Blake Kolesa

Clerkships

Judicial Extern, Hon. Michael Hyman, Illinois Appellate Court, First District (2020)
Judicial Extern, Hon. Celia Gamrath, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division (2019)

Representative Engagements – Product Liability & Mass Torts

• Represented international aviation and transportation fleet corporation in product liability matters alleging wrongful death and serious injury.
• Litigated case alleging wrongful death stemming from injuries sustained at a collegiate sporting event that was mutually resolved through mediation.
• Defended inventor-designer of security device alleged to have collected sensitive personal information in violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act in a putative class action.

Representative Engagements – Environmental Litigation

• Counseled interstate utility corporation in connection with litigation and regulatory compliance arising from alleged environmental contamination claims brought by residents and the state Attorney General’s Office.

Representative Engagements – Commercial Disputes & Litigation

• Obtained partial summary judgment and total jury verdict in a Cook County action in favor of a federally qualified non-profit health care and counseling provider that had purchased real estate later found to be critically structurally unsound and sold through fraud.
• Represented a global insurance brokerage in litigation against former employees, alleging breaches of restrictive covenants and fiduciary duties, tortious interference, and related claims.
• Represented community college in complex construction arbitration and litigation alleging architectural, construction, and project management negligence, resulting in favorable award and settlement for client.

Representative Engagements – Class Actions

• Won dismissal, with prejudice, of putative class action alleging leading consumer insurer’s ill-motivated claim denial, breach of contract, violation of the Illinois Insurance Code, and violation of the Fair Housing Act.

Representative Engagements – White Collar Defense, Investigations & Compliance

• Counseled international health care device manufacturer regarding their relationships with foreign import-export firms in order to ensure compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
• Represented a construction transportation company in a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into bribery of municipal officials and representations concerning underrepresented business enterprise involvement in public and private projects.
• Represented whistleblower physician in investigation and qui tam suit alleging misrepresentations violative of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the False Claims Act by international surgical equipment manufacturer.

Representative Engagements – Wrongful Convictions & Pro Bono Service

• Defended against post-trial motions and sought enforcement of a $25.2 million jury verdict for a client who was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for 22 years for a crime he did not commit.
• Counseled the family of a fallen Chicago Fire Fighter in conjunction with an investigation into the department’s shortcomings contributing to abnormal line of duty death.
• Represent several individuals convicted of serious crimes in Cook County in appeals of wrongfully denied successive post-conviction petitions presenting new, exculpatory evidence.

Education

Bar Admissions

Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association
Young Lawyers Section, Director
Illinois State Bar Association
Civil Practice & Procedure Section Council
Young Lawyers Division Section Council

Honors & Awards

2025 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Best Lawyers®
Illinois Rising Star in Business Litigation, Products Liability, and Class Action & Mass Torts, Thomson Reuters' Illinois Super Lawyers (2025)