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Biographical Information

Dennis VanDerGinst is the President/CEO of VanDerGinst Law, one of the most successful personal injury law firms in the country.  He has been a tireless advocate for his clients and a stalwart ambassador for his profession. As a result, he has been recognized as one of the best in the country by clients, peers, and other professionals.

Dennis received his law degree from DePaul University in Chicago.  He is licensed to practice in Illinois, Iowa, Washington D.C., and the federal courts.  During his career he has represented clients in almost every state of the country.  The focus of his practice has been on helping injured people.  The law firm which bears his name has represented over 50,000 injury victims during his career, in all areas of personal injury law.

His dedication to clients has earned Dennis and his firm the prestigious Torch Award for Ethics, awarded by the Better Business Bureau, marking the first time this honor was ever bestowed upon a lawyer or law firm in the region. Dennis has also been awarded the Client’s Choice Award from AVVO Lawyer Rating Service and Client Champion recognition from Martindale-Hubbell, the most established attorney rating service in the profession.  In In 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 Dennis was voted as the Best Attorney in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois in a Reader;s Choice survey.  He was runner-up for that honor in 2019.

Dennis’s accomplishments and expertise within the profession have also won him accolades from his peers.  He is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Attorney Rating Service (the highest available rating) He has been designated a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters, a staple in the legal profession, and has been rated Superb with a 10/10 rating from AVVO Lawyer Rating Service.  Chicago Lawyer magazine has recognized Dennis as one of the Top Injury Lawyers in Illinois, and the Iowa Association for Justice has featured him in an article in IAJ’s magazine, Iowa Trial Lawyer.  He has likewise been selected as one of the top attorneys in the nation by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, the National Trial Lawyers and the American Society of Legal Advocates, among others.

His success in the field of personal injury law is illustrated by his inclusion in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, whose membership is limited to those attorneys who have secured multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements, which he has done dozens of times in his career.

His expertise has made him a reliable source of law-related information for numerous media outlets.  He is often called upon to speak about legal and consumer issues in the news. He has been featured on the National Public Radio program, America’s Premier Lawyers, as well as on numerous regional and national radio and television programs and podcasts.  He has been profiled in Fortune magazine, and numerous news and/or law-related publications.  Similarly, he has authored numerous legal articles in professional journals and magazines and has been an active speaker/lecturer at regional and national conferences, conventions, seminars, and webinars that focus on the importance of personal injury law.  In addition, Dennis has taught Torts and Insurance law as an adjunct professor.

He has been an extremely active member of several professional organizations such as the American Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, the Illinois and Iowa State Bar Associations, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, and the Iowa Association for Justice. Dennis has served on the Board of Managers for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Board of Governors for the Iowa Association for Justice, The Board of Advocates for AAJ and on the Board of Trustees for the Pound Civil Justice Institute.  He has also served as the State Delegate to AAJ for both Illinois and Iowa – the only person to ever serve in that capacity for both of those states. Additionally, he has served on the National Advisory Board for the National Crime Victims Bar Association and for the Association of Plaintiff Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America.

His career accomplishments have earned him the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Who’s Who, the Lifetime Achievement Award from Premier Lawyers of America, and the Best Attorney-Lifetime Charter Membership from Rue Ratings’ Best Attorneys of America.

Through his stewardship VanDerGinst Law became one of the first law firms in the country to embrace the powerful potential of the internet.  The firm’s award-winning website, www.VLaw.com, has become a legal resource for other law firms, law students and lay people across the country.  The VanDerGinst Law Facebook page is one of the most “liked” attorney Facebook pages in the world. In addition to consumer and  legal news, the firm often uses their online platforms to present cases and legal issues to focus groups and online mock juries.

Perhaps most important, Dennis has created a corporate culture at VanDerGinst Law which embraces the firm’s responsibilities as ambassadors of the profession and leaders in the community.

The Mission of VanDerGinst Law, as authored by Dennis, is: to help people both in and out of the courtroom.  In the courtroom the firm’s focus is on assisting those who have become injured or infirm on the job or due to the negligence or wrongdoing of others.  Outside of the courtroom the firm’s focus is on helping those least able to help themselves, including the injured and infirm, the elderly and children.  Additionally, the firm focuses on giving back to those to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude including first responders, veterans and active military, teachers, and front-line health care workers.

To that end, his law firm has donated millions of dollars and countless  hours to the organizations that support these initiatives and advance growth and prosperity in their communities. In recognition of his character and philanthropic efforts, Dennis was recognized by GQ’s “Better Men, Better World” campaign.

In addition to his management responsibilities to the firm, Dennis oversees all injury cases and maintains an active caseload himself.

Admission Dates & Jurisdictions

State of Illinois-1989

State of Iowa-1994

District of Columbia- 2023

United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois-1989

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois-1992

United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Federal Circuit-1990

Education

DePaul University – College of Law
Juris Doctor, Spring, 1989.

