Corboy & Demetrio
Corboy & Demetrio is a Chicago-based plaintiff personal injury and wrongful death law firm founded in 1959, representing clients on a contingency fee basis across 16 practice areas including aviation litigation, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury cases.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1959
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Corboy & Demetrio does
Corboy & Demetrio is a Chicago-based personal injury and wrongful death law firm founded in 1959 by Philip H. Corboy and Thomas A. Demetrio. The firm represents plaintiffs on a contingency fee basis across 16 practice areas including aviation litigation, medical malpractice, product liability, construction accidents, FELA railroad claims, drug and medical device liability, nursing home negligence, rideshare cases, sports liability, firefighter cancer litigation, and workers' compensation. It is headquartered at 33 N. Dearborn Street in downtown Chicago with 15 named attorneys/partners, and markets itself nationally rather than purely regionally based on its aviation and major disaster litigation track record. Cumulative case outcomes exceed $5 billion in verdicts and settlements, with nearly 600 matters resolving at over $1 million.
The firm's revenue model is a pure contingency arrangement: clients pay no upfront fee, and the firm is compensated only on a successful verdict or settlement. Notable casework includes representation of Dr. David Dao in the 2017 United Airlines passenger-dragging matter (confidential settlement reached in 18 days), NFL/NHL CTE-related wrongful death suits (Dave Duerson, Derek Boogaard, Mike Adamle), MLB Hall of Famer Frank Thomas in a jersey lawsuit, and aviation-disaster representation across American Airlines Flight 191, USAir Flight 427, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, and Lion Air Flight 610. Distribution is direct-to-client via free 24/7 consultations (phone, email, web form), with inbound cases generated through paid media exposure, attorney reputation, podcast, and community-involvement networks rather than through any proprietary product or technology platform.
The firm does not operate proprietary technology products, APIs, or software platforms. Its content and marketing surface consists of a website, 'Masters of Trial Law' video podcast, attorney-authored newsroom articles, and active social channels (YouTube, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram). Competitive advantage is built on partner-level reputation — co-founder Thomas A. Demetrio has been ranked #1 Super Lawyer in Illinois for six consecutive years, Managing Partner Kenneth T. Lumb is a Lawdragon Legend, and seven partners appear on the 2026 Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers — together with a multi-decade case-result portfolio and a national media presence.
Corboy & Demetrio firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Corboy & Demetrio
- Legal name
- Corboy & Demetrio
- Website
- https://corboydemetrio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1959
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Corboy & Demetrio is a Chicago-based plaintiff personal injury and wrongful death law firm founded in 1959, representing clients on a contingency fee basis across 16 practice areas including aviation litigation, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury cases.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Corboy & Demetrio industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Personal Injury Law
- NAICS
- Legal Services (5411), All Other Legal Services (541199)
- SIC
- Services-Legal Services (8111)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Personal Injury & Insurance Defense (BPAHAAAM)
Keywords
Where Corboy & Demetrio is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Corboy & Demetrio business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Legal Services - Personal Injury Representation: Traditional contingency fee model where the firm represents plaintiffs in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Clients pay no fee unless the firm obtains a verdict or settlement on their behalf.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | — | Contingency fee arrangement - no upfront cost to clients |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Corboy & Demetrio product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Corboy & Demetrio is a Chicago personal injury law firm that represents plaintiffs in serious injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency-fee basis. Its core work covers aviation disaster litigation (nearly every major U.S. aviation crash since 1979), medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability, construction accidents, truck and vehicular accidents, premises liability, railroad negligence (FELA), drug and medical device liability, nursing home negligence, rideshare, sports liability, firefighter cancer claims, and workers' compensation. The firm has recovered more than $5 billion in verdicts and settlements, with nearly 600 cases above $1 million, and offers free, 24/7 remote consultations.
