Jason E. DeVore
Managing Partner
Jason is a highly accomplished litigator, who is licensed to practice in Illinois and is a member of the Trial Bar for three U.S. District Courts in Illinois: Northern District, Central District and Southern District. With a career spanning nearly three decades, he specializes in complex insurance coverage, constitutional law, and high-exposure commercial litigation. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers from 2018-2026.
Jason has significant experience defending §1983 Constitutional claims, addressing sophisticated insurance coverage issues, and litigating complex commercial disputes. Additionally, Jason has successfully led insurers to become admitted to issue insurance policies in the State of Illinois, using his experience as an underwriter, claims adjuster and internal compliance auditor to foster the process.
With a collaborative and client first approach, Jason represents a wide variety of clients in complex high-exposure matters, including: insurance coverage, contract interpretation, commercial litigation, municipal law, risk management, catastrophic losses, transportation, truckers, water intrusion, fire and arson, toxic torts, environmental contamination, and large-scale subrogation.
Jason’s practice embraces representation of government entities, municipalities and state actors in the public sector. Representative clients include contractors, developers and companies in the construction industry, along with businesses, insurance carriers, and individuals. Jason has successfully litigated numerous appeals and frequently lectures on topics related to the insurance and construction industries. Jason is the primary client contact and lead counsel for insurance coverage matters within the firm.
Jason has been primary counsel for many successful appeals and has been selected as the preferred coverage counsel for A+ rated insurers. Jason provides counsel regarding civil rights, contracts, personal injury, tenders of defense, triggers of coverage, allocation, intellectual property, advertising injury, pastoral abuse, trade secrets, professional liability, commercial and personal lines, umbrella and excess coverage, construction defects and accidents, trucking and auto liability, liquidation and dissolution of insurance carriers, insurance producer professional liability, compliance, and insurance pooling agreements.
Representative Cases
Farmland Industries v. AIG, et al., Represented Farmland Industries and obtained $63 million settlement
The Osler Institute, Inc. v. Richard Miller, No. 1-12-3053 (August 8, 2013) (first of two suits)
The Osler Institute, Inc. v. Richard Miller, 2015 IL App (1st) 133899 (January 9, 2015) (second of two suits)
Illinois Emcasco Ins. Co. v. Waukegan Steel Sales, Inc., 2013 IL App (1st) 120735, (September 9, 2013) (published opinion)
Practice Areas
Insurance Coverage
Municipal/ 1983 Claims
Toxic Tort
Premises Liability
Retail
Wrongful Death
Trucking Claims
Catastrophic Injury
Fire Claims
Large Loss Property Damage Claims
Products Liability
Automobile Negligence
Transactional / Commercial Work
Illinois, 1997
Supreme Court of Illinois
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois Trial Bar
U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois Trial Bar
U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois Trial Bar
Bar Admissions
Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
Juris Doctor – 1997
Central College, Pella, Iowa
Business Management
Education
Professional Associations
Defense Research Institute
Illinois Defense Counsel of Trial Lawyers
Chicago Bar Association
Honorable Order of the Blue Goose, International
Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), Member
Underground Contractors’ Association
Published Works
“Public Policy and the Art of Drafting Conforming Insurance Policies”, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Volume 27, No. 1, 1st Quarter, 2017
“Making Waves with Water Intrusion Mold Claims”, Trial Journal of Illinois Trial Lawyers Assoc., Summer 2004
“To Appeal or Not to Appeal . . . An Insurer’s Duty to Appeal an Adverse Decision”, IDC Quarterly, 1st Qtr 2000
Classes
& Seminars
Guidance for Personal Injury Attorneys”, Lorman Webinar, August 23, 2019
Presentation, “Construction Coverage & Risk Transfer”, Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (“HACIA”), Chicago, IL, 2017
Presentation, “Negotiation Tactics”, Crawford/Broadspire, Schaumburg, IL, 2017
Presentation, “OSHA Inspections-What You Need To Know”, Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA), St. Charles, IL, 2017
Presentation, “The Crisis Management & Accident Response Checklist”, Underground Contractors Association Statewide Utility Roundtable, Peoria, IL and Itasca, Illinois, 2017
Presentation, “Construction Negligence and Associated Insurance Coverage Issues”, Underground Contractors Association Statewide Utility Roundtable, Peoria, IL and Itasca, Illinois, 2015
Presentation, “Strategies For Contractual Risk Shifting In Construction”, Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) Conference Seminar, ITT-Rice Campus, Wheaton, IL, 2013
Presentation, “Claims Handling Techniques”, Crawford & Company Seminar, 2010
Presentation, “Claims Investigation Techniques in the First 60 Days”, CCMSI Seminar, 2010
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Jason recognizes the importance of understanding different court systems throughout to country. Jason has handled a wide variety of matters in Illinois and throughout the United States, including Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Washington and Wisconsin.
Jason is a member of the Trial Bar for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern Districts of Illinois.
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Insurance Specialist: Jason serves as lead counsel for insurance coverage matters. He uniquely combines legal expertise with a background as an underwriter, claims adjuster, and compliance auditor.
Constitutional & Municipal Law: Extensive experience defending §1983 Constitutional claims and representing government entities and state actors.
Business & Commercial Litigation: Representing contractors, developers, and businesses in disputes involving construction defects, risk management, and toxic torts.
Appellate Practice: A seasoned appellate attorney who has successfully litigated numerous appeals and frequently lectures on industry-specific legal trends.
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Jason is a dedicated mentor to young attorneys through the Chicago Bar Association and an active member of the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) and the Underground Contractors’ Association.
He also serves his community through the Forest Preserve Foundation’s Conservation Cup Committee, helping protect 70,000 acres of natural habitat in Cook County.