Editorial disclosure: This website is owned and operated by Phillips Law Offices. The firms listed on this site are selected and described by the site’s editors, not by an independent third-party rating service. Phillips Law Offices is featured prominently as the site’s owner.
Asbestos exposure remains a serious health crisis, particularly in industrial cities like Chicago. For decades, workers in construction, manufacturing, shipyards, and power plants were exposed to this deadly mineral, often without warning or protection. Today, thousands of people develop mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis from exposure that occurred years or even decades ago.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive, incurable cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Victims and their families face enormous medical costs, lost income, and the devastating reality of a terminal diagnosis. Experienced asbestos lawyers can help victims pursue compensation from the companies responsible for their exposure. This guide highlights the best asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in Chicago.
Understanding Asbestos-Related Diseases
Mesothelioma
An aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs (pleural), abdomen (peritoneal), or heart (pericardial). Almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure with a latency period of 20-50 years.
Lung Cancer
Asbestos exposure significantly increases lung cancer risk, especially among smokers.
Asbestosis
Progressive lung scarring that causes breathing difficulties, often developing decades after exposure.
Other Conditions
- Pleural plaques and thickening
- Pleural effusions
- Other asbestos-related cancers
Who Is at Risk?
Workers in many industries were exposed to asbestos:
- Construction workers – Insulation, drywall, roofing, flooring
- Industrial workers – Steel mills, refineries, chemical plants
- Shipyard workers – Ship construction and repair
- Power plant workers – Boilers, turbines, insulation
- Automotive workers – Brakes, clutches, gaskets
- Railroad workers – Locomotive insulation
- Firefighters – Building fires releasing asbestos
- Military veterans – Navy ships, military facilities
- Family members – Secondary exposure from workers’ clothing
Asbestos in Chicago
Chicago’s industrial history means widespread asbestos exposure:
- Steel mills throughout the region
- Oil refineries
- Power plants
- Manufacturing facilities
- Commercial and residential buildings built before 1980
- Chicago’s shipbuilding and repair operations
Asbestos Litigation Options
Personal Injury Lawsuits
Claims against companies that manufactured, distributed, or used asbestos products.
Wrongful Death Claims
Claims by family members when mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease causes death.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Many asbestos companies have established trust funds through bankruptcy. Over $30 billion is available in these trusts.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans exposed to asbestos may be eligible for VA disability benefits.
Why Choose an Experienced Asbestos Lawyer?
- Identifying all sources of asbestos exposure
- Determining which companies are liable
- Accessing asbestos bankruptcy trusts
- Understanding complex medical evidence
- Working within limited timeframes (mesothelioma patients)
- Maximizing compensation from multiple sources
Best Asbestos and Mesothelioma Lawyers in Chicago

1. Phillips Law Offices
Chicago Asbestos and Mesothelioma Attorneys at Phillips Law Offices
Phillips Law Offices is widely recognized as one of Chicago’s leading personal injury firms for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. With more than 75 years of experience handling catastrophic injury, occupational disease, and wrongful death cases, the firm understands the medical complexity, factual investigation, and time pressure that asbestos and mesothelioma claims require. Their attorneys take a comprehensive approach to identifying every workplace, product, and exposure source that contributed to a client’s diagnosis.
Asbestos and mesothelioma cases demand urgency. Diagnoses are often terminal, statutes of limitations move quickly, and evidence about decades-old jobsites must be reconstructed from records, coworkers, and product histories. Phillips Law Offices works closely with each client and family to preserve testimony, secure medical documentation, and pursue compensation from every responsible source, including manufacturers, employers, and asbestos bankruptcy trusts.
A Legacy of Asbestos and Mesothelioma Excellence Since 1945
Few personal injury firms in Chicago can match the history, experience, and legal reputation of Phillips Law Offices. For more than 75 years, the firm has remained committed exclusively to protecting the rights of injury victims, including workers exposed to asbestos in Chicago-area industrial settings, construction trades, shipyards, refineries, and power plants. This long-standing focus has allowed the attorneys at Phillips Law Offices to develop extensive knowledge of Illinois injury law, insurance litigation strategies, trial preparation, medical evidence, and complex negligence cases.
The firm’s founder, John Phillips, immigrated to the United States from Sicily as a child and built the law firm through hard work, integrity, and dedication to helping injured people. Over the years, Phillips Law Offices became known not only for securing substantial verdicts and settlements, but also for helping shape Illinois injury law through leadership roles, trial advocacy, and professional involvement within the Illinois legal community.
That commitment to excellence remains a defining characteristic of the firm today.
Comprehensive Asbestos and Mesothelioma Representation
Phillips Law Offices handles nearly every type of asbestos and mesothelioma and wrongful death case in Chicago and throughout Illinois. The firm’s attorneys understand that a serious injury can change every aspect of a person’s life physically, emotionally, and financially. Their legal team aggressively pursues compensation designed to cover medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, disability, long-term care, and future financial losses.
