Daniel Schlessinger has over 40 years of experience in business litigation and has handled a wide variety of lawsuits and arbitrations involving many types of business and insurance disputes. Dan has tried more than 30 cases to verdict or judicial ruling and has obtained summary relief in hundreds of others, including matters involving contractual disputes, unfair trade, and Lanham Act claims, insurance and reinsurance disputes, mass torts and class actions.
Dan has served as national counsel for an insurer, actively defending over 100 suits and coordinating with local counsel positions taken in dozens of other suits to assure consistency. He has worked closely with claims adjusters and in-house counsel on issues such as attorney-client privilege, deposition strategy, and bad faith claims.
Dan served as Managing Partner and Chairman of Lord Bissell & Brook from 2001 through 2004, helping elevate the firm’s commitment to diversity and pro bono service. Dan represents pro bono clients through the National Immigrant Justice Center and Chicago Volunteer Legal Service, which twice has given him its Volunteer of the Year Award. He is a former Co-Vice Chair and member of Locke Lord’s Executive Committee.
Dan is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Education
- J.D., cum laude, University of Illinois College of Law (1978)
- B.A. in Economics, Brandeis University (1975)
- One Year Program, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1973-74)
Admissions
- U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- State of Illinois
Professional History
- Partner, Lord Bissell/Locke Lord LLP (1987-2017)
- Member and Co-Vice Chair, Locke Lord Executive Committee (2008-2016)
- Chair and Managing Partner, Lord, Bissell & Brook LLP (2001 – 2004)
Professional Affiliations
- Selected an Illinois Super Lawyer (2008-2022)
Community Leadership
- Alumnus of the Year, University of Illinois College of Law
- Recipient, American Friends of the Hebrew University Torch of Learning Award
Fun Facts — Fun Facts — Fun Facts — Fun Facts
Fun Facts — Fun Facts — Fun Facts — Fun Facts
Fun Facts — Fun Facts — Fun Facts — Fun Facts
How many states?
I have represented clients in 40 states. Many of these states have allowed me back.
What is an interesting place I have lived?
I spent my junior year of college at Hebrew University in Jerusalem – during the Yom Kippur war.
What about a notable vacation?
I once went to Disney World with my wife, our four daughters, my sister-in-law, her five daughters, another sister-in-law and my mother-in-law. Me and 13 women sharing a town house for a week.