Esther Joy Schwartz

Majority Shareholder
Managing Partner

Esther is the majority shareholder at Schwartz Gilligan since January 2014. In June 2016, she became Managing Partner, and in January 2018, she made Schwartz Gilligan the largest female-owned law firm in Chicago. For the past 30 years, she led the Insurance Coverage and Appellate practice groups to national recognition.

She graduated with honors from IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law in 1981, where she was a member of the Law Review. Her experience includes litigating more than 800 declaratory judgment actions for personal and commercial carriers in most coverage lines. She has handled over 260 appeals and argued in our nation’s highest courts. She has obtained many favorable insurance outcomes, as well as decisions in areas of tort immunity, civil rights, criminal assaults, sexual abuse cases, and premises liability.

Esther also handles regulatory matters before the Department of Insurance for several clients, and has drafted insurance policies for major insurance companies for whom she speaks regularly at in-house seminars. She serves major insurers as a consultant on Medicare secondary payer issues. She also acts as consultant to car rental companies on risk management and insurance issues, having drafted major changes to their rental and lease agreements.

Esther has several years of recognition in the Illinois Leading Lawyers publication for Insurance Coverage and Appeals, and serves on the Advisory Board. She also serves on the Illinois Super Lawyers Blue Ribbon Panel. Since 2011, she was voted a “Top 50 Female Illinois Super Lawyers” and a “Top 100 Illinois Attorneys.” She is a frequent lecturer and moderator at CLE seminars.

She is a member of the Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations, as well as the Appellate Lawyers Association, Defense Research Institute, and the Council of Litigation Management. She has held the highest “AV” rating from Martindale Hubbell for many years.

Esther is an accomplished violinist with the University of Chicago Orchestra, where she did her undergraduate work.

Seminars

• Old Republic - Speaker at “Additional Insured Round Table” Annual Meeting. (September 30, 2017) San Diego, California

• AutoClub Group - “Voter Preference: Illinois vs. Indiana; Part I: Policy Demands; Part II: Timely Payment of Settlements; Part III Joint and Several Liability” (November 3, 2016) Aurora, Illinois

• GEICO - “Areas of Concern for Handling Auto Liability Civil, Defense, UM/UIM Claims and Declaratory Judgment Actions under Personal Auto Policies" (Cook County)” (October 20, 2016) Macon, Georgia

• AutoClub Group - “Responding to Time Limit Policy Demands” (November 5, 2014) Aurora, Illinois

• AutoClub Group - “The Quick Pay Statute: What You Need to Know” (March 22, 2014) Aurora, Illinois.

• GEICO - “The Quick Pay Statute under 735 ILCS 5/2-2301: What You Now Need to Know in Settling Illinois Lawsuits” (February 14, 2014) Macon, Georgia

• Allstate Insurance Company - “Presuit Settlement Tactics: Minors, Probate, Medicare” (February, 2014) Woodridge, Illinois; (February, 2014) Northbrook, Illinois

• Auto Club of Michigan and Chicago Motor Club - “How to Rescind?” (May 10, 2012) Detroit, Michigan

• QBE - “Top Ten Questions - Basic Coverage Concepts for UM/UIM Claims under Personal Auto and Commercial Auto Policies” (June 15, 2011)

• Stellato & Schwartz - “Update on Medicare Compliance” - In House, Chicago Office (May 14, 2011)

• AAA-MemberSelect Insurance Company/Auto Club Insurance - “The (In)Equities of Chancery and Declaratory Judgment Practice” (October 8, 2010)

• Stellato & Schwartz - “The Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 - An Overview” - In House, Chicago Office (February 6, 2010)

• USAA - “Basic Coverage and Defense Concepts” (July 11, 2009) San Antonio, Texas

•  Avis Rent-A-Car - “Basic Coverage Concepts for Car Rental Companies in Illinois” (May 19, 2009) Parsippany, New Jersey

• AAA-MemberSelect Insurance Company - “Basic Coverage Concepts for Personal Lines Carriers in Illinois” (June 22, 2008) Aurora, Illinois

• Fireman’s Fund, Claims and Underwriters - “Fall Downs in Illinois - A Legal and Claims Perspective Seminar to Claims/Underwriting Personnel” (May 14, 2008)

• Liberty Mutual - “Excess and Extra-Contractual Concepts - The Duty to Settle vs. The Duty to Pay in Illinois” (March 27, 2008) Warrenville, Illinois

