JAMES R. BRANIT
concentrates his practice in appeals, insurance coverage and civil litigation. Mr. Branit has successfully handled well over 100 appeals in the Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin State and federal courts. His reported opinions establishing favorable law include: Grey Direct, Inc. v. Erie Ins. Exchange, 460 F.3d 895 (7 th Cir. 2006); AAA Disposal Systems, Inc. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 355 Ill.App.3d 275 (2005); Barnard v. Saturn Corp., 790 N.E.2d 1023 (Ind.Ct.App. 2003); Missouri Pacific Railroad Co. v. International Ins. Co., 288 Ill.App.3d 69 (1997); Matei v. Cessna Aircraft Co., 35 F.3d 1142 (7 th Cir. 1994); Chrysler v. Darnall, 238 Ill.App.3d 673 (1992).

Mr. Branit also provides coverage opinions and litigates declaratory judgment actions on behalf of insurers on complex issues of policy interpretation, including environmental, professional liability, personal/advertising injury, bad faith, construction defect, excess and umbrella, additional insured, first-party property, business risk, and cargo liability. In addition, Mr. Branit defends policyholders and self-insureds against complex claims, including products liability, toxic tort, professional liability, construction injury, class actions, and federal statutory actions.

Mr. Branit also defends businesses in commercial litigation. He represents a national bank in consumer litigation, and defends a national homebuilder in construction defect, warranty and contract disputes. He also has extensive experience in matters relating to employment, trade secret and intellectual property disputes.

Mr. Branit completed a combined-degree program at the Illinois Institute of Technology/Chicago-Kent College of Law, receiving his BA with High Honors in 1983 and his JD with High Honors in 1985. He served as a Judicial Law Clerk for Chief Justice Thomas J. Moran of the Illinois Supreme Court, and for the Honorable Jack B. Schmetterer of the United States Bankruptcy Court. He is the author of "Reconciling Free Speech and Equality: What Justifies Censorship?" 9 Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy 429 (1986). Mr. Branit is a member of the bar for Illinois, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits, and the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, the Northern District of Indiana and the Eastern District of Wisconsin.