JOSEPH T. MORRISON
ATTORNEY

Joseph T. Morrison is a trial lawyer, and his focus lies in resolving complex business, commercial, injury, and real estate cases. In fact, Joe Morrison has been called the “trial lawyer’s trial lawyer,” having represented a number of lawyers who were parties to various types of litigation. As a trial lawyer for over 38 years, Joe has tried over 100 jury cases, including complex business and real estate cases, as well as medical malpractice, wrongful death, and other serious personal injury cases. Other jury trials have involved damage to real estate, fraud, partnership and other business disputes, cases of deceptive and faulty construction practices, breach of contract, and eminent domain. Joe regularly appears in Chancery Court involving partnership disputes, commercial litigation, real estate disputes, employment matters, and injunction actions. Joe has also tried numerous bench trials, in cases involving employment disputes, real estate issues, injunctions, and zoning cases. He personally appears in court every week. Joe’s trial experience has resulted in a total value obtained of well over $100 million dollars in verdicts and settlements. Joe Morrison has personally tried cases involving millions of dollars, as well as only thousands of dollars. Each case, no matter how much is involved, is important to him.
He has also handled dozens of Appellate and Supreme Court cases. Joe has personally written briefs and argued before the Illinois Supreme Court, the 7th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals, and the 1st and 2nd District Appellate Courts of Illinois. Joe has also tried dozens of eminent domain cases before a jury. Mr. Morrison believes that he has tried more eminent domain cases in Lake County, Illinois, than any other attorney. A number of those cases involved verdicts in excess of $1,000,000.00. He has represented a variety of public bodies, including the Lake County Forest Preserve District, Village of Deerfield, Buffalo Grove Park District, Village of Lincolnshire, Village of Antioch, and other municipalities. Joe currently represents numerous owners in eminent domain cases and have tried a number of those jury cases to verdict, resulting in awards far in excess of the compensation offered by the public body. Joe is married to Senator Julie Morrison who has been in the Illinois State Senate for over 7 years.
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SERVICESEstate & Trust Administration Estate Planning Commercial Real Estate Employment Law Corporate Law
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AWARDSIllinois Leading Lawyer | 2020-current Illinois Super Lawyer | 2019-2021 Avvo Client’s Choice Award | 2014
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CERTIFICATIONSCertified Public Accountant | 1993
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BAR ADMISSIONSSupreme Court of Illinois Supreme Court of Florida Supreme Court of Arizona Supreme Court of Wyoming U.S. District Court U.S. Tax Court
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EDUCATIONJohn Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois J.D., LL.M. (Taxation with Honors) | 1995 DePaul University B.S. | 1990 Major: Accountancy
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PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPSMidwest Business Broker & Intermediaries (“MBBI”) | Director American Bar Association | Member Illinois State Bar Association | Member ProVisors West Loop 1 | Member Lake County Bar Association | Member Wealth Counsel | Member Worldwide Who’s Who | Member Illinois Farm Bureau | Member Lake Zurich Golf Club | Member The Club at Wynstone | Member Association for Corporate Growth | Member Northern Illinois Curated Connections | Member Chicago Business Connectors | Member
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PRO BONO ACTIVITIESSt. Anne’s Finance Committee, Member Saint Viator Summer Internship Program, Member & Participant Barrington Area Community Foundation, Directors’ Advisory Council Past President, St. Vincent De Paul Society, St. Francis De Sales Parish Chapter St. Anne’s Guys Group, Founding Member & Supporter
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PODCASTS/WEBINARS"2021 Estate + Tax Planning Opportunities" Webinar, Featured Speaker | 2021 "Blue Wave Tax + Estate Planning Opportunities" Webinar, Featured Speaker | 2021 "Timeliness of Estate Planning in 2021: Blue Wave Tax Planning Opportunities" Porte Brown Webinar, Guest Speaker | 2021 "2020 Election: How It May Impact Your Estate + Income Tax Planning" Webinar, Featured Speaker | 2020 “Timeliness of Estate Planning in Today’s World” Porte Brown Webinar, Guest Speaker | 2020 “Estate Planning Opportunities – Take Advantage of the Present to Improve Your Future” Webinar, Featured Speaker | 2020 “Paycheck Protection Program & Mortgage Forbearance” Oak Brook Chamber of Commerce Webinar, Guest Speaker | 2020 “Paycheck Protection Program & Addressing Loan Forgiveness Questions” Porte Brown Webinar, Guest Speaker | 2020 “PPP Loan Forgiveness and The Building Industry” Home Builders Association of Greater Chicago Webinar, Guest Speaker | 2020 “Stress Testing Deals in Good Times, Bad Times and Now” MBBI Webinar, Guest Speaker | 2020 “Recovering COVID-19 Business Expenses and Lost Profits” Webinar | 2020 “Employment Law Updates to Protect You During the Pandemic and Beyond” Webinar | 2020 “Paycheck Protection Program Update” LCBA Webinar, Guest Speaker | 2020 “Selling a Business, Buy/Sell Agreements and Life Insurance as Asset Protection”; M&A Unplugged Podcast Guest | 2020
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PUBLISHED WORKS"Preparation is Key at Any Age for Peace of Mind", Quintessential Barrington | Jan 2021
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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS“Changing Residency & Recent Tax Act Developments”; Wells Fargo Presentation | 2018