CONTACT INFORMATION

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PRACTICE AREAS

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)

News

Darren VanPuymbrouck

Partner



In My Own Words

Schiff Hardin

Over the past 25 years, Darren VanPuymbrouck has counseled and represented clients throughout the country in a wide range of complex matters including those involving complex torts, commercial litigation, civil and criminal governmental investigations, corporate acquisitions, environmental contamination, and a myriad of other topics. He employs an aggressive and focused approach to help define and achieve his clients’ goals as efficiently as possible. His ability to determine and implement those strategies has resulted in our firm’s retention as national and regional counsel for numerous clients.

Mr. VanPuymbrouck has developed particular expertise in fire and explosion cases and he serves as the Chair of our Fire & Explosion Practice Group. He has successfully litigated, settled and tried thousands of product liability cases, including dozens of catastrophic fire and explosion cases, in some of the most challenging state and federal courts throughout the country.

He also has negotiated county and statewide class action settlements in California, Nevada, and Arizona involving thousands of property damage cases and substantial punitive damages exposure.

Mr. VanPuymbrouck has served as national coordinating counsel directing trial strategy and supervising dozens of local attorneys in thousands of cases throughout the country.

Publications

"Damages Available Under MI And OK Law For The Wrongful Death Or Personal Injuries To A Minor," (contributor) DRI 50 State Compendium on Damages (2011)

"Massachusetts Court Strikes Confidentiality Provision in Arbitration Proceeding," (co-author) American Bar Association Committee on Corporate Counsel Newsletter (June 15, 2011)

"When the Boilerplate Gets Hot," (co-author) Business and Commercial Law (September 2007)
 
"When a Purchase Agreement Is the Subject of Litigation, the 'Boilerplate' Language Gets Hot," Business Law Today, American Bar Association (2006-2007)
 
"The Consumer Product Safety Act: What You Need to Report," Bloomberg Corporate Law Journal, Vol. 1, Issue 1 (Winter 2006)
 

Speeches and Presentations

Mr. VanPuymbrouck regularly addresses the Defense Research Institute's Product Liability Group on mass-tort and other product liability issues. He also has addressed lawyers from China, South America, Europe and Australia, and engineering students and faculty at Vanderbilt University concerning American trial law.

"The Vital Role of Engineers in the Truth-Finding Process," Vanderbilt University (March 2005)

Pro Bono Activities

Mr. VanPuymbrouck represented a New York City firefighter who was injured while responding to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. Mr. VanPuymbrouck secured a large award for his pro bono client from the 9/11 Commission.

Awards and Honors

Leading Lawyer — Products Liability Defense Law, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network
Martindale-Hubbell — "A/V Rated"

Education

Loyola University Chicago School of Law(J.D., 1986)
Editor, Loyola University of Chicago Law Journal
University of Washington(B.A., 1983)
Member, Political Science Honors Program

Clerkships

Honorable William J. Bauer, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit (1986-1988)

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association
Section of Litigation
      Committee on Corporate Counsel
            Co-Chair, Subcommittee on Complex Torts 
Chicago Bar Association
Defense Research Institute

Civic and Charitable Memberships

Walter Payton College Preparatory High School
Past President "Friends of Payton" and Payton Prep Initiative for Education