Product overview
Corboy & Demetrio is a premier Chicago personal injury law firm offering comprehensive legal services across 16 distinct practice areas. The firm provides unified legal representation for plaintiffs in serious personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases. Their portfolio includes specialized practice areas such as Aviation Litigation, Construction Accidents, Product Liability, Truck/Vehicular Accidents, Railroad Negligence (FELA), Drug/Medical Device Liability, Nursing Home Negligence, Premises Liability, Rideshare Lawsuits, Sports Liability, Firefighter Cancer Lawsuits, and Workers' Compensation. The firm also produces a video podcast called 'Masters of Trial Law' covering legal topics and cases. Their core offering is legal services rather than a technology product, with a track record of over $5 billion in verdicts and settlements, including nearly 600 cases in excess of $1 million.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aviation Litigation Plaintiff-side legal representation for victims and families of major U.S. and foreign aviation and airplane crash disasters, including pilot negligence, airline liability, manufacturer negligence, and government liability. Clients include families of passengers and survivors.
- Medical Malpractice Representation Contingency-fee legal representation for victims of medical negligence, including misdiagnosis, surgical errors, birth injuries, and other malpractice by hospitals, surgeons, and healthcare providers.
- Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Representation Plaintiff-side legal representation in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases resulting from negligence by corporations, airlines, hospitals, manufacturers, municipalities, and insurance carriers.
- Construction Accident Representation Legal representation for victims injured in construction site accidents, including scaffold collapses and other worksite incidents.
- Product Liability Representation Contingency-fee plaintiff representation for victims harmed by defective products, including sports equipment (NFL helmet litigation alleging CTE-related negligence).
- Truck Accident Representation Contingency-fee legal representation for victims of truck and commercial vehicle accidents.
- Vehicular Accident Representation Contingency-fee legal representation for victims of car and other vehicular accidents, including CTA bus and rideshare crashes.
- Premises Liability Representation Legal representation for victims injured on premises due to negligence, including slip-and-fall and structural failures.
- Railroad Negligence and FELA Representation Legal representation for railroad workers and victims under the Federal Employers' Liability Act.
- Drug Liability Representation Contingency-fee plaintiff representation for victims harmed by pharmaceutical drugs.
- Medical Device Liability Representation Contingency-fee plaintiff representation for victims harmed by defective medical devices.
- Nursing Home Negligence Representation Contingency-fee representation for victims of nursing home negligence, abuse, and wrongful death.
- Rideshare Lawsuit Representation Legal representation for victims of rideshare-related accidents and incidents.
- Sports Liability Representation Contingency-fee plaintiff representation for athletes and victims in sports-related injury cases, including NFL/NHL CTE matters and equipment liability.
- Firefighter Cancer Lawsuit Representation Legal representation for firefighters with cancer linked to occupational exposures.
- Workers' Compensation Representation Legal representation for workers injured on the job who are seeking workers' compensation benefits.
- Masters of Trial Law Podcast A video podcast produced by the firm featuring discussions on trial law, aviation disasters, medical malpractice, truck crashes, CTE/concussions, and the journeys of families navigating loss. Hosted and produced by Corboy & Demetrio attorneys.
Companies that use Corboy & Demetrio
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Corboy & Demetrio technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Corboy & Demetrio partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- National Air Disaster Alliance/FoundationcoreThe firm supports and contributes to the National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation, an organization that addresses the needs of survivors and those affected by airline disasters. The firm has represented families of 27 victims in the crash of American Airlines flight 191, the largest air disaster in U.S. history.
- U.S. Olympic and Paralympic FoundationcorePartner Philip Harnett Corboy, Jr. was elected to and serves as a Trustee of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Foundation Board. He was also reappointed to the foundation board.
- Illinois State Bar AssociationcoreIL State Bar Association has awarded Thomas Demetrio with the Leonard M. Ring Lifetime Achievement Award. The Association's headquarters is named after Corboy & Demetrio Co-Founder Philip H. Corboy.
