Atty. John S. Monical
John S. Monical, Lawrence Kamin's managing partner, has been with the firm since 1998.
Litigation & More Attorney · Serving Chicago, IL · 32+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About John S. Monical at a Glance
John S. Monical is a Managing Partner based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Lawrence Kamin, LLC. They have 32+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1994. Their practice focuses on securities, product liability, and litigation. Admitted to practice in Illinois (1994), Indiana United States District Courts, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Wisconsin (2009), and Wisconsin (2017). Educated at Northern Illinois University College of Law J.D. magna cum laude Northern Illinois University College of Law J.D. second in class Northern Illinois University College of Law J.D. 1994 Assista (—) and University of Illinois, Urbana (B.S. Computer, 1991). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Serves clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Get Legal Help from John S. Monical in Chicago
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About John S. Monical
- John S. Monical, Lawrence Kamin's managing partner, has been with the firm since 1998
- His primary area of practice is litigation, including representing the financial services industry in regulatory investigations, arbitration, mediation and litigation of disputes between broker-dealers, their registered representatives and their clients and in defending major manufacturers of juvenile products in their product liability actions across the country
- Opposing counsel have most often complimented John for his tenacious attention to detail
- John uses the details to tailor case strategies that have been successful in trial as well as direct settlement negotiation and mediation
- For example, one client hired John after losing five straight related cases with another attorney
- John developed new defenses that prior counsel had failed to present
- These defenses resulted in the client winning three subsequent related cases and favorably settling one more
- In another case, John negotiated an innovative settlement by advising his client to accept full responsibility for a quarter-million-dollar tax penalty in exchange for other concessions by the opposing party
- Because John was able to convince the IRS to reverse the entire penalty, his client ultimately paid nothing
- John, along with his partner Charles Risch, had similar success in a substantial arbitration brought against one of the world's largest brokerdealers
- The claimants' case was supported by a scathing internal memorandum chastising the individual broker for his interactions with clients
- After tirelessly studying documents and interviewing witnesses, John chose not to play down the memorandum, but to embrace it
- At trial, he identified subtle changes in the broker's subsequent client interactions and reconstructed through testimony the broker-dealer's extensive, but largely undocumented, actions in response to the memorandum that had brought about these changes
- Presented with this evidence, the NASD arbitration panel denied all of the claimants' claims and took the unusual step of charging the claimants for all of the costs associated with the 17 days of hearing
- The opposing counsel had lined up dozens of similar claims against the same broker and firm, aggregating tens of millions of dollars
- Faced with this convincing result, he chose to forgo any further filings
- Through his active membership in the CBA Securities Law Committee, the Defense Research Institute (DRI) and the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), John stays current on legal developments and contributes to the ongoing discussion of cutting-edge arguments for his clients
- As an example, John authored and presented The Post-Sale Duties to Warn or Recall - Are They Preempted When NHTSA and the CPSC Oversee the Manufacturer's Conduct? (DRI Product Liability Conference) (2001)
- This article urged litigators to press a creative, but untested, preemption argument
- A year later, at a meeting of prominent defense counsel, a speaker credited his successful case result to this innovative defense
- John grew up with 11 sisters and five brothers-honing his skills arguing and mediating between his 16 siblings
- Articles & Presentations 12/2011, Outside Business Activity, Practical Compliance and Risk Management for the Securities Industry, November-December 2011 5/2009, Outside Business Activity (Part 3 of 3), NSCP Currents, March/April 2009 3/2009, Outside Business Activity (Part 2 of 3), NSCP Currents, January/February 2009 1/1/2009, Outside Business Activity (Part 1 of 3), NSCP Currents, November/December 2008 10/21/2008, National Society of Compliance Professionals, National Membership Meeting
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 5/1/2006, Mediation of Securities Disputes: Views from the Advocate and the Mediator, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Securities Litigation Committee 9/1/2003, Document Retention Requirements of the CPSC/NHTA and Their Discovery Protections, Defense Research Institute Product Liability Conference, Juvenile Products Breakout Session 2/1/2001, "The Post-Sale Duty to Warn and Recall: Are They Preempted When NHTSA or the CPSC Oversees the Manufacturer's Conduct?," Defense Research Institute Products Liability Conference, Juvenile Products Breakout Session 2/1/2000, "State Child Product Safety Acts-The Good News and the Bad," Defense Research Institute Product Liability Conference, Juvenile Products Breakout Session 1/1/1996, Computer Litigation Support Systems, Chapter 6, Business Litigation Handbook, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education Experience Lawrence, Kamin, Saunders & Uhlenhop LLC - Managing Partner: 2005-Present - Partner: 2001 - Associate: 1998-2001 Lord, Bissell & Brook, 1994-1998 Honors Named a 2008 Rising Star - by Super Lawyers Magazine Northern Illinois University College of Law - 2004 Young Alumnus of the Year American Bar Association - Illinois Liaison to Committee on State Regulation of Securities 2009-Present Chicago Bar Association - Securities Law Committee - Chair (2010-2011) - Vice Chair (2009-2010) - Legislative Liaison (2008-2009) Defense Research Institute - Children's Products Specialized - Litigation Group, -- Chair (2010-2011) -- Co-Chair (2007-2010) Illinois Bar Association NIU College of Law Board of Visitors - Chair (2010-2014) - Vice Chair (2009-2010) Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, Compliance and Legal Division
Practice Areas Explained
John S. Monical's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John S. Monical handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Chicago.
Securities Law in Chicago
John S. Monical is one of 64,075 securities attorneys indexed nationally. Browse securities attorneys in Illinois →
Product Liability in Chicago
John S. Monical is one of 65,610 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Illinois →
Civil Litigation in Chicago
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
John S. Monical is one of 450,750 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Chicago
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Chicago Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Chicago-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions About John S. Monical
Where is John S. Monical's law office located?
What practice areas does John S. Monical handle?
How long has John S. Monical practiced law?
Where did John S. Monical go to law school?
How can I contact John S. Monical for a consultation?
What awards or recognition has John S. Monical received?
Professional Profile
Why Clients in Chicago Choose John S. Monical
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish John S. Monical's practice in the field of securities, product liability, and litigation.
Decade-Tested Legal Experience
John S. Monical brings 32+ years of hands-on legal practice — enough to have navigated the recurring fact patterns, procedural traps, and negotiation dynamics that shape case outcomes.
Multi-State Bar Admission
Licensed in Illinois, Indiana United States District Courts, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Wisconsin , and Wisconsin, John S. Monical can represent clients in cases that span state lines or require counsel in multiple jurisdictions.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering securities, product liability, and litigation, John S. Monical can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Chicago
A Chicago-based practice means John S. Monical attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Search Reference
How People Find John S. Monical Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in Chicago commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like John S. Monical.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with John S. Monical directly.
John S. Monical's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Awards & Professional Honors
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — John S. Monical
No reviews yet.