• Liberty Mutual - “Changes in Illinois Legal Landscape - Highs and Lows” (May 27, 2007) Schaumburg, Illinois

• Stellato & Schwartz - “Who Shares a Slice of Pie? - Effect of Ready”- In House, Chicago Office (March 24, 2007)

• Harleysville - “Some Basic Concerns for CGL Insurers in Illinois Coverage Seminar” (December 6, 2004) Minnesota

• Avis - “Sources of Liability and Financial Responsibility Obligations for the Rental Car Company Doing Business in Illinois and Indiana” (November 19, 2004) Avis Home Office, New Jersey

• Stellato & Schwartz - “Rules, Criteria and Standards for Motions for Summary Judgment” - In House, Chicago Office (June 18, 2004)

• Cambridge Integrated Services - “Sources of Liability and the Financial Responsibility Obligations for the Rental Car Company Doing Business in Illinois and Indiana” (March 29, 2004) Ohio

• Illinois Casualty Company - “Intentional or Expected Damages - A Four State Overview - When Do You Pay?” (January 26, 2004) Rock Island, Illinois

• Berkley Risk, Acceptance, Gemini - “Peppers in a Shake” (September 1, 2003) Council Bluffs, Iowa

• Continental Western - “Some Basic Concerns for CGL Insurers in Illinois Coverage Seminar” (June 13, 2003) Iowa

• Auto Club of Michigan and Chicago Motor Club, Claims, Directors and Underwriters - “Illinois Legal Landscape” (October 10, 2002) Fort Dearborn, Michigan

• Auto Club of Michigan, House Counsel and Chicago Motor Club - “How Can We Rescind Policy?” (May 10, 2002) Detroit, Michigan

• USAA - “Themes and Trends in Illinois Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Law” (April 4, 2001)

• USAA - “Common Coverage Issues Arising in the Uninsured Motorist Context” (March 11, 1999)

• USAA - “Who’s on First? Priority of Liability Coverage - Personal Auto Insurer vs. Rental Agency (Illinois)” (March 1, 1999)

• Allstate - “Defending Claims and Suits Against Condominium Board of Managers in Illinois (A Practical Approach)” - Commercial Claims Office (March 27, 1998)

• Warrior Insurance Group, Seminar to Claims Staff and Underwriters - “Common Coverage Issues Concerning Personal Automobile Insurance Policies” (October 1, 1996)

• Fireman’s Fund - “General Points in Dealing with Conflicts of Interest” Presentation at Extra-Contractual Claims Counsel Meeting - Novato (September 18, 1995)

Recent Publications

• Esther Joy Schwartz, In a Winter Wonderland... Park District Immunity and Liability Considerations for the Winter Season, IPARKS Quarterly Update - A Quarterly Newsletter, Winter 2017/18 Issue

• Esther Joy Schwartz and Theodore W. Pannkoke, Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (And Don’t Let Your Immunities Go), IPARKS Quarterly Update - A Quarterly Newsletter, Issue 4 (2012)

• Esther Joy Schwartz and Theodore W. Pannkoke, Automatic External Defibrillators Required at Certain Park Facilities, Part II, IPARKS Quarterly Update - A Quarterly Newsletter, Issue 1 (2012)

• Esther Joy Schwartz and Theodore W. Pannkoke, Automatic External Defibrillators Required at Certain Park Facilities, Part I, IPARKS Quarterly Update - A Quarterly Newsletter, Issue 4 (2011)

Firm Practice Areas

• Appellate Practice

• Bad Faith/Extracontractual

• Civil Rights

• Class Actions

• Complex Motion Practice

• Construction Defects

• Insurance Coverage

• Intentional Torts

• Premises Liability

• Risk Management/Car Rental

• Settlements/Probate/Medicare

Recognition

• Martindale-Hubbell “AV” rating

• Super Lawyer/Blue Ribbon Panel (2011-2018)

• Leading Lawyer/Advisory Board

• Leading Female Lawyer/Insurance Coverage and Appeal Recognition

• Top 50 Female Illinois Super Lawyers (2011-2018)

• Top 100 Illinois Attorneys (2011-2017)

Admissions

• United States Supreme Court

• Illinois Supreme Court

• United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

• United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

• United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

• United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

• United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

• Federal Appellate Bar

• Pro Hac Vice - numerous states

Education

• Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 1981

• University of Chicago, B.A., 1978

Affiliations

• Illinois State Bar Association

• Chicago Bar Association

• Appellate Lawyers Association

• Defense Research Institute

• Claims and Litigation Management Alliance