PRACTICE AREAS

The attorneys at Chilton Yambert & Porter are highly experienced civil litigation trial attorneys.  We are focused on providing our clients with the most economic and efficient means of resolving a claim or dispute.  Our firm represents clients throughout the state of Illinois, Wisconsin and the nation.  With our main office in Chicago and satellite offices in Joliet, Waukegan and Geneva, Illinois, and now Madison, Wisconsin, we are committed and able to provide our clients with highly effective cost efficient representation without sacrificing quality of work.  The firm breaks down its overall practice into specific areas of law so that each claim receives proper care and attention to detail.   We pride ourselves on maximizing clients’ advantages by always correlating our area of practice to the current needs of our clients.  This is why we are very well respected in the legal community and have earned the highest rating (“AV” rating) by Martindale-Hubbell. 

Our practice areas are as follows:

Toxic Tort Law
The Toxic Tort Practice Group defends its clients on a nationwide basis.  Toxic torts are claimed injuries due to contact with a toxic substance.  We defend claims where one alleges injuries due to exposure to substances such as benzene, solvents, silica, titanium dioxide, and other chemicals.  Our group is among the finest in the nation.  In fact, we are lead counsel for defending the nation’s leading petroleum and chemical companies.  The group is nationally recognized and is coordinating counsel for several clients’ national toxic tort litigation.

Transportation Law
Our attorneys have vigorously defended a broad range of cases dealing with every aspect of the transportation industry. We represent both large and small trucking, logistics and brokerage companies individually, as self-insureds or as insureds on behalf of insurance companies. Our transportation group acts as national and regional counsel for major trucking insurance companies.  Chilton Yambert & Porter LLP assists its clients in navigating through this ever changing and evolving industry from claims involving complex litigation from catastrophic accidents, cargo losses, coverage issues between motor carriers, claims brought under the Carmack Amendment, COGSA, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, Warehouseman's Act, and the casualty defense of brokers/shippers, motor carriers, and drivers in both State and Federal Courts nationwide.

The attorneys in our transportation practice group are well established in the industry not only as trial attorneys but also having written, published and lectured nationwide on various transportation subjects (including trucking litigation, anticipating litigation, emergency response, evidence issues, freight claims and insurance coverage issues) to insurance and trucking companies, industry organizations, law schools, and to other groups. Our attorneys are also active in various trucking industry organizations including the Transportation Lawyers Association, Canadian Transport Lawyers, American Trucking Association, Trucking Industry Defense Association, Defense Research Institute, Conference of Freight Counsel and the American Bar Association Trucking Section and others.  The attorneys are also experts in handling, coordinating, supervising and advising on transportation litigation and property losses from inception through trial and appeal, if necessary, to obtain the best possible results for our clients.

See below for information regarding our new Transportation Catastrophic Call-Out Program.

Employment Law
The firm’s Employment Practice Group defends employers in a wide variety of employment-related disputes before courts and government agencies. The Group has experience representing employers in regulatory actions, non-compete agreements, wage payment issues, harassment cases, discrimination actions, and all Title VII, ADA and ADEA matters.  Our group is experienced in litigating these matters in both the federal and state court.

Environmental Law
Attorneys in the Environmental Practice Group regularly handle complex cases, which often require massive document production and review, briefing of numerous issues and a large number of fact and expert depositions. The Group has defended against citizen suits, enforcement actions, and RCRA suits; represented Fortune 100 clients in complex multiparty Superfund cases; and handled private cost recovery actions under CERCLA. 

Personal Injury and Tort Law
The Personal Injury Civil Practice Group has a broad based practice.  The firm’s attorneys manage and handle the jury trial of cases with issues relating to personal injury defense litigation.  This includes the defense of our clients in construction litigation, premises liability, transportation litigation, product liability litigation, automobile accidents/litigation, property damage/mold litigation, and professional malpractice.  The firm provides legal representation in all aspects of complex tort litigation defense.

Governmental/Municipality Law
The Governmental Practice Group represents municipalities, school districts, and other local governmental agencies throughout Illinois. The Group’s litigation work involves Section 1983 actions, police misconduct cases, employment actions related to public sector employees, advising governmental entities on pending legislation, and construction litigation. 

Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Injury Law
The Workers' Compensation Practice Group represents employers before the Workers’ Compensation Commission throughout the state of Illinois.  The Group prides itself on having a client base that is varied, nationally based and doing business in Illinois.  We represent all businesses big and small, including self-insured companies.  The group consists of some of the most experienced and well-respected attorneys in this area of law.  We immediately provide our clients with an initial litigation plan which details all issues involved.  The plan provides our clients with a complete analysis of defenses to be used, strategies and recommendations, as well as the clients’ exposure and a budget.  This allows the group and the client to determine the most effective and efficient means of defending the claim.  The group is familiar with the unique needs of representing clients doing business in Illinois. 

Commercial/Business/Insurance Coverage Law
The firm’s Commercial Practice Group represents clients with litigation needs in  business, related issues and commercial transactions. The group focuses on litigation and assignments relating to contractual issues, real estate matters, condominium board issues and ERISA.  The firm provides legal representation in complex insurance coverage issues and disputes.

Construction Practice Group
Our attorneys regularly handle a broad range of cases dealing with every aspect of construction law and litigation. From contract drafting, mechanics liens, insurance, zoning, workers' benefits, employment matters, and construction litigation, Chilton Yambert & Porter can assist you in navigating your way successfully through the ever-changing construction industry. Our Construction Practice Group is here to assist our clients immediately with the firms' new and specially developed Catastrophic Call Out Program*. Please click on the Publications tab to see our most recent newsletter.