Cooney & Conway
Cooney & Conway is a Chicago-based, plaintiff-only personal injury law firm founded in 1958, specializing in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation since 1973, serving individual victims across all 50 states on a contingency fee basis with $7 billion+ in cumulative client recoveries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1958
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Cooney & Conway does
Cooney & Conway is a Chicago-based, plaintiff-only personal injury law firm founded in 1958, specializing in asbestos and mesothelioma litigation since 1973. The firm employs 24 attorneys and between 51 and 100 total staff out of a single headquarters at 191 N Wacker Dr, while serving individual clients across all 50 states through direct engagement via phone, website, and in-person consultation. Core practice areas are mesothelioma and asbestos-related disease representation, supported by adjacent personal injury services including medical malpractice, mass torts (Roundup, silicosis, talcum powder), transportation accidents, wrongful death, sexual abuse, and nursing home neglect.
The firm operates on a contingency fee model, charging no upfront fees to clients and receiving a percentage of settlements and verdicts. Notable case outcomes include a $200M asbestos settlement (the largest in Illinois history at the time), an $875M settlement against Pfizer, a $35.1M Shell Oil verdict, and cumulative recoveries of $7 billion+ for clients over 65+ years. Marketing is conducted through a multi-channel digital infrastructure including SEO-optimized content, active social media presence, attorney referral networks, and a 24/7 phone intake line.
Cooney & Conway is a privately held partnership with no institutional investors, no parent company, and no public listing. The firm has no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no public API or software products, and no technology platform beyond standard legal case management. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Three senior attorneys have passed away in 2023-2024 (John D. Cooney, James E. Ocasek, and Kathy Byrne), representing meaningful succession events for the partnership.
Cooney & Conway firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cooney & Conway
- Legal name
- Cooney & Conway
- Website
- https://cooneyconway.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1958
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Cooney & Conway is a Chicago-based, plaintiff-only personal injury law firm founded in 1958, specializing in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation since 1973, serving individual victims across all 50 states on a contingency fee basis with $7 billion+ in cumulative client recoveries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cooney & Conway industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Personal Injury Law
- NAICS
- Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)
Keywords
Where Cooney & Conway is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cooney & Conway business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Legal Services - Contingency Fees: The firm operates on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay no upfront fees. The firm receives a percentage of settlements and verdicts won on behalf of clients. Over the past 60+ years, Cooney & Conway attorneys have recovered billions of dollars for clients, with settlements in excess of $1,000,000 in thousands of cases and many cases receiving in excess of $10,000,000.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Contingency fee arrangement - no upfront costs to clients |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels9 records
Cooney & Conway product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cooney & Conway is a Chicago-based plaintiff-only personal injury law firm that represents individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases, as well as victims of catastrophic injuries, transportation accidents, medical malpractice, mass torts, sexual abuse, and wrongful death. The firm has represented asbestos victims since 1973 and operates exclusively on a contingency fee basis where clients pay no upfront costs. Services are delivered directly by the firm's 24 attorneys across all 50 states.
Product overview
Cooney & Conway is a Chicago-based plaintiff-only personal injury law firm offering legal services primarily focused on mesothelioma and asbestos-related litigation, along with a broad range of personal injury practice areas. The firm's core service is mesothelioma and asbestos litigation, supported by practice areas including personal injury, medical malpractice, mass torts, transportation injuries, wrongful death, sexual abuse, work injuries, toxic exposure, and nursing home abuse. The firm provides informational resources including an asbestos exposure guide ebook and maintains a case results database showcasing settlements and verdicts. Services are delivered through a team of attorneys rather than a software product platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Mesothelioma & Asbestos Litigation Legal representation for individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, including case evaluation, lawsuit filing, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings. Handles asbestos bankruptcy trust claims and represents clients across all 50 states.
- Personal Injury Law Legal representation for victims of serious injuries caused by negligence, including assault and battery, brain injury, burn injury, catastrophic injury, construction accidents, dog bites, slip and fall, premises liability, and police misconduct.
- Medical Malpractice Legal representation for victims of professional negligence by healthcare providers.
- Mass Torts & Class Actions Group litigation representing multiple plaintiffs with similar claims against common defendants, including Roundup weedkiller exposure and silicosis lawsuits from artificial stone work.
- Transportation Injury Legal representation for victims of transportation-related accidents including aviation, bicycle, boating, car, motorcycle, pedestrian, rideshare, truck, and train accidents.
- Wrongful Death Legal representation for families pursuing compensation for deaths caused by negligence or misconduct.
- Sexual Abuse Legal representation for victims of sexual abuse seeking justice and compensation in civil litigation.
- Work Injury Legal representation for workers injured on the job.
- Toxic Exposure Legal representation for victims of toxic chemical exposure including silicosis from artificial stone work.
- Nursing Home Abuse Legal representation for elderly patients who have suffered neglect or abuse in nursing care facilities.
- Talcum Powder Litigation Legal representation for victims diagnosed with cancer due to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder products.
- Military/Veteran Asbestos Claims Legal representation for veterans who developed mesothelioma or asbestos-related diseases from military service exposure.
Quantifiable outcome
- $7 billion+ recovered for clients
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Cooney & Conway
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cooney & Conway technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cooney & Conway partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- University of ChicagominorCooney & Conway funds Mesothelioma research at the University of Chicago to support clients who suffer from asbestos-related and other diseases. This partnership supports medical research and funding for disease treatment.
- Northwestern UniversityminorIn honor of Marcia Stenn, spouse of former Partner Irving Stenn Jr., Cooney & Conway contributed to the establishment of an Endowed Chair in Medicine at Northwestern University.
- Drexel UniversityminorCooney & Conway funds clinical research in Occupational Medicine at Drexel University to advance understanding of occupational diseases.
- Cristo Rey High SchoolminorFor nearly two decades, Cooney & Conway has proudly partnered with Cristo Rey High School to sponsor students as employees at the firm while funding their education through the Corporate Work Study Program.
- Daniel Murphy Scholarship FundminorCooney & Conway contributes to the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, which provides high school scholarship assistance and educational support to Chicago students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Loyola University Chicago School of LawminorThe partners at Cooney & Conway established both an endowed Chair in Advocacy and an Endowed Scholarship Fund at Loyola University Chicago School of Law to encourage future generations of trial advocates.
- Illinois Trial Lawyers AssociationcoreAttorneys at Cooney & Conway are active participants in the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Attorneys Kevin Conway, John Cooney, and Kathy Byrne were past Presidents of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.
- Chicago Bar AssociationminorAttorneys at Cooney & Conway are active members of the Chicago Bar Association, participating in professional development and community events.
- Illinois State Bar AssociationminorAttorneys at Cooney & Conway are active members of the Illinois State Bar Association.
- American Bar AssociationminorAttorneys at Cooney & Conway are active members of the American Bar Association.
- American Association for JusticeminorAttorneys at Cooney & Conway are active members of the American Association for Justice.
- Women's Bar AssociationminorAttorneys at Cooney & Conway are active members of the Women's Bar Association.
- Lawyers Lend-A-HandminorCooney & Conway attorneys participate in Lawyers Lend-A-Hand, a Chicago organization that channels the legal community's resources to promote mentoring and tutoring programs in disadvantaged communities.
- Chicago Volunteer Legal ServicesminorCooney & Conway supports Race Judicata benefiting Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, which provides free legal services to those in need.
- Feeding AmericaminorCooney & Conway contributes to Feeding America to support food security initiatives.
- Pilsen Food PantryminorCooney & Conway supports the Pilsen Food Pantry in the Chicago community.
- Grace Housing ComplexminorCooney & Conway is involved with and contributes to the Grace Housing Complex.
- Anti-Cruelty Society of ChicagominorCooney & Conway supports the Anti-Cruelty Society of Chicago.
