Richard W. Lenkov

Richard W. Lenkov represents companies ranging from Fortune 100 corporations to small businesses across the civil litigation spectrum, concentrating in workers’ compensation (heading up the firm's Workers' Compensation department), premises liability and personal injury. Since joining the Illinois bar in 1996, Rich has developed a specialty in representing retailers in these practice areas. Rich has become an expert in such issues as slip and fall accidents, spoliation of evidence, false arrest/imprisonment and food contamination.

Rich is a frequent lecturer on these and other civil litigation topics, and is an active participant in organizations such as the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, Illinois Manufacturers Association, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS). Rich is also active with Northern Illinois University College of Law, serving on its Board of Visitors. When not practicing law, Rich enjoys spending time with his family and playing basketball.

Licensure

Illinois Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Education

J.D., Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, 1995
B.A., McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, 1992

Professional Memberships & Associations

•  "Negotiation for Claims Professionals 2.0," SafeAuto Insurance Company, July 14, 2010 and Motorists Mutual Insurance Group, July 15, 2010
•  “The Life of a Workers’ Compensation Claim: From Accident to Trial,” IKEA, July 8, 2010

•  “Illinois/Indiana Workers’ Compensation Update,” Lumbermen’s Underwriting Alliance, June 29, 2010

• "Retail Panel," RIMS 2010 Annual Conference & Exhibition, April 27, 2010
• “Evaluating Permanency,” SRS, March 27, 2010
• “2010 Claims & Defense Tactics Symposium” moderator, Illinois Association of Defense Council & Illinois Insurance Association, March 25, 2010
• "Managing & Closing WC Claims In a Cost-Effective Manner,"  Illinois Manufacturers' Association Breakfast Briefing, February 18, 2010
• "Obtaining a Winning Medical Opinion" and "Evaluating Permanency," PESI 2010 National Conference, Workers' Compensation Top Medical & Legal Issues, February 16, 2010
• "Closing the Nightmare Case: The Perspective of a Claims Adjuster and Defense Attorney," National Workers' Compensation & Disability Conference, November 19, 2009
• "Top 10 Ways to Lose Your Workers' Compensation Claim,"  REBEX 2009, the Regional Risk Management Conference and Exhibition, October 22, 2009
• "Obtaining a Winning Medical Opinion," JPB Medical Marketing's Medical & Legal Issues in the Work Comp Arena Case Managers Education Dinner, October 6, 2009
• "Litigation 101," Celina Insurance, September 1, 2009
• "Managing and Closing Workers' Compensation Claims in a Cost-Effective Manner,” SEAK 29th Annual National Workers' Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference, July 20, 2009
• “Turning the Tables: How To Use An Employee's Own Actions As A Defense To Their Workers' Compensation Claim," 2009 John Deere Annual Workers' Compensation Conference, July 15, 2009
• "Illinois & Indiana Workers' Compensation Issues," HCR Manor Care, June 24, 2009

• “Protect Your Business, Your Employees and Stay Afloat,” City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection, June 5, 2009

• "Illinois Workers' Compensation 101,"  Central DuPage Hospital, May 26, 2009

• "Top 10 Ways to Screw Up Your Workers' Compensation Case," Acuity Insurance, April 9, 2009
• "Top 10 Misconceptions About Illinois Premises Liability," SUPERVALU, March 24, 2009.
• "Top 10 Misconceptions About Illinois Premises Liability," Macy's, March 18, 2009.
• "Turning the Tables: How To Use An Employee's Own Actions As A Defense To Their Workers' Compensation Claim," Illinois Workers' Compensation Forum, March 6, 2009.
• “Wage Differential,” Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company, March 5, 2009.
• “Evaluating Permanency,” Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Group, February 4, 2009.
• "Turning the Tables: How To Use An Employee's Own Actions As A Defense To Their Workers' Compensation Claim," REBEX (Risk & Employees Benefits Conference & Exposition), October 23, 2008.
• "Utilization Review in Illinois," Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company, September 12, 2008.
• "Workers' Compensation 101," PMA Insurance, August 27, 2008
• "Turning the Tables: How To Use An Employee's Own Actions As A Defense To Their Workers' Compensation Claim," 20th Annual National Workers' Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference, July 16, 2008
• "Illinois Workers' Compensation Law: An Overview," Manor Care, June 13, 2008
• "Reducing Litigation Costs and Investigating Subrogation Claims," Society Insurance, May 19, 2008
• “Top Ten Ways to Screw Up Your Workers’ Compensation Case,” Toledo Area Human Resource Association, September 25, 2007
• “What Rights Do Injured Employees Have & How Do I Deal With Them?” Hickory Farms, June 13, 2007
• “Including Overtime in AWW Calculations New Developments," SRS, May 25, 2007
• “Traveling Employees,” TAP Pharmaceutical Products, Inc., April 23, 2007
• “Spoliation of Evidence,” SUPERVALU / REM, April 5, 2007
• “Top 10 Misconceptions about Illinois Workers' Compensation Law,” Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance Company, March 15, 2006
• “Comprehensive Subrogation Investigation,” Gallagher Bassett, May 11, 2006
• “Spoliation of Evidence: Protecting Yourself From The Start,” BryceDowney Clients, April 27, 2006
• “An Ounce of Prevention, a Pound of Cure: Manuals and Potential Litigation Pit Falls,” Albertsons, Inc., November 11, 2005
• “Changes to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act," BryceDowney Clients, August 8-9, 2005
• “Reducing Litigation Costs: An Insider’s View on What You Can Do To Eliminate/Reduce Legal Fees and Costs," SEAK Twenty-Fifth Anniversary National Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Medicine Conference, July 18-21, 2005
• “Mitigating Your Litigation: How to Manage High Exposure Workers’ Compensation Claims,” BryceDowney Clients, May 12, 2005
• “To Protect or To Serve: Asserting Privilege on Reports,” Albertsons, Inc., March 30, 2005
• “Illinois Workers’ Compensation Liens and Third Party Defense,” Federated Insurance Company, February 8, 2005
• “Hot Topics in Illinois Workers’ Compensation,” Gallagher Bassett, October 15, 2004
• “So Near, Yet So Far Away: Comparing Workers’ Compensation in Illinois & Wisconsin,” HCR Manor Care, July 19, 2004
• “Construction Management,” Thilman & Filippini, Construction Management Group International, Inc., June 30, 2004
• “We’re Off To See the Arbitrator: Following a Case from Pre-Trial to Oral Arguments,” BryceDowney Clients, May 20, 2004
• “Comprehensive Subrogation Investigation,” Specialty Risk Services, December 4, 2003
• “Mold: A Growing Problem,” HCR Manor Care, October 7, 2003
• “Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law: An Overview,” PMA, June 27, 2003
• “Unraveling Mysteries in Illinois Workers’ Compensation,” BryceDowney Clients, March 26, 2003
• “Illinois Workers’ Compensation Law: An Overview,” Gates McDonald, July 17, 2002

Articles and Publications

"TTD & The Odd Lot Theory," IDC Defense Update, June 2009

"Maximizing Third Party Lien Recovery: First Impression," IDC Defense Update, June 2009

"Turning the Tables: Using an Employee's Own Actions to Defend Their Workers' Compensation Claim," DRI Compensation Courier, Spring 2008