Goldberg Segalla, the 180-attorney law firm that ranked in the National Law Journal last year among the fastest-growing firms in the country, expanded its U.S. footprint into Chicago this week with the opening of its 12th office, located at 311 South Wacker Drive. A team of prominent Chicago attorneys, led by David J. O’Connell, launched the firm’s Midwest expansion. All of Goldberg Segalla’s diverse range of practice areas will expand into the Chicago office.

The opening of Goldberg Segalla’s Chicago office highlights the dynamic organic growth that has defined the firm’s remarkable 12-year history. In just the past year, it added 44 lawyers across all its offices — in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and the United Kingdom — and made several moves into larger spaces in Manhattan, London, and other markets to accommodate the continued growth and high-profile additions.

All of that growth, says Goldberg Segalla Managing Partner Richard J. Cohen, has been completely organic and is driven by client demand. “Entering the Chicago market was the next logical step for Goldberg Segalla,” Mr. Cohen said. “We have been handling complex, high-exposure matters for companies in the Midwest and beyond for years, and as more and more clients experienced doing business with us, the demand for our work grew. We could not be more proud and thrilled to welcome David O’Connell and the rest of our Chicago team to the Goldberg Segalla family. They embody the high professional standards and teamwork-focused approach that is the foundation of our firm, and their exceptional abilities both complement and expand upon our broad capabilities. Having this team on board benefits clients across our entire firm.”

Mr. O’Connell said: “This is a very exciting time for all of us here, as we launch Goldberg Segalla’s Chicago office. Over the years I have come to know several partners at Goldberg Segalla, and what always stood out for me was how passionate the firm is about teamwork and the service philosophy ingrained in the firm’s culture by its founders. This is a big part of what makes Goldberg Segalla truly unique, and we feel the firm is a perfect fit. We look forward to accomplishing great things for our clients together with our new colleagues.”

Meet the Goldberg Segalla Chicago Team

David J. O’Connell, Administrative Partner of the Chicago office, is a proven trial lawyer who defends product liability, personal injury, and professional liability actions and appeals in state and federal courts across the United States. With a background in mechanical engineering, he brings exceptional scientific and technical understanding to his defense of product liability actions and professional liability cases involving architects, engineers, surveyors, and other design professionals. His experience includes cases involving fires and explosions, as well as a number of significant cases that are often cited by courts on topics such as product design defects, spoliation of evidence, and testimony of expert witnesses.

James W. Ozog, a partner, has more than three decades of experience in product liability defense and commercial litigation. He serves as national product liability defense counsel for a number of national and international manufacturers in fire, explosion, and catastrophic burn cases. Jim has achieved national recognition for his litigation experience, which includes handling cases in 28 states and trying product liability cases to verdict in nine states, as well as successfully representing one of the retailers in the civil litigation following the 1982 Tylenol murders. He frequently speaks on product liability defense issues for organizations like the Chicago Bar Association, the Propane Gas Defense Association, the Defense Research Institute, and the National Fire Prevention Association.

James M. Rozak, a partner, has extensive business, commercial, and product liability litigation experience in state and federal courts across the country. A former state prosecutor in the Chicago area who tried 30 jury and over 200 bench trials, he has successfully represented manufacturers, service firms, and retail establishments in business disputes and in defense of bodily injury lawsuits. His product liability work includes successfully defending cases involving fire and explosion as national counsel for major manufacturers of consumer appliances. He is the immediate-past Chair of the Defense Research Institute’s Fire and Casualty Specialized Litigation Group.

Ryan M. Frierott, a partner, focuses on product liability defense and is also experienced in litigation involving construction disputes and professional liability. He has significant experience defending product liability cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States, including cases involving fires, product defect, and testimony of expert witnesses. He has written prominent articles for the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Defense Research Institute on substantial product liability issues, including the investigation of fire scenes and the viability of using circumstantial evidence to prove malfunction defects in medical device cases.

Jennifer L. Rediehs, an associate, defends clients in cases involving personal injury and property damage. Her broad experience includes product liability defense, including fire and explosion cases, as well as litigation involving premises liability, construction disputes, employment law, and subrogation and insurance recovery. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association, and she is admitted to practice in Illinois, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

For extended biographies, please click their names above.

Goldberg Segalla Chicago

Goldberg Segalla
311 South Wacker Drive
Suite 2450
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312.572.8400
Fax: 312.572.8401