Northern Illinois University
Bachelor of Arts, Fall, 1985

Professional Experience

Managing Partner at VanDerGinst Law 2004–present
Managing Partner at VanDerGinst, Roche & Westensee 2001–2004
Managing Partner at Braud, Westensee & VanDerGinst 1995–2001
Professor at Black Hawk College 1993–1996
Attorney at Braud/Warner, Ltd. 1992–1994
Attorney at Wylie, Mulherin, Rehfeldt and Varchetto 1990–1992
Attorney at Elliot Samuels Law Firm 1989–1990

Honors & Awards

Million Dollar Advocate Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Honoree Golden Key National Honor Society
Honoree America’s Premier Lawyers
Life Member National Registry of Who’s Who
Honoree Prairie State Legal Services
Top 100 Lawyers National Trial Lawyers
Lifetime Honoree Best Attorneys Of America
Advocate National College of Advocacy
Honoree Academy of Trial Professionals
Top 100 Litigation Lawyers American Society of Legal Advocates
Honoree Who’s Who Among American Law Students
Honoree International Who’s Who
Honoree Best Attorneys Network
Multi-Million Dollar Advocate Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Leading Lawyer Leading Lawyers Network
Honoree Who’s Who Legal
Honoree Who’s Who In American Law
Honoree Who’s Who in American Law -Marquis
Honoree American Lawyer Academy
Honoree Best Attorneys of America, Rue Ratings
Top 100 Trial Lawyers American Trial Lawyers Association
Top 500 Attorneys America Lawdragon Publications
Nation’s Top 1% Attorney The National Association of Distinguished Counsel

Professional Associations

Former Board Member American Association for Justice
Member American Bar Foundation
Member Academy of Trial Professionals
Member American Trial Lawyers Association
Former Board Member Association of Interstate Trucking Lawyers of America
Member Brain Injury Association
Member Chicago Bar Association
Member DuPage County Bar Foundation
Member Illinois Brain Injury Association
Member Illinois State Bar Association
Former Board of Directors Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Member Iowa State Bar Association
Member Iowa State Trial Lawyers Association
National Board Member National Crime Victim Bar Association
Board of Trustees Pound Civil Jusice Insitute
Former Board Member Rock Island Counrty Bar Association
Member Scott County Bar Association
Member Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
Member Winnebago County Bar Association
Member Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers

Speaking Engagements

Use of the Internet to Deliver Legal Services American Association for Justice
Public Relations and Community Events Summer Convention
Legal Services Via the Internet Summer Convention
Bates: Then and Now American Association for Justice
Internet Usage for Law Firms Summer Convention
Mass Tort Litigation Scott County Bar Association Seminar
Disc Decompression Quad Cities Chiropractic Consortium
How To Avoid Malpractice Quad Cities Chiropractic Conference
Pharmaceutical Litigation Professionally Speaking Seminar
Agricultural Nuisance Litigation Professionally Speaking Seminar
Peanut Butter, Salmonella Litigation Professionally Speaking Seminar
Law Panels Discussion Pre Law Society, Law Panels Committee
The Whole Truth? Experts, Evidence and Blindfolding the Jury Pound Civil Justice Intsitute
Risk Management and the Legal System St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy Program
Practicing in Conjunction with the Legal System St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy Program
Liability Insulation for Treatment Providers St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy Program
Dealing with Patient Confidences St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy Program
Dealing With the Legal System St. Ambrose University Physical Therapy Program
Recent Tort Reform Legislation Orthopedic Surgeons CME
AIDS Confidentiality Issues Orthopedic Surgeons CME
Litigation, Insurance Claims and How to Avoid Malpractice St. Ambrose University Occupational Therapy Program
How To Effectively Treat/Serve Patients and Still Be Insulated From Liability Exposure St. Ambrose University Occupational Therapy Program
Monetary Compensation for Victims of Crime National Crime Victim Bar Association Seminar
People Over Profits Mass Torts Made Perfect
Mass Tort Litigation M & L Management Conference
Trial Preparation: The Expensive and Inexpensive Way Last Chance Seminar
Anatomy of a Mass Tort Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Seminar
Current Issues in Professional Responsibility, Ethical Marketing Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Seminar
Torts and Insurance Law Black Hawk College
Insurance Considerations for OR and Recovery Room Nurses Association of Operating Room Nurses
Medical Malpractice in the OR Association of Operating Room Nurses

Publications

Negligent Use of Self Defense- A Viable Cause of Action, But Is There Coverage Trial Journal (ITLA)
Tort “Reform” Versus Tort Fairness-A Call for Real Justice AAJ Press
The Legal Profession Caught in the Net Trial Journal (ITLA)
Mass Tort Litigation: Is it for The Masses? Trial Journal (ITLA)

Service Activities

Creator and Director of QCA Cares