Daniel S. Kirschner

Daniel S. Kirschner is a partner at the Chicago plaintiffs’ law firm of Corboy & Demetrio. As a trial lawyer, Mr. Kirschner represents victims of catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death and medical malpractice. Mr, Kirschner has successfully handled cases against many of the nation’s largest insurance companies and corporations at the pretrial, trial and appellate levels in state and federal court in Illinois and throughout the United States.

Mr. Kirschner concentrates his practice in cases involving aviation disasters; trucking, motor vehicle and highway collisions; railroad crossings and derailments; construction; premises liability; product liability; medical malpractice; pedestrian and bicycle collisions; school and governmental liability; public transportation (taxicabs and buses); animal control (dog bites); toxic tort and chemical exposure; crib, toy and other infant and children’s safety recalls; brain damage and spinal cord injury; hospitality and tourism industry; and liability for third-party criminal acts and sexual assault.

Mr. Kirschner currently serves on the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, and previously served appointments to the Illinois Supreme Court’s Rules Committee and Committee on Character and Fitness.

Mr. Kirschner, a staunch advocate for children’s safety, was appointed by Governor Pat Quinn in 2010 to the Illinois Carnival Amusement Safety (CAS) Board where he served for nine years, five of them as Chair of the CAS Board.

Mr. Kirschner has received numerous accolades, including being named to the list of The Best Lawyers in America, Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon 500 Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, Illinois Leading Lawyers and "40 Under 40 Attorneys to Watch in Illinois" by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company. Mr. Kirschner also earned the designation of "Super Lawyer" and "Rising Star" by Thomson Reuters. In addition, in 2005, he received the President’s Award for "Advocate of the Year" from the American Cancer Society for his advocacy work in successfully advancing the Chicago Indoor Clean Air Ordinance, known as "Smoke-Free Chicago."

A graduate of IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Mr. Kirschner received the CALI Award from his alma mater for Excellence in the study of medical malpractice. He is a Past-President of the Chicago-Kent Alumni Board of Directors and a recipient of the Young Alumnus Award the Chicago-Kent Law School Association.

Mr. Kirschner is an active member of many bar associations. He is a past Co-Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and served as an investigator for the Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee. He has organized, moderated, and lectured at numerous continuing legal education seminars for practicing attorneys and is regularly called upon to judge moot court and trial advocacy competitions.

Mr. Kirschner has served on the boards and committees of numerous community, charitable and educational institutions, including American Cancer Society, Chicago Community Trust, Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lawyers Lend-A-Hand, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Onward Neighborhood House, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation.

Profiles

"40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch," Law Bulletin Publishing Company,  2003

Honors

The Best Lawyers in America, 2019-present

Illinois Leading Lawyers, 2015-present

Illinois Super Lawyers, 2012-present

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Recipient of William J. Harte Amicus Volunteer Award, 2017

Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases, Member

Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend-A-Hand Program, Leadership Board

American Cancer Society, Advocate of the Year, President’s Award, 2005

American Cancer Society, Chicago Regional Community Leadership Board

Chicago Bar Association, Judicial Evaluation Committee, Investigator, 2003

“40 Under 40 Illinois Attorneys to Watch,” 2003

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, CALI Award for Excellence in the Study of Medical Malpractice, 1998

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Alumni Board of Directors

Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee, Member

Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, Commissioner, 1999-2002

Illinois Super Lawyers Rising Star, 2008-2011

IIT Chicago-Kent Law School Association, Young Alumnus Award, 2003

Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, 2022-present

Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2020-present

Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers, 2024

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Alumni Leadership Committee

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association (ABA)

American Association for Justice (AAJ), formerly known as Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), Scoring Judge, 2003 Student Trial Advocacy Competition; Scoring Judge, 2000 Student Trial Advocacy Competition; Member, Motor Vehicle Collision, Highway and Premises Liability Section, 1999-present

Chicago Bar Association (CBA), Investigator, Judicial Evaluation Committee, 2003; Fellow, CBA College of Trial Lawyers, 2001; Scoring Judge, 20th Annual Moot Court Competition, 2001; Seminar Planner and Moderator, "Collecting on Judgments", 2001; Special Project Coordinator, Young Lawyers Section, 2001-2002; Executive Counsel, Young Lawyers Section, 2001-2002

Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)

Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) Member, Amicus Committee, 1998-present; Co-Chair, Young Lawyers Committee, 2002-2003

Trial Lawyers for Public Justice

U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society

Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee, 2003-present

Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, Board of Admissions to the Bar, Commissioner: 1999 - 2002

Community Involvement

Heartland Alliance, Marjorie Kovler Center; presents annual Robert H. Kirschner Award for Global Activism, created to honor Dan’s late father; served on host committees for Kovler Center Power of Healing benefits, 2017 and 2019.

42nd Ward Democratic Party Finance Committee, 2008-2010

Illinois Carnival Amusement Safety Board, 2010-2019, Chair, 2012-2015

Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Lend-A-Hand Program, Leadership Board, 2004-2008

American Cancer Society, Chicago Regional Community Leadership Board, 2004-2013; Chair, 2010-2012; Executive Board, 2004-present; Advocacy Committee Chair, 2006-2008; Vice-Chair, 2004-2006; Illinois Division Board, 2011-2012

Chicago Community Trust, Young Leaders Fund, Grant Maker, 2001-2002

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Alumni Board of Directors, President, 2009-2011; Member, 2003-present; Executive Board, 2004-present; Scholarship Committee Chair, 2008-present; Fundraising Committee Chair, 2004-2008

Greater Chicago Food Depository, 13th Annual Bag Hunger Auction, Host Committee, 2006

Onward Neighborhood House, Gala Committee, 2006

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Alumni Leadership Committee, 2006-2011; Annual Giving Chair, 2008-2011

Successes

Practice Areas

Speaking Engagements and Presentations

• "Product Liability--A Plaintiff's Attorney Perspective," 29th Annual Product Liability Conference, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2017
• "Update and Review Seminar - Transportation Negligence," Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2010
• "How Senior Leaders Adjust to Economic Change and the Impact of Their Decision on You," Young Executives Club, 2009
• "Subrogation, Healthcare Claims," Liens and Settlements Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2008
• "Privilege Issues," Evidence Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2007
•  "Common Carrier Liability, " Update and Review Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2006
• "Proper Parties, Amended Complaints, Relation Back Doctrine," Civil Litigation Seminar, Illinois State Bar Association, 2006
• "Handling Liens," Settlement on Settlements Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2004
• "Special Settlement Problems," Past Presidents Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2004
• "Subrogation and Common Fund Doctrine," Motor Vehicle Cases from A to Z, Illinois State Bar Association, 2003

Education

IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 1998

University of Wisconsin, Madison, B.A., 1994

Bar & Court Admissions

• Illinois, 1998
• U.S. Supreme Court, 2006
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1998
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1999
• U.S. District Court, Central Districts of Illinois, 2001
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar, 2003