40 Under Forty 2026

2026 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

“

We value practical thinkers like Paris who can provide us with solutions, not just legal analysis. ”

PARIS GLAZER

AGE: 39 FIRM : Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP LAW SCHOOL : University of Minnesota Law School

AREA(S) OF PRACTICE: Insurance coverage

P aris Glazer has built a sophisticated insurance coverage and diverse civil litigation practice by seeking out challenging legal disputes and deliberately broadening his areas of practice. He represents U.S., London, and Bermuda insurers in complex coverage matters nationwide, in disputes ranging from environ- mental, construction and manufacturing losses to commercial space launch claims. He also defends businesses in civil litiga- tion, including defamation, catastrophic accidents, contract and employment disputes. “We value practical thinkers like Paris who can provide us with solutions, not just legal analysis,” said John Corvino, senior vice president and general counsel with the Chicago White Sox. Colleagues describe Glazer’s oral advocacy as conversational and engaging, helping judges grasp technical concepts without sacrificing legal precision. They also note his ability to adapt his approach in real time as circumstances change. “Whenever anyone had a challenging insurance coverage issue, Paris was the first person people called,” said Conrad Nowak, who worked closely with Glazer for years, before switch- ing sides to join Corboy & Demetrio. “He has a remarkable ability to take complicated facts, dense policy language and unsettled legal issues and reduce them to clear, practical action items.” Opposing counsel appreciate his methods as well. Tyler Rench,

a partner at Jones Walker in New Orleans who litigated against Glazer, complimented his personable and pragmatic approach. In the courtroom, Glazer’s results reflect his preparation. In early 2025, he secured a full defense judgment for an Illi- nois business following a bench trial. Attendees complimented his cross-examination of the plaintiff’s key damages witness, during which Glazer elicited admissions that undermined the opposing theory. He has also won summary judgment and appellate victories in coverage disputes, including claims arising from biometric privacy, wrongful conviction, and other complex losses. Clients also have benefited from his approach to dispute resolution. In one complex commercial property insurance dispute, after mediation failed, Glazer developed an alternative framework that allowed the experts to reconcile competing methodologies. It ultimately led the parties to a successful commercial resolution. Glazer’s peers also point to another quality that distinguishes him: his comic timing. One judge recalled an argument in which Glazer invoked the movie The Big Lebowski to make a complex Illinois procedural issue both understandable and memorable. The point? Glazer makes every effort to engage his audience so they connect with his clients and his legal theories.

40 Under Forty 2026

CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN