Tom Gorman
Thomas G. Gorman (“Tom”) is a personal injury trial lawyer who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves, get in the trenches, and spend the time and effort to achieve a just result. His philosophy is simple but effective – be diligent, prepared and out-work the opponent. As a high school All-American football player from Chicago’s south side, Tom learned at a young age the value of hard work, competition, and preparation. He earned a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame where he started as a defensive lineman, played on the 1988 National Championship team and won nominations for Academic All-American and numerous national leadership awards. Although an injury ended his football career, his experiences under famed Notre Dame Coach Lou Holtz helped shape a work ethic that has served him well as a trial lawyer. Tom’s career-ending injury is a constant reminder that a single moment in time can change a life forever. He brings that experience to every client with a compassionate understanding of injury and loss.
After leaving the gridiron in 1989, Tom earned a master’s degree in business as well as a doctorate in law from the University Notre Dame. For more than 25 years, Tom has represented injured people throughout the State of Illinois. His experience is vast, having represented individuals in truck crashes, automobile crashes, premises liability, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases – trying dozens to verdict. He is an accomplished trial lawyer and a tireless advocate for victims of catastrophic injury having secured verdicts and settlements in excess of one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000.00).
In 2012, Tom trained in an intensive trial program under America’s most famous trial lawyer, Gerry Spence, at the renowned Trial Lawyer’s College in Wyoming. Tom believes in continuing education, studying trends and jury research. This commitment to honing his trial skills and the art of advocacy helped Tom set a record jury verdict for emotional damages for injuries in a car crash. Tom not only studies trial skills, he regularly teaches the art to other lawyers.
As a founding member of his own law firm, Tom dedicated all of his professional time to ensuring injury victims received maximum compensation. When his partner of more than 20 years retired, Tom found Mike Krzak and Matt Rundio and jumped at the opportunity to practice with lawyers aligned with his core values, work ethic, and belief that each client is an individual with a valuable life. Tom will continue to work tirelessly alongside his new partners creating a firm with more than 75 years of collective experience.
Tom has devoted his personal time to causes he holds dear. He takes great pride in giving back to the community. As Chairman of the Board of Directors for the John McNicholas Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, he leads a Chicago-based team dedicated to research and funding a cure for pediatric brain tumors.
In 2014, Tom started a Leadership Institute for high school students in Chicago focusing on the development of leadership skills and raising public awareness for pediatric brain tumors.
Tom is also a founding board member of the YMCA’s Kelly Hall in West Humboldt Park, a community center that serves as a haven for at-risk youth on Chicago’s west side. The facility provides hot meals, tutoring, and after school activities.
For many years, Tom served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Brother Rice High School on Chicago’s south side, and continues to serve as Chairman of the Brother Rice Foundation, raising money to ensure the continued viability of one of Chicago’s great college preparatory schools.