The firm regularly represents clients in cases involving:
- Mesothelioma diagnoses (pleural, peritoneal, and pericardial)
- Asbestos-related lung cancer
- Asbestosis and progressive lung scarring
- Pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and pleural effusions
- Secondary household exposure (take-home asbestos cases)
- Occupational exposure in construction, manufacturing, and shipyards
- Wrongful death claims from asbestos-related disease
- Asbestos trust fund claims and bankruptcy trust filings
- Veterans’ asbestos exposure claims (Navy and military facility cases)
- Product liability claims against asbestos manufacturers and suppliers
Their attorneys have experience handling both straightforward injury claims and highly complex litigation involving catastrophic injuries and permanent disabilities.
Proven Results in High-Value Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cases
Phillips Law Offices has secured significant verdicts and settlements for asbestos and mesothelioma victims and their families throughout Illinois. The firm’s track record reflects decades of aggressive advocacy and courtroom success against powerful defendants and insurance companies.
$7 Million Settlement – Hospital Oxygen Deprivation Case
Phillips Law Offices recovered $7 million for a 39-year-old woman who suffered severe brain damage from oxygen deprivation in a hospital ICU due to inadequate monitoring. While not an asbestos case, the result illustrates the firm’s ability to handle complex medical causation issues, expert testimony, and catastrophic-injury damages that are central to mesothelioma and lung cancer litigation.
$5 Million Wrongful Death Settlement – Medical Negligence
The firm secured $5 million for the family of a 56-year-old man who died after an insulin overdose. This wrongful death recovery reflects the firm’s experience pursuing maximum compensation for families who have lost a loved one to preventable medical and corporate negligence, the same framework used in asbestos wrongful death claims.
$2.25 Million Product Liability and Wrongful Death Verdict
Phillips Law Offices obtained $2.25 million for the family of a woman who died after a defective medical device failed during a heart artery procedure, leading to uncontrolled bleeding and bilateral leg amputations. The case demonstrates the firm’s strength in product liability litigation, the same body of law used to hold asbestos manufacturers accountable for concealing the dangers of their products.
$800,000 Wrongful Death Recovery
The firm recovered $800,000 in a wrongful death case involving a 51-year-old woman after the claim had been rejected by five other law firms. The result reflects the firm’s willingness to investigate and pursue difficult occupational and exposure cases that other firms decline to take.
These results reflect the firm’s commitment to pursuing maximum compensation for asbestos and mesothelioma victims facing devastating injuries and losses.
Respected Trial Attorneys in Chicago
One of the reasons Phillips Law Offices is consistently recognized among the top asbestos and mesothelioma law firms in Chicago is its reputation for trial advocacy. Insurance carriers and defense attorneys know the firm is fully prepared to take cases to court when fair settlement offers are not made.
While many firms prioritize quick settlements, Phillips Law Offices approaches each asbestos and mesothelioma case with the expectation that it may ultimately proceed to trial. This litigation-focused strategy often strengthens the firm’s negotiating position and allows its attorneys to pursue better outcomes for clients.
The attorneys at Phillips Law Offices are known for:
- Thorough investigation and evidence preservation
- Strategic litigation preparation
- Aggressive courtroom advocacy
- Detailed medical and damages analysis
- Effective negotiation with insurers
- Strong jury trial experience
- Client-focused representation
Their experience handling complex asbestos and mesothelioma litigation has helped establish the firm as a trusted name throughout the Chicago legal community.
Meet the Attorneys at Phillips Law Offices

Stephen D. Phillips
Stephen D. Phillips is widely recognized for his work representing victims in catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation throughout Illinois. Known for his courtroom skill, compassion for clients, and extensive litigation experience, Stephen Phillips has helped continue the firm’s longstanding reputation for excellence in personal injury law.
Stephen J. Phillips
Stephen J. Phillips continues the family legacy of trial advocacy at Phillips Law Offices, representing injury victims and grieving families in serious personal injury and wrongful death matters. He is known for thorough case preparation, strong client communication, and a steady focus on building cases that withstand scrutiny at trial.
Terrence M. Quinn
Terrence M. Quinn brings substantial trial experience to the litigation team at Phillips Law Offices, with a practice focused on catastrophic injury, medical negligence, and wrongful death cases. Clients consistently praise his thorough preparation, courtroom presence, and commitment to pursuing maximum compensation for serious injuries.
Michael J. Phillips
Michael J. Phillips has earned praise from clients for his communication, professionalism, and dedication to achieving favorable outcomes. He works closely with injury victims throughout every stage of the legal process and is known for keeping clients informed while aggressively protecting their interests.
Alec D. Mesrobian
Alec D. Mesrobian has developed a strong reputation for handling complex injury litigation with professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail. Clients consistently praise his strategic guidance, thorough preparation, and commitment to achieving successful resolutions.
Together, the attorneys at Phillips Law Offices bring generations of combined legal experience to every case they handle.
What Clients Say About Phillips Law Offices
Phillips Law Offices has earned outstanding reviews from injury victims and clients throughout Chicago who consistently praise the firm’s professionalism, communication, legal knowledge, and compassionate representation.
