Joseph A. "Joe" Cancila, Jr.

Joseph A. "Joe" Cancila, Jr.


Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP

Recognized since 2012

Chicago, Illinois

Practice Areas

Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants

Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
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Known both as a gifted leader and a consummate team player, Joe Cancila is a highly regarded, experienced, and tenacious litigator who has dedicated his career to defending clients in complex commercial class actions. He is a creative strategist, thorough investigator, and effective communicator—all qualities that make him a worthy adversary in and out of the courtroom. And as the leader of many practice teams, he has mastered the art of working collaboratively with co-counsel to best advance client interests and analyze and successfully resolve challenging and complicated legal problems.

Joe has received national and state recognition for his defense practice, having brought several dozen class-action cases to successful resolution in jurisdictions widely dispersed throughout the country. He has successfully defended breach of contract, consumer fraud, complex commercial, antitrust, insurance bad faith, RICO, fair housing, trade secret, and environmental litigation, among others.

Contact & Links
Location
  • 70 West Madison Street, Suite 2900
    Chicago, IL 60602
Education
  • University of Chicago, J.D., with honors, graduated 1986
  • Syracuse University, M.P.A., graduated 1976
  • University of Dayton, B.A., with high honors, graduated 1974
Bar Admissions
  • Illinois, Illinois State Bar
  • Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State Bar
Affiliations
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • Chicago Bar Association - Member
  • Illinois State Bar Association - Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel - Member
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2024 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2021 - Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Chicago (2024)
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Chicago (2021)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Awards:
  • The Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers (Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions-Defendants, 2012-2022; Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, 2012-2023)

    2021 Chicago Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions-Defendants "Lawyer of the Year," Best Lawyers

    Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon Inc. (2019-2023)

    Client Service All-Star (MVP), BTI Consulting Group (2020, 2022)

Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Appellate Practice
  • Arbitration
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Insurance Law
  • Litigation - Environmental
  • Mediation
  • Product Liability Litigation

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Publications

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