GERARD KELLY
Senior Counsel
Gerard has handled a wide variety of complex litigation, including all forms of alternative dispute resolution. He spent 36 years (28 as a partner) with Sidley Austin LLP, where he was co-head of Sidley’s commercial litigation practice in Chicago, before joining CROKE FAIRCHILD DUARTE & BERES in 2023. Gerard has been lead counsel in federal and state courts across the country and has substantial first-chair experience in jury and bench trials.
As part of his commercial litigation practice, Gerard has handled virtually every type of real estate litigation, including contract, landlord-tenant, construction, foreclosure, receivership, escrow, title insurance, environmental, and land-use disputes. Gerard also has extensive experience in class action litigation, having served as national class action coordinating counsel for a major title insurance company for over 15 years. Gerard has handled major regulatory litigation and has represented clients in sensitive state attorney general and other investigations.
Clients rely upon Gerard for his clear-headed analysis and experience dealing with delicate, high-pressure situations. Gerard’s focus is to identify the best approach on key issues that will help clients obtain the most favorable result possible.
Gerard is the Firm’s General Counsel.
Direct: 312.493.8149
PRACTICE AREAS
EDUCATION
- Stanford Law School (J.D.)
- Dartmouth College (A.B. magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa)
ADMISSIONS
- Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – General
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – Trial Bar
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
GERARD KELLY
Senior Counsel
Direct: 312.493.8149
PRACTICE AREAS
EDUCATION
- Stanford Law School (J.D.)
- Dartmouth College (A.B. magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa)
ADMISSIONS
- Illinois
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – General
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois – Trial Bar
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
Gerard has handled a wide variety of complex litigation, including all forms of alternative dispute resolution. He spent 36 years (28 as a partner) with Sidley Austin LLP, where he was co-head of Sidley’s commercial litigation practice in Chicago, before joining CROKE FAIRCHILD DUARTE & BERES in 2023. Gerard has been lead counsel in federal and state courts across the country and has substantial first-chair experience in jury and bench trials.
As part of his commercial litigation practice, Gerard has handled virtually every type of real estate litigation, including contract, landlord-tenant, construction, foreclosure, receivership, escrow, title insurance, environmental, and land-use disputes. Gerard also has extensive experience in class action litigation, having served as national class action coordinating counsel for a major title insurance company for over 15 years. Gerard has handled major regulatory litigation and has represented clients in sensitive state attorney general and other investigations.
Clients rely upon Gerard for his clear-headed analysis and experience dealing with delicate, high-pressure situations. Gerard’s focus is to identify the best approach on key issues that will help clients obtain the most favorable result possible.
Gerard is the Firm’s General Counsel.