One client, Dani Berny, praised attorney Michael Phillips for consistently providing updates throughout her personal injury case and ensuring she always felt confident that her legal team was acting in her best interests. She also highlighted the firm’s professionalism, attention to detail, and deep knowledge of injury law.
Another client, Khaled Aboushaala, described attorney Alec D. Mesrobian’s representation as “exceptional in every respect,” noting that the case progressed efficiently once Alec assumed representation and praising his organization, responsiveness, and strategic judgment.
Marge S. commended Alec Mesrobian and Amanda Daliege for guiding her family through the legal process step-by-step while answering every question thoroughly and patiently.
Brandon DeWitt referred to Phillips Law Offices as home to some of the “best, skilled, elite personal injury attorneys in Chicago,” praising the firm’s compassion, responsiveness, and decades of experience helping injured victims.
Sasha Spektor described the caliber of talent at Phillips Law Offices as “unmatched,” specifically recognizing Stephen Phillips for his dedication, professionalism, and commitment to clients.
Reagan Tokoly highlighted Michael Phillips’ clear communication and willingness to explain every stage of the process in detail following an accident case that resulted in a highly favorable outcome.
“I highly recommend Phillips Injury Attorneys of Chicago for anyone that needs a highly skilled injury lawyer in Chicago. Stephen Phillips has an amazing record of providing great representation throughout the greater Chicagoland area. If you’re living in Chicago, you should know about Stephen and his firm’s abilities to help people that have been involved in an accident. If I was ever in an accident, I would call Stephen Phillips.”
These testimonials reflect the trust and confidence many clients place in Phillips Law Offices during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Client-Focused Representation
What truly distinguishes Phillips Law Offices from many other personal injury firms is its client-centered approach. The firm understands that an asbestos-related diagnosis such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis affects not only the victim, but the entire family. Because of this, their attorneys prioritize communication, accessibility, compassion, and personalized legal support throughout every case.
Clients are never treated like numbers or files. Instead, the firm takes time to understand each client’s injuries, concerns, financial challenges, and long-term needs. The attorneys at Phillips Law Offices remain accessible throughout the legal process and work closely with clients to ensure they understand every available legal option.
The firm also operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no attorney fees unless compensation is successfully recovered. Free consultations are available for injury victims seeking guidance after serious accidents or acts of negligence.
Deep Roots in Chicago and Illinois
Phillips Law Offices has represented injury victims throughout Chicago, Cook County, and communities across Illinois for generations. Their attorneys possess extensive familiarity with local courts, judges, insurance defense tactics, and Illinois personal injury statutes.
Chicago’s industrial history, steel mills, refineries, shipyards, power plants, construction, and manufacturing, means that thousands of workers were exposed to asbestos throughout the 20th century. Phillips Law Offices draws on decades of regional experience tracing exposure to specific jobsites, products, and employers across Cook County and the surrounding Illinois communities where asbestos was used.
Their longstanding reputation in the Chicago legal community reflects decades of dedicated advocacy, successful litigation, and commitment to helping injury victims rebuild their lives after devastating accidents.
Why Clients Choose Phillips Law Offices for Chicago Asbestos and Mesothelioma Cases
Phillips Law Offices continues to be recognized among Chicago’s leading asbestos and mesothelioma law firms because of its:
- More than 75 years of legal experience
- Exclusive focus on personal injury and wrongful death
- Proven record of significant verdicts and settlements
- Highly respected trial attorneys
- Strong client reviews and testimonials
- Compassionate client-centered representation
- Extensive asbestos and mesothelioma litigation experience
- Deep knowledge of Illinois asbestos exposure law and occupational disease litigation
- Commitment to maximizing compensation for clients
- Longstanding reputation within the Chicago legal community
For individuals and families seeking experienced legal representation after a serious injury, Phillips Law Offices remains one of the most trusted and accomplished personal injury firms in Chicago.
Every case is evaluated on its own facts, and prior results do not predict future outcomes.
Contact Phillips Law Offices
Address: 161 N Clark St, #4925, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone: (312) 346-4262
Website: phillipslawoffices.com
2. Simmons Hanly Conroy
National asbestos litigation firm with Chicago presence.
3. Cooney & Conway
Extensive experience with asbestos and mesothelioma cases.
4. Clifford Law Offices
Handles complex asbestos litigation.
5. Power Rogers & Smith
Experience with industrial exposure cases.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
- Medical expenses (treatment, surgery, chemotherapy)
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Travel costs for treatment
- Wrongful death damages
- Punitive damages (in some cases)
Illinois Asbestos Law
Statute of Limitations
Under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, claims must be filed within two years of diagnosis or discovery of the disease.
Official Resources
- American Cancer Society – Mesothelioma
- EPA Asbestos Information
- OSHA Asbestos Standards
- 735 ILCS 5/13-202 – Statute of Limitations
- Illinois Courts
Fighting for Asbestos Victims
Asbestos companies knew their products were deadly and hid the dangers for decades. Victims deserve full compensation for their suffering. Time is critical, and mesothelioma cases require urgent action.
Firms like Phillips Law Offices have the experience to pursue maximum compensation. Contact an asbestos lawyer today.
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