ROBINSON & SCHWARTZ, LLC

In his 31 years in practice, Robert Schwartz has zealously represented clients in both litigation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) forums, as well as in transactional matters. Mr. Schwartz is a certified Chairperson of arbitration panels in both the Circuit Court of Cook County and also before the National Association of Securities Dealers (n/k/a FINRA). His breadth of experience as both a seasoned litigator and mediator – as well as his comfort and experience in a transactional setting – has helped him obtain outstanding results for clients in a broad range of complex matters including relating to securities, insurance, construction, and many other areas.

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REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE:

• Awarded summary judgment in Federal District Court against AIG on a $2.1 million fraud claim.

• Negotiated a $4.75 Million Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Redevelopment Agreement for a real estate developer in Cook County, Illinois.

• Obtained partial dismissal of a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against Fortune 25 company on behalf of construction-industry client, based upon Moorman Doctrine.

• Prevailed in dismissing, with finality, a mortgage foreclosure lawsuit against a disabled homeowner.

• Prevailed, after appeal, in dismissing, with finality, a mortgage foreclosure against minority-status homeowner alleged to have been “redlined.”

• Successfully settled securities arbitration on behalf of a retiree for alleged inappropriate stock portfolio against Prudential Securities.

• Secured acquittals, on behalf of securities brokers, of disciplinary charges.

• Litigated an Illinois Supreme Court case setting precedent on prescriptive easement.

• Drafted and implemented software licensing agreements, EULAs, NDAs, and Terms of Use.

• Successfully filed a regulatory claim against life insurance company that had denied payment on a "non-smoker" life insurance policy, claiming that deceased was a smoker. An autopsy revealed the absence of nicotenene, an enzyme that would be present in a smoker’s body. Insurance company reversed, paid full policy benefits to heirs, and issued written apology.

• Filed lawsuit against a life insurance company that denied policy of deceased who died within two years of initiation of policy.  Death resulted indirectly from self-induced but accidental incendiary causes and insurance company denied payment, invoking "suicide clause" exemption. Reached favorable settlement for family of deceased.

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CREDENTIALS:

Chicago-Lincoln American Inns of Court 

(Local chapter of preeminent national litigation bar association)
President, 2004 – 2006

University of Illinois Graduate School of Business Administration

Adjunct Instructor of Business Law, 1998 – 2000

(created and implemented a certificate-degree program in internet law)

FINRA; Cook County Arbitration

Certified Arbitrator, Chair qualified

University of Illinois College of Law, Urbana, J.D., 1990

University of Illinois, Champaign, B.A., 1987

Full-tuition legislative scholarship

 

COURT ADMISSIONS:

Bar of Illinois
U.S. District Court for Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Federal Claims