“
“I saw what the firm did, and I knew that it was what I wanted to do, too,” Rogers said. “The trial lawyers there handled a variety of cases. Some were personal injury cases. Some were product liability. Others were medical, transportation or commercial. They needed a knowledge of so many areas of the law. They needed to know how to try a case and put it all together. That was fascinating to me.” Rogers describes trial lawyers as being the equivalent to producers, directors and actors, all in the same trial. The producing part? That’s when lawyers work through the discovery process. Directing? That’s when lawyers pick their witnesses and decide upon which facts to focus. The acting part of the equation comes out during the trial, when lawyers work to pick the best possible jury members, recite their opening and closing statements and examine and cross-examine witnesses and experts. “You take on a variety of difference challenges and roles,” Rogers said. “It’s not like being on the assembly line and doing the same thing day after day.” As Rogers says, consider the TV shows that focus on lawyers. You don’t see hourlong dramas or movies focusing on real estate law, bankruptcy attorneys or mergers-and-acquisitions specialists. No. Hollywood makes stories about trial lawyers.
I have known of Bill Rogers as a younger medical malpractice defense lawyer. I did not know him well then, but I knew his reputation among his opponents and the attorneys who worked with and for him. I have never heard a bad word about him and his associates from Bollinger and Swanson loved working for him. What a gift they had. As a Judge, Bill was before me via Zoom on the motion call on a complex medical case. Bill was great and is far more hand- some in person than on Zoom. I then had the privilege of having Bill on trial in the Rounds Medical malpractice case that went to verdict. What an honor for me to have him on trial. He was a gentleman and a scholar, although I disagreed with him on time limits for Jury questioning where there are multiple defendants. He was excellent and had a calming demeanor which Judges and Jurys appreciate. After the trial, Bill and I became friends, and he would stop by regularly on my trials with a book about baseball and other interest- ing facts. He has a wealth of knowledge on the Law and is a Good Guy. I am privileged to now know him as a Friend. Your Award is well deserved.“
Hon. Brendan A. O’Brien, Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division, Trial Section
From left — Illinois Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates Presi- dent-elect Jill M. Webb of the Law Offices of Jill M. Webb, and President Bill Rogers of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP — presenting Cook County Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth M. Budzinski with a framed War of 1812 American flag. Budzinski for ABOTA’s 2022 Judge of the Year award. Photo courtesy of ABOTA
“ Bill Rogers is a consummate profes- sional. I have known him professionally and socially for almost fifty years. Not only is Bill an outstanding and very well- respected trial lawyer, his skill and moral fiber are well-known and acknowledged by his peers on both sides of the bar. Bill can be a dogged and relentless op- ponent but his honesty and ethical con- duct are hallmarks of his entire career. While Bill has handled many complex civil litigation cases, his expertise and skill in defending medical professionals
and institutions are unmatched. He has handled multiple high-profile cases with both diligence and compassion, and for several of those cases I had the privilege of representing a co-defendant. His overall success rate may be unmatched in the Cook County defense bar. In ad- dition to his stellar legal career, Bill has a wonderful family and continues to thrive as a doting grandfather. Bill has been a valued friend for many years and gone out of his way to help me and several family members. Bill remains a
leading member of the defense trial bar and a highly respected colleague and opponent. I am hardly surprised and very happy that he is being honored with the JVR Trial Lawyer Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award, a well-earned and deserved commendation.” Richard H. Donohue, Of Counsel, Donohue Brown Mathewson & Smyth LLC
72 JURY VERDICT REPORTER • 2024 ANNUAL TRIAL LAWYER EXCELLENCE AWARDS
Powered by FlippingBook