Practice Areas
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Bio
Joe O’Hara spent the first thirty-seven years of his legal career mastering the challenge of trial work, handling everything from complex commercial disputes to catastrophic personal injury cases to unconstitutional conditions in a now closed jail. His trial work took him across the country, and his record of success on behalf of his clients was extraordinary—so extraordinary, in fact, that the firm’s largest client recruited him to come in house to create and implement a nationwide strategy to manage company-threatening litigation for almost a dozen years.
In 2018, Joe launched the final phase of his legal career representing inmates who suffered devastating constitutional violations at the hands of police and prosecutors. Joe was a key member of the RSHC trial team that delivered a 2021 $25.2M trial verdict involving a rigged lineup. Joe served a similar role in a physical abuse/fabricated confession case that resulted in a $14.5M settlement. More recently, Joe led RSHC teams that in 2024 won a petition for an inmate who suffered an unconstitutional sentencing and in 2025 won a petition before the Illinois Torture Commission. Joe continues to both lead and advise RSHC teams seeking to free and compensate those wrongfully incarcerated.
Credentials
Education
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, J.D., 1981, Editorial Board, Northwestern University Law ReviewMarquette University, B.S., 1975
Bar Admissions
Illinois
New York (Inactive)
Ohio (Inactive)
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 Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Professional Memberships
Former Member of Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Former Member of the Board of Directors
Former Executive Editor, IDC Quarterly
Past Teaching Appointments
Faculty Member, Illinois Defense Counsel (IDC) Trial Academy
Honors & Awards
RSHC Pro Bono Award (2023)
2016 Irish Legal 100
2014 Chicago Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions-Defendants “Lawyer of the Year”
Best Lawyers®
The Best Lawyers in America
Best Lawyers® (Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions-Defendants, 2007-2016)
Illinois Leading Lawyer
Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyers (2003-2005, 2008-2015, 2018-2025)
Illinois Super Lawyers
Thomson Reuters (2005-2009, 2011-2012, 2014-2017, 2019-2025)
Publications & Presentations
“Financial & Legal Decisions, Managing Claims, Defense Costs, Controlling Costs to Resolve Claims, Settlement Negotiations and More,” (panelist) 17th National Advanced Forum on Asbestos Claims & Litigation, American Conference Institute, Chicago, IL (June 26, 2014)
“Corporate Counsel Roundtable: What We Really Expect From A Defense Lawyer In The Asbestosis, Mesothelioma Or Lung Cancer Case,” (panelist) Defense Asbestos Litigation Seminar 2014, Las Vegas, NV (June 4-6, 2014)
“Views from the Bench: Judges Speak Out on Current Litigation Trends, Successful Plaintiff Claims and Defense Strategies,” (judicial panel commentator and moderator) ACI Asbestos Claims & Litigation, Philadelphia, PA (Jan. 31, 2013)
“Corporate Roundtable: Today's Asbestos Litigation Environment,” Asbestos Litigation Conference: A National Overview Outlook, (panelist) San Francisco, CA (September 10, 2012)
“What the 'Year in Asbestos Litigation' Means for You, Your Client and Your Company,“ ACI's 12th National Forum on Asbestos Claims & Litigation, (panelist) Philadelphia, PA (January 26-27, 2012)
Corporate Counsel Discussion Regarding “Problem Jurisdictions,” Defense Research Institute Asbestos Medicine Seminar, (panelist) Las Vegas, NV (November 10-11, 2011)
Community Service
Civic and Charitable Memberships
Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck, MI
President (2023 – Present)
St. Luke’s Hospital (Maumee, OH), Former Member of Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Finance Committee
Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Former Member of Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Orchestra Relations Committee
Chair of Music Director Search Committee