- Catholic Charities of ChicagominorCooney & Conway contributes to Catholic Charities of Chicago.
- American Red CrossminorCooney & Conway supports the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cooney & Conway competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Simmons Hanly Conroy: One of the largest plaintiff-only asbestos and mesothelioma litigation firms in the U.S., based in Illinois. Direct competitor for mesothelioma cases with similar contingency fee model, multi-hundred-attorney scale, and national reach.
- Weitz & Luxenberg: New York-based plaintiff firm and national leader in asbestos, mesothelioma, and mass tort litigation. Directly comparable to Cooney & Conway in case focus, plaintiff-only model, and multi-state representation.
- Levy Konigsberg LLP: Plaintiff asbestos and mesothelioma litigation firm with offices in New York and New Jersey. Competes head-to-head with Cooney & Conway for mesothelioma cases and has achieved comparable nine-figure verdicts.
- Baron & Budd: National plaintiff firm specializing in asbestos, mesothelioma, and environmental tort litigation since 1977. Direct peer in case category and plaintiff-only model, with similar 45+ year track record of major verdicts.
- Napoli Shkolnik: Plaintiff mass tort firm representing mesothelioma, opioid, Roundup, and Camp Lejeune victims. Comparable in plaintiff-only model and mass tort diversification strategy, though broader geographically with offices in multiple states.
- Lanier Law Group: Plaintiff firm with substantial asbestos practice plus mass tort, personal injury, and product liability work. Comparable in contingency fee economics and multi-billion dollar verdict track record.
- Sokolove Law: Mass-marketing plaintiff firm focused on asbestos, mesothelioma, and mass tort intake. Competes with Cooney & Conway for plaintiff leads at the top of funnel and is one of the largest asbestos case-volume filers nationally.
- Kazan Law: California-based plaintiff firm specializing in asbestos and mesothelioma cases for over 40 years. Directly comparable case focus, plaintiff-only contingency model, and historical record of major verdicts against asbestos manufacturers.
Broad incumbents
- Morgan & Morgan: Largest plaintiff personal injury firm in the U.S. with thousands of attorneys and a national marketing machine. Overlaps with Cooney & Conway across auto accidents, premises liability, and mass torts, but does not specialize in asbestos.
- Motley Rice: National plaintiff firm with significant asbestos, mesothelioma, and mass tort practice alongside broader product liability and qui tam work. Comparable in contingency economics and big-ticket verdict profile, though broader portfolio than Cooney & Conway.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cooney & Conway social profiles
Digital presenceCooney & Conway financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cooney & Conway leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles24 records
Cooney & Conway funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cooney & Conway M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cooney & Conway
What does Cooney & Conway do?
Cooney & Conway is a Chicago-based plaintiff-only personal injury law firm that represents individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases, as well as victims of catastrophic injuries, transportation accidents, medical malpractice, mass torts, sexual abuse, and wrongful death. The firm has represented asbestos victims since 1973 and operates exclusively on a contingency fee basis where clients pay no upfront costs. Services are delivered directly by the firm's 24 attorneys across all 50 states.
Is Cooney & Conway a public or private company?
Cooney & Conway is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Cooney & Conway founded?
Cooney & Conway was founded in 1958. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Cooney & Conway based?
Cooney & Conway is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cooney & Conway make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Services - Contingency Fees.
Who are Cooney & Conway's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Simmons Hanly Conroy, Weitz & Luxenberg, Levy Konigsberg LLP, Baron & Budd, Napoli Shkolnik, Lanier Law Group, Sokolove Law and Kazan Law. Broad incumbents are Morgan & Morgan and Motley Rice.
Does Cooney & Conway have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cooney & Conway.
What industry is Cooney & Conway in?
Cooney & Conway's product category is Personal Injury Law. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAM, Personal Injury & Insurance Defense. Its NAICS code is 5411 and its SIC code is 8111.