 2007
  • Pursuit of Justice Award, American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, 2005
  • Lifetime Achievement Award, Center for Disability and Elder Law, 2005
  • Career Achievement Award, John Marshall Law School, 2005
  • Lerner/Egan Award, Citizen Action Illinois, 2004
  • Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Award, Chicago Legal Clinic, 2002
  • Justice John Paul Stevens Award, Inaugural Class, Chicago Bar Association, 2000
  • Richard J. Daley Medal of Honor, Chicago Police Department, 2000
  • Distinguished Leadership Award, Hazelden Chicago, 1999
  • Laureate, Initial Class, Academy of Illinois Lawyers, Illinois State Bar Association, 1999
  • Chicago Street Named “Philip H. Corboy Way,” 1998
  • The John Marshall Law School Freedom Award, 1998
  • Carl Rolewick Award, Lawyers Assistance Program, Chicago Bar Association, 1998
  • Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, Loyola University, Chicago, 1996
  • Big Shoulders Humanitarian Award, 1996
  • Champion of Justice Award, Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1996
  • Crystal Shamrock Award, St. Patrick's High School, 1996
  • Philip H. Corboy Fellowship in Trial Advocacy established, Loyola University Chicago School of Law, 1995
  • Signum Fidei Honor, Chicago Province of the Christian Brothers, 1995
  • Leonard Ring Lifetime Achievement Award, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 1995
  • Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree, St. Ambrose College, 1978
  • Honorary National Alumni President, St. Ambrose University,
  • Chicago Bar Association, President, 1972
  • The LaSallian Award, Christian Brothers of the Midwest Province, 1972
  • Medal of Excellence, Loyola University School of Law, 1967
  • AV rating, Martindale-Hubbell - Highest level awarded for professional excellence
  • Chicago Bar Association, President, 1972
  • Chicago Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, President, 1963
  • Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honorary Society
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow
  • American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, Past President
  • American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
  • Civil Justice Foundation, American Association for Justice, Trustee
  • Cook County State's Attorney's Task Force on Life Sustaining Treatment, Past Chairman
  • Illinois Democratic Party, Former General Counsel
  • Illinois Super Lawyer - Top 5% of all Illinois lawyers
  • Illinois State Bar Foundation, Charter Fellow
  • Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions, Past Member
  • Inner Circle of Advocates
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • Leading Lawyer Network Member - Top 5% of all Illinois attorneys
  • National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Past Chairman and Lifetime Emeritus Board Member
  • Roscoe Pound Institute, American Association for Justice, Honorary Lifetime Trustee
  • “The Best Lawyers in America” - Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiff
  • The Society of Trial Lawyers

