Joseph A. Cancila Jr.
Partner
Joseph A. Cancila Jr. concentrates his practice in the area of complex civil litigation, with particular focus on the defense of class actions litigation involving:
- Unfair competition and consumer protection laws
- Fair housing law
- Trade practice and business torts
- Trade secret law
- Antitrust law
He also has experience in other commercial, fair housing, and employment litigation.
He maintains a national practice and has been admitted to appear pro hac vice in many state and federal district courts throughout the country. For example, his very recent or current dockets include alleged or certified class actions in federal or state courts in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. He has extensive class certification evidentiary hearing experience and trial experience in federal and state courts and before arbitrators.
He has represented corporations and insurers in connection with several dozen consumer class actions in 16 states. He has accomplished dismissals or denials of class certification of many of those cases. He also has successfully resolved other cases through class action settlements.
He has represented corporations and insurers in antitrust challenges and other alleged statutory violations or business torts. For instance, he has represented manufacturers in cases involving claims of breach of contract, price discrimination, antitrust, Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO), or other asserted statutory violations.
He has represented employers and insurers in connection with administrative investigations of discrimination complaints. He also has represented employers and former employees in claims involving trade secrets or non-compete employment provisions. And his broad-ranging litigation experience also has included trade secret misappropriation, fair housing, and coal contract trials or arbitrations.
Awards and Honors
Illinois Super Lawyers, Class Action/Mass Torts
Leading Lawyer — Commercial Litigation, Illinois Leading Lawyers Network
Education
University of Chicago Law School
(J.D., with honors,
1986)
Member, The University of Chicago Law Review
Syracuse University
(M.P.A.,
1976)
University of Dayton
(B.A., with high honors,
1974)
Professional Memberships
American Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Illinois State Bar Association
