John Storino is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who has tried cases in federal and state courts and arbitrations across the country. His docket spans professional responsibility, construction law, class actions, election law, insurance, criminal defense, product liability, and employment disputes. He handles all phases of civil and criminal litigation, from trying jury and bench trials to arguing appeals.
For over 20 years, John has focused his practice on representing lawyers and law firms, serving as Co-Chair of the firm's Law Firms and Professional Services Practice. In that role, John defends firms facing legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, billing fraud, conflicts of interest, and breach of contract claims, arising across practice areas as varied as patent, real estate, tax, securities, regulatory, and M&A work. He also represents individual lawyers in criminal and regulatory matters, including grand jury investigations, disciplinary proceedings, and SEC investigations, and conducts internal investigations at law firms, counsels clients on ethical issues, and handles employment and dissolution matters. He additionally represents owners, developers, subcontractors, and engineers in real estate and construction law actions, counsels them on general business practices, and serves as outside general counsel of a national engineering firm.
John has earned a Band 1 ranking in Chambers USA's Nationwide Law Firm Defense Category, with clients describing him as "extremely able and a highly intelligent lawyer" who is "very sophisticated in his knowledge of the rules and in legal malpractice defense”.
John routinely lectures on professional responsibility matters and has written and lectured on construction law, real estate issues, and election redistricting. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to its Character and Fitness Committee, where he served for 12 years, and currently serves on US Soccer's Independent Ethics Committee and as President of the Chicago Inn of Court for the 2026-2027 term. He has long been active in national, state, and local politics, including several years as a special assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois representing the governor and other state officials in political discrimination cases. John is also an Adjunct Professor at his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame Law School, where he played on the university's varsity soccer team.
I am honored to represent lawyers and law firms in their most significant and sensitive matters. My broad litigation, counseling, and regulatory experience enables me to achieve exceptional results for my clients.
Representative Matters
- Defended an international law firm sued for malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract in federal court after a cyber-incident at the firm.
- Represented an Am Law 100 firm in a criminal investigation that was resolved successfully.
- Defended an Am Law 300 firm in a pre-complaint legal malpractice mediation arising from the issuance of a patent opinion letter
- Defended a national law firm in a retaliatory discharge lawsuit filed by a former partner in California state court.
- Defended an Am Law 200 firm in a legal malpractice claim arising from an underlying adverse jury verdict in which over $1 billion in damages were sought.
- Defended a national law firm sued for legal malpractice and fraud in federal court in Wisconsin arising from patent prosecution services.
- Defended an Am Law 100 firm in a pre-complaint legal malpractice claim arising from tax advice.
Credentials
Service / Recognition
Overview
John Storino is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who has tried cases in federal and state courts and arbitrations across the country. His docket spans professional responsibility, construction law, class actions, election law, insurance, criminal defense, product liability, and employment disputes. He handles all phases of civil and criminal litigation, from trying jury and bench trials to arguing appeals.
For over 20 years, John has focused his practice on representing lawyers and law firms, serving as Co-Chair of the firm's Law Firms and Professional Services Practice. In that role, John defends firms facing legal malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, billing fraud, conflicts of interest, and breach of contract claims, arising across practice areas as varied as patent, real estate, tax, securities, regulatory, and M&A work. He also represents individual lawyers in criminal and regulatory matters, including grand jury investigations, disciplinary proceedings, and SEC investigations, and conducts internal investigations at law firms, counsels clients on ethical issues, and handles employment and dissolution matters. He additionally represents owners, developers, subcontractors, and engineers in real estate and construction law actions, counsels them on general business practices, and serves as outside general counsel of a national engineering firm.
John has earned a Band 1 ranking in Chambers USA's Nationwide Law Firm Defense Category, with clients describing him as "extremely able and a highly intelligent lawyer" who is "very sophisticated in his knowledge of the rules and in legal malpractice defense”.
John routinely lectures on professional responsibility matters and has written and lectured on construction law, real estate issues, and election redistricting. He was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to its Character and Fitness Committee, where he served for 12 years, and currently serves on US Soccer's Independent Ethics Committee and as President of the Chicago Inn of Court for the 2026-2027 term. He has long been active in national, state, and local politics, including several years as a special assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois representing the governor and other state officials in political discrimination cases. John is also an Adjunct Professor at his alma mater, the University of Notre Dame Law School, where he played on the university's varsity soccer team.
I am honored to represent lawyers and law firms in their most significant and sensitive matters. My broad litigation, counseling, and regulatory experience enables me to achieve exceptional results for my clients.
Areas of Focus
Representative Matters
- Defended an international law firm sued for malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, and breach of contract in federal court after a cyber-incident at the firm.
- Represented an Am Law 100 firm in a criminal investigation that was resolved successfully.
- Defended an Am Law 300 firm in a pre-complaint legal malpractice mediation arising from the issuance of a patent opinion letter
- Defended a national law firm in a retaliatory discharge lawsuit filed by a former partner in California state court.
- Defended an Am Law 200 firm in a legal malpractice claim arising from an underlying adverse jury verdict in which over $1 billion in damages were sought.
- Defended a national law firm sued for legal malpractice and fraud in federal court in Wisconsin arising from patent prosecution services.
- Defended an Am Law 100 firm in a pre-complaint legal malpractice claim arising from tax advice.