Professional Affiliations

  • American Association for Justice (AAJ) formerly known as Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), Honorary Trustee, Roscoe Pound Institute, 1967-Present; Bar Liaison Committee, 1993-1995; Chair, Stalwarts Committee, 1994-1995; Public Affairs Committee, 1994-1995; Trustee, Civil Justice Foundation, 1994-present; Former Member, Board of Governors
  • American Bar Association (ABA), Insurance, Negligence, Compensation Law of ABA, Section of Litigation; Tort & Insurance Practice Section; Fellow, American Bar Foundation; Commission on Lawyers Assistance Programs; Emeritus Member, Special Committee on Medical Professional Liability; Past Member, Commission on Standards of Judicial Administration; Past Member, House of Delegates; Section of Litigation, 1979; Litigation Section Fellow; Past Chairman, Insurance Section, Committee on Rules and Procedures; Past Member, Special Committee on the Tort Liability System; Past Member, AIDS Coordinating Committee; Past Chairman, Insurance Section, Trial Techniques Committee; Past Member, Special Committee on Product Liability
  • Chicago Bar Association (CBA) President, 1972; 1st Vice President, 1972; 2nd Vice President, 1970; Board Member, Aviation Law Committee, 1969-1972; Board of Managers, 1969-1971; Member/Vice Chair, Committee on Candidates, 1963-1969; Chicago Host Committee for 1978 ABA Annual Meeting, 1977; Life Fellow, Chicago Bar Foundation; Civil Practice Committee, 1955-68, Vice-Chairman 1963, Chairman 1965; ISBA/CBA Committee to Recommend Arbitration/Mediation Pilot Program, 1983; Member/Vice Chair, Judicial Evaluation Committee; Chairman, Liaison Special Committee, 1971; Committee on Negligence Law, 1962-1969; Special No-Fault Committee, 1972; Nominating Committee, 1966, 1975-Chairman, 1980 and 1985; Committee on Operations of Circuit Court, 1974-1976; Past Presidents' Committee, 1973-Present; Public Relations Advisory Committee, 1973; Committee on Revision of Circuit Court Rules, 1970-1973; Senior Lawyers Committee, 1992-Present, Sustaining Member, 1983-Present; Unauthorized Practice Committee, 1969; Young Members Committee, 1950-1952; Chairman, Association Meetings Committee, 1995-Present
  • Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) Civil Practice and Procedures Section Counsel, 1967-69;Charter Fellow, Illinois State Bar Foundation; Special Committee for Medical/Legal Co-Op, 1960-1972; Section of Negligence Law, 1959-1965, Exec. Chair - 1959-1961, Vice Chair - 1963-1965; Tort Law Section Counsel, 1965-1967
  • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) President, 1963; President-Elect, 1962; Second Vice President, 1961; Third Vice President, 1960; Public Relations Committee, 1983; Special Counsel to Executive Committee, 1986-present; Membership Committee, 1987; Legislative Committee, 1988-1990; Executive Committee, 1992; Special Advisory Committee to Constitutional Challenge Committee, 1996
  • Bar Association of the Seventh Federal Circuit
  • Alpha Sigma Nu (Jesuit Honor Society)
  • American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys
  • American Board of Trial Advocates
  • American College of Trial Lawyers
  • American Judicature Society
  • Institute for Injury Reduction
  • Inner Circle of Advocates
  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • International Society of Barristers
  • The Law Club of the City of Chicago
  • Law Science Academy
  • Society of Trial Lawyers
  • American Journal of Trial Advocacy, Member, National Advisory Board
  • Illinois Democratic Party, Former General Counsel
  • Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Board of Directors
  • Loyola University's Citizen's Board, Chairman, 1992-present
  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Member, Trial Advocacy Board
  • National Safety Council, Professional Safety Service Member
  • The American Society of Writers on Legal Studies
  • Trial Diplomacy Journal, Board of Editors
  • American Law Media, L.P., National Board of Contributors
  • American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys, Past President
  • Cook County State's Attorney's Task Force on Life Sustaining Treatment, Past Chairman
  • Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions, Past Member
  • National Institute for Trial Advocacy, Past Chairman
  • St. Mary's College, Past Board Member
  • U.S. Senate Judicial Nominations Commission for the State of Illinois
  • The Court TV Cradle-to-Grave Legal Survival Guide, Board of Editors, 1995
  • Constitutional Rights Foundation, Chicago, Member, Board of Directors
  • Am Jur Trials and Proof of Facts, Member of Editorial Advisory Board - 1995
  • Civil Justice Foundation, Trustee

Seminars & Speeches

Lecturer and panelist at local, state and national bar association meetings held in the United States, as well as internationally -- specifically in Australia, Canada, England, France and Ireland. Medical meetings, insurance meetings, seminars and conventions in more than 75 cities and 45 states on matters germane to the preparation and trial of civil litigation involving general negligence, railroad, aviation, maritime, product liability, professional negligence and FELA law.

Lecturer, panelist and guest speaker at the following institutions:

  • Boston University Law School 1992
  • Cumberland School of Law, Stamford University
  • DePaul College of Law
  • The Federalist Society
  • Gonzaga University School of Law
  • Harvard Law School
  • Chicago-Kent College of Law
  • John Marshall Law School
  • Loyola University School of Law
  • National Institute for Trial Advocacy
  • Northwestern University Law School
  • Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center
  • Southern Methodist University Law School
  • University of Chicago Law School
  • University College Dublin
  • University of Illinois Law School
  • University of Michigan Law School
  • Washburn Law Institute

Television Appearances:

  • 20/20 - ABC
  • 60 Minutes - CBS
  • John Callaway Show - WTTW (Channel 11, Chicago)
  • Court TV/Miller's Law
  • Daybreak
  • Phil Donahue Show
  • Face The Nation - CBS
  • Inside the Law - Reliance National and the ABA
  • Kup's Show - WTTW (Channel 11, Chicago)
  • Nightline with Ted Koppel - Town Hall Meeting, ABC
  • Joan Rivers Show
  • David Susskind Show
  • Oprah Winfrey Show