Howard M. Zavell
Attorney
Howard M. Zavell is a member of the firm. Howard received his Juris Doctorate with Honors from IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law in June 1992. He was admitted to practice in the State of Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in 1992.
Howard concentrates his practice in providing representation for business entities and individuals in complex litigation involving commercial matters and professional liability. With a very hands-on approach, he counsels and assists business entities with corporate and business law matters, including corporate structure, long term planning, financing, day-to-day operations, and contracts. Howard carefully analyzes each client’s needs and concerns, utilizing over 30 years of experience to assist them in reaching their goals while keeping a careful eye on the costs related to each matter.
Mr. Zavell has represented clients in various industries, including manufacturing, insurance agencies, contractors, insurance restoration companies, a safety net hospital, long term care facilities, physicians, a national physical therapy and occupational therapy company, and real estate developers and investors. When providing legal services for clients, Howard believes access is of the utmost importance, and he regularly speaks with clients early in the morning, late at night, and even on Sunday nights, if that is what is necessary to help clients achieve their goals.
Howard acts as local counsel in Illinois for many national companies, working closely with their general counsel. In this role, Howard handles commercial litigation in the state of Illinois, and he often works with counsel throughout the country, assisting with litigation in multiple jurisdictions. He also provides aggressive representation for clients in complex civil litigation cases in the areas of professional liability, medical malpractice, wrongful death, and nursing home abuse and neglect.
Howard handles litigation in the State and Federal Courts of Illinois. He also works with clients to resolve issues through arbitration. Where appropriate, mediation is a tool that he can utilize to obtain the best possible results for clients. Howard has also handled multiple matters before the CRC Beth Din (Rabbinic Court of the Chicago Rabbinical Council), and he also recently resolved a matter before the Beth Din of America, which is located in New York City, New York.
As a former collegiate gymnast, Howard understands first-hand the meaning of preparation, competition, leadership, and winning. As the Co-Captain of the University of Illinois men’s gymnastics team, he helped lead them to win the NCAA Division I Championship and Big Ten Championship. Howard brings the same competitiveness and zeal to win to his daily practice of the law.
In his free time, Howard has been active in coaching all three of his children’s soccer teams and in volunteering with the Boys Scouts of America. He also trained his children to physically and psychologically prepare and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, which he has had the pleasure to do on three separate occasions.
Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 1992
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois
- Admitted pro hoc vice in Racine and Milwaukee Counties, Wisconsin
Education
Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
- Juris Doctorate with Honors - June 1992
University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
- Bachelor of Arts – 1989
- Honors: Co-Captain, 1989 Mens Gymnastics Team, NCAA Division I Champions, and Big Ten Champions
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Association for Justice, Member
- Illinois State Bar Association, Member
- Chicago Bar Association, Member
- Northwest Suburban Bar Association, Member
- DuPage County Bar Association
Recent Honors
- Elite Lawyer, 2023
- Leading Lawyer