Vincent D. Pinelli

Vincent D. Pinelli is a founding partner of Burke Burns & Pinelli, Ltd. His practice focuses on civil and criminal litigation in both state and federal courts. Mr. Pinelli has extensive experience in complex commercial litigation, eminent domain cases, as well as all types of administrative hearings. He has tried over 35 civil jury trials to verdict and numerous contested bench trials in the Chancery and Law Divisions in courts throughout Illinois. Mr. Pinelli has prosecuted and defended class action lawsuits, including securing a $1.8 million settlement on behalf of citizens who were improperly ticketed by a local park district police force. He has represented both owners and governmental agencies in eminent domain cases.

Mr. Pinelli handles a broad range of types of cases, including: breach of contract and warranty claims, civil rights laws, commercial disputes, construction contracts, civil fraud claims, class action suits, eminent domain laws, employment law and discrimination claims, fiduciary duty claims, public and private pension fund representation, personal and business tort claims, shareholder and partner disputes, and representation and counseling of clients during investigations by state and federal agencies.

Prior to founding Burke Burns & Pinelli, Ltd. with his partners, Mr. Pinelli gained extensive trial experience as an associate at the law firm of Burke & Smith Chartered, as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois and as an Assistant Cook County Public Defender. Throughout his career, he has represented both public and private clients in a broad range of civil and criminal litigation matters before both trial and appellate courts. Mr. Pinelli has served continuously since 1989 as a Special Assistant Attorney General representing various agencies of the State of Illinois, including the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority. Mr. Pinelli has continuously received an AV Peer Review from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethical standards and legal ability.

Practice Areas

• Administrative Law
• Board Governance
• Business and Corporate
• Civil Litigation
• Class Action Litigation
• Eminent Domain
• Employment and Labor
• Municipal Law
• Public Pension Law

Bar and Court Admissions

• Illinois Supreme Court (1978)
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• Federal Trial Bar in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Education

• John Marshall Law School
  L.L.M., Tax Law, 1989
• DePaul University
  J.D., 1978
• Loyola University of Chicago
  B.A., 1975

Professional Appointments and Memberships

• Special Assistant Attorney General, State of Illinois (1992 to present)
  Focusing on eminent domain
• Cook County Mandatory Arbitration Program
  Certified Arbitrator
• Chicago Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• Justinian Society of Lawyers
• International Right of Way Association

Prior Experience

• Associate, Burke & Smith Chartered (1987-1992)
• Assistant Attorney General, State of Illinois (1985-1987)
  Concentrated on tax and fraud prosecutions
• Assistant Cook County Public Defender (1979-1985)
  Represented indigent clients in over 50 felony jury trials and 500 bench trials