Credentials
Admissions
- Illinois, 2000
Education
- University of Notre Dame Law School, JD, cum laude, 2000
- University of Notre Dame, BA, Hesburgh Program in Public Service, 1997
Court Admissions
- US Supreme Court, 2005
- US Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 2001
- US District Court, Central District of Illinois, 2004
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2000
- US District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar), 2010
- US District Court, Southern District of Illinois, 2005
Service / Recognition
Awards
- Albert E. Jenner Pro Bono Award, 2012
- Chambers USA, Law Firm Defense (Nationwide), 2024-2026
- Illinois Super Lawyers, Professional Liability: Defense, 2014-2021. Rising Star in categories including Business Litigation and Professional Liability: Defense: 2009-2010; 2012-2013
- Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch, 2008
- Leading Lawyers Network, Commercial Litigation, 2017-2019
Community
- Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan's Transition Team, 2002
- Illinois State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias' Transition Team, 2006
- Leadership Greater Chicago, Fellow, 2013
- Metropolitan Family Services, Board of Directors, Member
- University of Notre Dame Law School, Adjunct Professor
Service to the Bar
- American Bar Association
- Chicago Inn of Court
- Illinois State Bar Association
Thought Leadership
Speaking Engagements
- "AI and Outside Counsel Guidelines Roundtable," Sandpiper Partners, October 8, 2026
- "Lessons Learned Being a Lawyer's Lawyer," MPC Symposium, September 10, 2026
- "To AI and Beyond," Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, July 31, 2026
- "Lawyers Always Tell the Truth (Or Do They?)," Attorneys' Liability Assurance Society Annual General Meeting, June 25, 2026
- "AI and Legal Ethics: Judicial Scrutiny, Professional Judgment, and Career Impact," Perrin Conferences, June 11, 2026
- "The Practical and Ethical Implications of AI," Jenner & Block LLP, March 10, 2025
- "The Ethics of an Unprepared Cross-Examination," Jenner & Block LLP, May 22, 2024
- "Lessons Learned Being a Lawyer's Lawyer," Romanucci & Blandin LLC, January 11, 2024
- "Ethical Fundamentals for Government Lawyers," Illinois Secretary of State, December 18, 2023
- "Generative AI in the Legal Profession: Uses, Benefits and Dangers," ABA National Legal Malpractice Conference, September 21, 2023
- "Internal Investigations," Illinois MCLE Board, May 2, 2023
- "Professional Liability Insurance for Lawyers, Covering the Basics," ABA Litigation Section Round Table, May 17, 2022
- "CLE Relay: The Ethics of Cybersecurity Before, During and After an Incident," Jenner & Block LLP, May 13, 2022
- "CLE Sprint: Ethical Traps for In-House Counsel and How to Avoid Them," Jenner & Block LLP, June 14, 2019
- "Responding to Government Inquiries and Ethical Traps for In-House Counsel and How to Avoid Them," Jenner & Block LLP, May 7, 2018
- "Ethical Issues for In-House Counsel and Privilege Issues Arising from E-mail," Jenner & Block LLP, May 2, 2018
- "Spotting the Issues Associated with Third-Party Litigation Financing," ABA National Legal Malpractice Conference, April 27, 2018
- "Staying Out of Trouble: Ethical Necessities," Practising Law Institute, May 15, 2017
- "The In-House Lawyer as Whistleblower," Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, January 5, 2017
- "Employment Law: Risks, Compliance, Case Survey," Midwest Corporate Counsel & Compliance Forum, November 16, 2016
- "Ethical Issues for Litigators," Chicago Bar Association Committee on Attorney Malpractice, June 7, 2012
- "Cyber Risk Management and Business Continuity Planning," PricewaterhouseCoopers General Counsel Forum, April 12, 2012
- "Selected Ethical Issues in Settlement Negotiations and Agreements," Chicago Bar Association Committee on Attorney Malpractice, December 6, 2011
- "Professional Conduct for Illinois Lawyers," Chicago Bar Association, June 18, 2010
- "Doing Good While Doing Well: Pro Bono Practice in Large Law Firms," University of Notre Dame Law School, October 2, 2009
- "What To Do When Construction Projects Go Bad in Illinois," Lorman Education Services, March 11, 2009
- "Construction Claims in Illinois," Lorman Education Services, April 17, 2008
- "Litigation Issues: The Remedies," Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 4th Annual Real Estate Short Course, February 12, 2008
- "Contract Disputes and Mediation," Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Engineering Management Society, January 24, 2007
Publications
- Co-Author, “State of Illinois,” The Law of Lawyers’ Liability: 50-State Survey, Second Edition, American Bar Association, August 2026
- Co-Author, “Lawyer, Can You Spare a Dime? The Ethical and Legal Implications When a Lawyer Enters into a Business Transaction with a Client,” ALAS Loss Prevention Journal, Summer 2022
- Co-Author, “Lessons Learned as a Lawyer’s Lawyer,” ABA Commercial & Business Litigation Committee Spring 2018 Newsletter, May 22, 2018
- Co-Author, “Decrypting the Ethical Implications of Blockchain Technology,” Legaltech News, November 13, 2017
- Co-Author, “Redistricting and Reapportionment,” Election Law 2016, October 2016
- Co-Author, “State of Illinois,” The Law of Lawyers’ Liability: 50-State Survey, First Edition, American Bar Association, June 2012
- "The Importance of Providing Timely Notice to Insurers and Illinois Courts' Inconsistent Consideration of Prejudice in Evaluating Late Notice," The Real Estate Finance Journal, Summer 2006