Corboy & Demetrio

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.

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

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

• Personal injury law
• Aviation litigation
• Medical malpractice
• Wrongful death cases
• Product liability

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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.

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• National Air Disaster Alliance/FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 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 FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner 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 AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIL 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 AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorboy & 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

Direct 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

• Xx.com/corboydemetrio
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CorboyDemetrio
• Facebookfacebook.com/CorboyDemetrio
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/670612
• Instagraminstagram.com/corboydemetrio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Corboy & Demetrio