Mr. Coleman is a trial and appellate lawyer with a concentration in complex commercial litigation developed over the last 38 plus years. He has handled several landmark cases resulting in over thirty multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements that have totaled more than a half a billion dollars. He enjoys challenging cases, with significant legal and public interest issues. He uses creative strategies in trial and negotiations to provide a cost effective result for his clients. A sample of some of Mr. Coleman’s current cases can be found at www.LitigationInfoCenter.com.

Mr. Coleman extensive experience in complex business litigation includes legal and accounting malpractice, commercial fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty and imprudent investment practices by trustees, and other commercial torts. Mr. Coleman has been lead counsel in high profile bankruptcy litigation involving issues of fraudulent conveyance, corporate breaches of fiduciary duty and issues of non-dischargeability. In addition, he has been class counsel in several major insurance, antitrust, securities, and consumer fraud class actions. Mr. Coleman has represented clients in both federal and state courts around the United States.

Mr. Coleman also has extensive experience counseling corporations and senior executives with respect to executive compensation, employment arrangements and corporate governance matters. He frequently negotiates employment agreements and exit packages and on behalf of senior executives of Fortune 500 companies.

Among his litigation accomplishments, Mr. Coleman:

• Recovered in excess of $100 million on behalf of the bankruptcy estate of a financial holding company prosecuting claims of accounting malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty; legal malpractice and fraudulent conveyance;

• Won a multi-million verdict on behalf of a large private equity firm, following a four week bench trial on a breach of contract claim;

 • Obtained a multi-million settlement on behalf of a real estate developer prosecuting legal malpractice claims against his former corporate attorneys; and

• Obtained a multi-million settlement on behalf of a financial institution prosecuting accounting malpractice claims.

In addition to his extensive legal experience, Mr. Coleman has years of active business experience. During the years, 1988 through 2004, Mr. Coleman oversaw the professional liability program for the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA) and the risk retention group sponsored by ATLA. Mr. Coleman is a Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of PrivateBancorp, Inc., a NASDAQ listed financial service company with banking and trust operations in Illinois, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri and Wisconsin. (See, www.privatebancorp.com).

Employment Experience:

Principal and Founder (1984), Robert F. Coleman & Associates
Partner, 1974-1984, Freeman, Atkins & Coleman, Chicago, Illinois.
State of Illinois, Antitrust Division, Assistant Attorney General, 1969-1974;
Assistant Chief, Antitrust Division, 1973-1974.

Bar Admissions:
Illinois, 1969;
U.S. Supreme Court, 1979;
U.S. Court of Appeals – 7th Circuit, 1974;
U.S. Court of Appeals – 5th Circuit, 1982;
U.S. Court of Appeals – 9th Circuit, 1971;
U.S. Court of Appeals – 6th Circuit, 1979;
U.S. Court of Appeals – 8th Circuit, 1994;
U.S. Court of Appeals – 2nd Circuit, 2004;
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1969 (Member of Trial Bar)
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 1993;

Admission - Pro Hac Vice:
U.S. District Courts and/or Bankruptcy Courts in: Arizona, California, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, and Washington,
Various State Courts in: Indiana, Kansas, New York, and Delaware.

Education:
DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, IL, 1969 – J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
DePaul University, Chicago, IL 1966 – B.S. Finance

Military Experience:
United States Army, Military Intelligence, Captain, 1966–1974. Honorable Discharge.

Honors and Awards:

A Fellow of the American Bar Foundation

Listed In:
Best Lawyers in America;
Illinois Super Lawyers
Leading American Attorneys;
Martindale Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers;
National Registry of Who’s Who, 9th Edition; and
Who’s Who in American Law, 2.d Edition;

Rated: AV by Martindale Hubbell.

Affiliations:
American Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association

Illinois Bar Association
Village of River Forest Fire and Police Commission, Chairman