Who We Are - Thomas Patterson

Thomas E. Patterson

Thomas E. Patterson graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1975, was a salesman for one year, and then attended law school, graduating from DePaul University in 1979. In law school, he was an editor of the Law Review and published a Note, Ex Parte Contacts in Informal Rulemaking Proceedings: Home Box Office v. FCC, 27 DePaul Law Review 489 (1978), which the Administrative Law Committee of the Illinois State Bar Association reviewed as “unusually perceptive.”

After law school, he became a law clerk for Justice William G. Clark of the Illinois Supreme Court, where he observed the inner workings of the state’s highest court, noted winning advocacy skills, and researched and wrote memoranda for the opinions that were issued.

Tom was an associate and then equity partner in a large Chicago law firm. He started the Patterson Law Firm on April 14, 2000.

Tom is a member of the Federal Trial Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court as well as the state and federal courts in the Chicago metropolitan area. As a member of the American Bar Association, the DuPage County Bar Association and the Illinois State Bar Association, he has been active on committees relevant to businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs, and the selection of judges.

As an av-rated lawyer (the highest rating in competence and ethics) by the oldest legal rating organization, he is a member of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Named an Illinois Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers magazine, he stressed his work in cases involving “breach of contract, construction, employment, partnership, shareholder LLC member, intellectual property, product liability, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and real estate disputes.”

Tom has lectured on the attorney-client privilege, e-commerce, and expert witnesses, and has written a book published by the American Bar Association, entitled: Handling the Business Emergency: temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.

Practice Areas:

Admissions

Illinois
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois
United States District Court of the Northern District of Indiana
United States District Court of Massachusetts
United States Court of Federal Claims

Memberships

American Bar Association
DuPage County Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association