Patrick J. Foley, Esq.

Patrick J. Foley, Esq., an experienced mediator, facilitator, and attorney, specializes in providing mediation services for individual and business dispute resolution. Pat's goal is to help individuals and businesses reduce the cost of dispute resolution, preserve important relationships, and achieve early and long-lasting resolution of disputes. As a mediator based in Chicago, he works with attorneys, judges, individuals, and businesses to resolve their most difficult cases. Pat serves clients throughout Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties, and will travel in appropriate cases when requested.

An experienced trial lawyer, Pat understands the role of litigation in settling disputes among parties. He strongly believes, however, that voluntary mediation is a more effective and efficient means for arriving at comprehensive settlements. Such an approach shields the parties from years of struggle, ruined relationships, and the enormous financial cost resulting from litigation.

As a state and federal prosecutor and in private practice, Pat has tried more than 30 jury trials and 75 bench trials in state and federal courts, and has successfully argued more than a dozen cases before the Illinois Appellate and Supreme Courts. He has represented numerous individual and corporate clients in complex civil and white-collar criminal litigation, governmental and regulatory matters, and internal corporate and municipal investigations. His civil litigation experience includes claims involving partnership disputes, family business disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, shareholder derivative actions, product liability, employment disputes, breach of contract, professional negligence, and construction defects.

Pat has received extensive mediation training from the Center for Conflict Resolution, DePaul University Center for Dispute Resolution, and Northwestern University. He has been certified as a volunteer mediator by the Center for Conflict Resolution. He is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution, and the Alternate Dispute Resolution Sections of the Chicago Bar Association and American Bar Association. He is on the panel of mediators for the Circuit Court of Cook County Court-Annexed Mediation Program. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Center for Conflict Resolution. Pat teaches mediation advocacy at Loyola University School of Law.

Pat received his undergraduate degree in sociology from Loyola University Chicago in 1980 and earned his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago in 1983. He served as an Assistant Cook County States Attorney from 1983-85 and as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1985-1990 where he received a Special Achievement Award for distinguished service. He worked in private practice at Phelan, Pope & John, Ltd. from 1990-1994, and at Bates Meckler Bulger & Tilson from 1994-1997. While in private practice, Pat was a trial instructor with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy.

Pat is an active volunteer mediator with the Center for Conflict Resolution which provides free mediation services for the Circuit Court of Cook County and surrounding area.

Pat and his family live in Northfield, Illinois.

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