- Chicago Bar AssociationcoreCorboy & Demetrio honored with 2026 CBA President's Circle Award. Partner Conrad C. Nowak received Sister Cities Volunteer of the Year Award from Chicago Mayor through the CBA.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Corboy & Demetrio competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The Lanier Law Firm: National plaintiff firm known for large verdicts in personal injury, mass tort, and asbestos cases. Comparable to Corboy & Demetrio in contingency-fee model, plaintiff-side orientation, and pursuit of high-profile record-setting verdicts.
- Simmons Hanly Conroy: National plaintiff firm with a major mass-tort and asbestos practice. Comparable to Corboy & Demetrio in contingency model and pursuit of large-scale corporate liability cases; broader geographic footprint.
- Greene Broillet & Wheeler: Boutique California plaintiff firm specializing in catastrophic injury, product liability, and aviation cases. Highly comparable in size, plaintiff-side focus, and aviation litigation expertise.
- Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman: National plaintiff firm with strong mass tort, class action, and personal injury practices. Comparable contingency-fee model and pursuit of high-value plaintiff verdicts against corporate defendants.
- Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP: California-based plaintiff personal injury and catastrophic injury firm repeatedly ranked among the top U.S. trial firms. Highly comparable to Corboy & Demetrio in size, contingency-fee model, and high-stakes trial practice, including aviation and mass tort work.
- Weitz & Luxenberg: New York-based plaintiff firm specializing in mass tort, personal injury, and product liability. Comparable contingency-fee model and large plaintiff docket, particularly in mass tort and environmental litigation.
- Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein: National plaintiff firm handling personal injury, mass tort, and class actions with offices in multiple U.S. cities. Comparable business model (contingency) and pursuit of large, complex plaintiff matters against corporate defendants.
Broad incumbents
- Morgan & Morgan: Largest U.S. plaintiff personal injury firm with a national footprint and heavy TV/digital marketing budget. Direct comparability with Corboy & Demetrio across plaintiff PI practice areas, though Morgan & Morgan competes on volume and advertising rather than aviation/specialty work.
Others
- Bahe Cook Cabanis & Bullington: Mid-size plaintiff personal injury firm also recognized in regional plaintiff rankings. Comparable contingency model and plaintiff PI focus but smaller scale and more regionally concentrated than Corboy & Demetrio.
Regional players
- Cellino Law: Plaintiff personal injury firm primarily serving the Northeast U.S. with strong advertising-led intake. Comparable plaintiff PI business model but different geographic focus than Corboy & Demetrio's Midwest base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Corboy & Demetrio social profiles
Digital presenceCorboy & Demetrio financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Corboy & Demetrio leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Corboy & Demetrio funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Corboy & Demetrio 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 Corboy & Demetrio
What does Corboy & Demetrio do?
Corboy & Demetrio is a Chicago personal injury law firm that represents plaintiffs in serious injury and wrongful death cases on a contingency-fee basis. Its core work covers aviation disaster litigation (nearly every major U.S. aviation crash since 1979), medical malpractice, wrongful death, product liability, construction accidents, truck and vehicular accidents, premises liability, railroad negligence (FELA), drug and medical device liability, nursing home negligence, rideshare, sports liability, firefighter cancer claims, and workers' compensation. The firm has recovered more than $5 billion in verdicts and settlements, with nearly 600 cases above $1 million, and offers free, 24/7 remote consultations.
Is Corboy & Demetrio a public or private company?
Corboy & Demetrio is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Corboy & Demetrio founded?
Corboy & Demetrio was founded in 1959. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Corboy & Demetrio based?
Corboy & Demetrio is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Corboy & Demetrio make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Services - Personal Injury Representation.
Who are Corboy & Demetrio's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The Lanier Law Firm, Simmons Hanly Conroy, Greene Broillet & Wheeler, Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Panish | Shea | Boyle | Ravipudi LLP, Weitz & Luxenberg and Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein. Morgan & Morgan is listed as a broad incumbent. Bahe Cook Cabanis & Bullington is listed as an others. Cellino Law is listed as a regional player.
Does Corboy & Demetrio have an API?
No public API is recorded for Corboy & Demetrio.
What industry is Corboy & Demetrio in?
Corboy & Demetrio'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.