Atty. Thomas B. Quinn
Tom Quinn loves the art of persuasion. He got his first lessons in this critical skill through door-to-door campaigning in college for candidates who had dreams of changing the world through public service, and later by gathering thousands of petition signatures for initiative campaigns to reform state government.
Profile Summary
About Thomas B. Quinn at a glance
Thomas B. Quinn is a business and litigation attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar and California, California State Bar. Educated at Stanford University (J.D., 1978) and Stanford University (B.A.). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Food and Beverage Law (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Tom Quinn loves the art of persuasion
- He got his first lessons in this critical skill through door-to-door campaigning in college for candidates who had dreams of changing the world through public service, and later by gathering thousands of petition signatures for initiative campaigns to reform state government
- Through all those one-on-one encounters with everyday people in their homes, on street corners, or in meeting halls, Tom learned what it takes to move a person to support a point of view or a cause
- The fire and conviction that fueled his civic activism are the same qualities that make Tom a tireless and effective advocate for his clients in private practice
- Timidity has never been one of his problems
- in one of his first cases as a junior associate, he and two other young lawyers sued the Illinois legislature to prevent the payment of public funds for a legislative junket to the California wine country
- Years later, in what eventually resulted in landmark litigation, Tom defended a First and Fourteenth Amendment constitutional challenge to the fair housing programs of nine local governments through an extended trial, a Seventh Circuit appeal, and a petition for certiorari to the U.S
- Supreme Court
- Tom has forged his reputation as a commercial litigator over more than four decades of trying and winning cases at all levels in state and federal trial courts around the country and in forums like the International Trade Commission
- But he also understands that every dispute does not require the time, expense, and disruption of extended pre-trial and trial proceedings
- Through his experience with high stakes commercial mediations and alternative dispute resolution proceedings before International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR Institute), the American Arbitration Association, and JAMS, Tom knows how to obtain a successful result for his clients before the cost of litigation overwhelms its risks or rewards
Practice Areas Explained
Thomas B. Quinn's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Thomas B. Quinn handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Thomas B. Quinn is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Illinois →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Thomas B. Quinn is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
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 andnue, 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.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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