Joe Bisceglia has extensive experience in a wide variety of complex civil and criminal litigation in both federal and state trial and appellate courts, including business and corporate litigation of virtually every type. He has taught, lectured and published extensively in the areas of federal and state civil practice and procedure, trial practice, and alternative dispute resolution. In addition to numerous other professional and charitable activities, Joe served as President of the Illinois State Bar Association (2007 - 2008) and taught Trial Advocacy as an adjunct professor at the John Marshall Law School for 20 years (1985 - 2005). He has received numerous honors and awards for his professional and charitable activities.
Joe has been consistently recognized among the top lawyers in his field in numerous publications, including Best Lawyers in America, Legal 500, Chambers USA, Illinois Super Lawyers (Top 10 in 2005 and Top 100 in 2009, 2013 and 2014), and the Leading Lawyers Network. He is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability.
He is extensively involved in bar association and charitable activities. In addition to his service as President of the Illinois State Bar Association, Joe has served in numerous other important capacities in the ISBA and other bar groups. He has served as a member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates for 15 years, the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association (Chicago Chapter), a long-term member of the Chicago Bar Association, and the Justinian Society of Lawyers (President, 1992-1993). Joe has been a committee member for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Annual Chicago Fundraiser since 1995 and Co-Chairman of the fundraiser since 2006, during which time it has raised more than $12 million for the hospital.
As a veteran trial lawyer and litigator with a decades-long track record of successes for clients, I guide clients through all aspects of litigation and litigation strategy, as well as settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolution.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
Joe Bisceglia has extensive experience in a wide variety of complex civil and criminal litigation in both federal and state trial and appellate courts, including business and corporate litigation of virtually every type. He has taught, lectured and published extensively in the areas of federal and state civil practice and procedure, trial practice, and alternative dispute resolution. In addition to numerous other professional and charitable activities, Joe served as President of the Illinois State Bar Association (2007 - 2008) and taught Trial Advocacy as an adjunct professor at the John Marshall Law School for 20 years (1985 - 2005). He has received numerous honors and awards for his professional and charitable activities.
Joe has been consistently recognized among the top lawyers in his field in numerous publications, including Best Lawyers in America, Legal 500, Chambers USA, Illinois Super Lawyers (Top 10 in 2005 and Top 100 in 2009, 2013 and 2014), and the Leading Lawyers Network. He is AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell’s highest peer recognition for ethical standards and legal ability.
He is extensively involved in bar association and charitable activities. In addition to his service as President of the Illinois State Bar Association, Joe has served in numerous other important capacities in the ISBA and other bar groups. He has served as a member of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates for 15 years, the Board of Directors of the Federal Bar Association (Chicago Chapter), a long-term member of the Chicago Bar Association, and the Justinian Society of Lawyers (President, 1992-1993). Joe has been a committee member for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Annual Chicago Fundraiser since 1995 and Co-Chairman of the fundraiser since 2006, during which time it has raised more than $12 million for the hospital.
As a veteran trial lawyer and litigator with a decades-long track record of successes for clients, I guide clients through all aspects of litigation and litigation strategy, as well as settlement negotiations and alternative dispute resolution.
Credentials
Admissions
- Illinois, 1973
Education
- DePaul University College of Law, JD, summa cum laude; Pi Gamma Mu National Honor Society, 1973
- University of Illinois at Chicago, BA, With Honors; Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Fraternity; Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society; Edmund J. James Scholar, Administration of Criminal Justice, 1970
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court, 1979
- US Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1983
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1984
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1977
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1997
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1973
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar), 1983
Clerkships
- Hon. Henry L. Burman, Illinois Appellate Court, First District, 1973-1975
Service / Recognition
Awards
- Best Attorney's Network, Commercial/Business Litigation Law, 2005-2006
- The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation-Construction, 2007-2022, 2024, 2026
- Chambers USA, Construction (Illinois), 2011-2016, 2025
- Chicago Bar Association, Certificate of Appreciation
- Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Excellence in Leadership Award, 2013
- DePaul Law Review, Sapientia Award for Distinguished Alumni, 2008
- DePaul University College of Law, Outstanding Service to DePaul University Award, 2014
- Federal Bar Association, Honor for Outstanding Contributions to the Chicago Chapter, 1998-1999
- Illinois Judicial Council, Chairperson's Award, 2008
- Illinois State Bar Association, Newsletter Service Award, 2001; Board of Governors Award, 1997; In Recognition and Appreciation of Outstanding Service, 1995, 1996; Newsletter Editor Service Award, Civil Practice and Procedure, Five Years, 1996
- Illinois Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation, 2005-2023; Top 10 Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005; Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers, 2009; 2013-2014
- Italian-American Chamber of Commerce, Midwest, Humanitarian Award, 2010
- Joint Civic Committee of Italian-Americans, Pro Bono Service Honor, 2000
- Justinian Society of Lawyers - DuPage Chapter, Anthony M. Peccarelli Award, 2008
- Leading Lawyers Network, Commercial Litigation, 2004-2019; Construction, 2010-2019; Top 10 Leading Construction Lawyers in Illinois, 2015
- Legal 500, Real Estate and Construction: Construction: Central, 2010, 2013; Real Estate and Construction including construction litigation, 2011
- Madison's Who's Who, 2005
- Manchester's Who's Who Among Executives and Professional Registry, 2006
- Marquis Who's Who in America, 2010
- Martindale-Hubbell, Recipient, Highest Rating ("AV") based on extensive, confidential reviews of legal profession, recognizing legal abilities of the very highest standard and professional ethics and conduct that is above question, 1995
- Mercy Homes for Boys and Girls, Legacy of Miracles Honor, 2000
- Pi Gamma Mu, University of Illinois at Chicago, DePaul University School of Law
- St. Ignatius College Preparatory School, Award of Excellence, 2001
- Who's Who, Among Italian-Americans; Among Students in Colleges and Universities, 1972-1973; Who's Who in American Law
Community
- American Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2002-present
- Illinois Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2000-present, Committee Chair, Gala Fundraiser, October 24, 2003
- St. Ignatius College Preparatory School, Committee Member, 22nd Annual Law Luncheon, 2003
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Member, Committee for Annual Chicago Fundraiser, 1995-2005; Co-Chair, 2006-present
Service to the Bar
- Illinois State Bar Association, President, 2007-2008; Vice President, 2004-2007
- Member, Board of Governors, 2002-2009; Member, ISBA Assembly (Governing Body), 1988-1994 and 1995-present; Chair, Special Committee on Federal Practice; Steering Committee on Strategic Planning; Strategic Task Force on Continuing Legal Education; Chairman of Subcommittee on Pro Bono Reporting, 2005; Member, Committee on Judicial Evaluations, 1997-present; Chair, Assembly Agenda and Program Committee, 1999-2001; Member, Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council, 1988-present; Chair, 1991-1992; current membership as co-Editor of section newsletter
- Co-Editor of and frequent contributing author to Trial Briefs (Newsletter of Civil Practice and Procedure Section Council, the ISBA's largest circulation newsletter), 1991-present
- Member, Committee on Supreme Court Rules, 1990-1999; Secretary 1995-1996; Co-Chair 1992-1993
- Member, Task Force on Minorities and the Justice System, 1993-1998
- Member, Assembly Committee on Finance, 1995-1996
- Member, Special Committee on Certification of Attorney Specialization, 1992-1993 and 1996-1997
- Chair, Task Force on Governance for the Next Century, 1995-1997
- Chair, Assembly Committee on Hearings, 1989-1990
- Member, Allerton House Conference, Steering Committee: "Appellate Courts," 1990; "Access to Civil Justice," 1992; "Expert Witnesses," 1994
- Frequent participant as Speaker/Panelist at Programs on "Recent Developments in Civil Practice and Procedure," 1989-1995; "Class Actions," October 1999
Chair, Special Committee on Federal Practice, 2001-2002; Member, 2001-present - American Bar Association, Member, House of Delegates, 2005-2019; Member, 1975-present; Member, Section on Litigation, 1987-2022; Member, Forum on the Construction Industry, 1987-2022; Moot Court Judge, National Criminal Justice Trial Advocacy Competition, April 1998; Participant as Speaker/Panelist, Program on Federal Civil Practice, April 1994
- Bar Association of the Central and Southern Federal Districts of Illinois, Member, 2004-2005
- Chicago Bar Association, Member, 1988-present; Member, CBA Commercial Litigation Committee, 2002; Member, Subcommittee on Continuing Legal Education, 2003; Member, Subcommittee on Mediation, 2003; Participant as Speaker/Panelist at program on Commercial Litigation, June 2000; Final Trial Preparation, October 1999; December 1995
- Federal Bar Association, Member, Board of Directors (Chicago Chapter), 1997-2018; Present-Participant as speaker/moderator for Programs on Discovery, November 1988; Evidence, March 1998
- Justinian Society of Lawyer, Past President, 1992-1993; Officer and Member, Executive Committee, 1987-1995
- National Italian American Bar Association, Member, 1983-present
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Magistrate Judge Merit Review Panel, 2009
- Women's Bar Association of Illinois, Member, 2004-present