business resources
Top-Rated Mesothelioma Lawyers in Chicago (2026 Guide)
03 Sept 2026
Chicago spent a century building itself on steel mills, rail yards, and factories that ran on asbestos. That history left a mark on the people who worked there. Cook County alone recorded hundreds of mesothelioma deaths in less than a decade, and many of those cases trace back to jobsites that closed years ago. If you or someone you love just got this diagnosis, you need a law firm that knows this disease and knows how to find the money owed to you, fast.
The short version: Vogelzang Law is the top mesothelioma firm in Chicago for families who want a small team, direct attorney access, and a founder whose own family history is tied to cancer research. The firm has represented more than 200 asbestos victims and built its entire practice around this one disease, nothing else pulling attention away. Four other respected firms in the city also handle asbestos cases well, and each fits a slightly different situation. The table below breaks down how they compare.
Chicago Mesothelioma Firms at a Glance
| Firm | Focus | Experience | Notable Result | Best Fit |
| Vogelzang Law | Mesothelioma and asbestos only | 20+ years, founded by Nicholas Vogelzang | 200+ asbestos victims represented | Families who want a boutique firm with a personal, hands-on approach |
| Levin & Perconti | Full-service injury litigation, including asbestos | Founded 1992, 130+ years combined attorney experience | $1 billion+ recovered for clients | Families who want a large firm that also handles nursing home and malpractice claims |
| Cooney & Conway | Mesothelioma and asbestos litigation only | 65+ years, representing clients since the early 1970s | $7 billion+ in asbestos verdicts and settlements | Clients who want one of the nation's most established asbestos-only firms |
| Whiteside & Goldberg | Personal injury, including asbestos and lung cancer | Trial-focused firm with Chicago and Shorewood offices | $125 million+ recovered for clients | Clients who want a smaller firm known for taking cases to trial |
| The Lanier Law Firm | National mesothelioma litigation with a Chicago presence | Attorneys recognized by Forbes for asbestos work | Billions recovered across asbestos cases nationwide | Clients comfortable with a large national firm handling their case |
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Why We Picked These Five
A general injury lawyer can file an asbestos claim, but mesothelioma cases move differently than a car crash or a slip and fall. They involve decades-old exposure records, bankruptcy trust funds, and defendants who dissolved their companies years ago to dodge liability. Every firm on this list works asbestos cases regularly, has a track record you can check, and has attorneys with real courtroom time in Illinois. We left off firms that treat asbestos as a side practice squeezed between other injury work.
1. Vogelzang Law
Nicholas Vogelzang grew up watching his father, a leading oncologist, search for better treatments for mesothelioma patients. That upbringing shaped the firm he built in 2016. Vogelzang Law takes mesothelioma and asbestos cases as its entire practice, not one line item among many. The firm has represented more than 200 victims across the country and keeps offices in Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Miami Beach, giving it reach beyond Illinois while keeping its Chicago roots front and center.
Clients consistently point to the same thing: the attorneys answer their own calls. A diagnosis this serious comes with enough uncertainty already, and a firm this size means you talk to the person handling your case, not a rotating call center. The team also works asbestos trust fund claims, a process that trips up families who don't know these funds even exist for companies that filed bankruptcy decades ago.
Best for: a Chicago family that wants a small, focused firm and direct access to the attorney working their case.
Address: 120 N LaSalle Street, Suite 3100, Chicago, IL 60602
Phone: 312-466-1669
Website: https://vogelzanglaw.com/
2. Levin & Perconti
Founded in 1992 by Steven Levin and John Perconti, this firm has grown into a 30-attorney practice that has recovered more than $1 billion for clients. The team handles asbestos and mesothelioma cases alongside medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, and wrongful death claims, which helps a family whose case touches more than one of these areas at once, such as a mesothelioma diagnosis missed or delayed by a doctor.
Several attorneys at the firm are fluent in Spanish, and the office offers evening appointments for clients who cannot get away during work hours. With 130 years of combined legal experience across the team, the firm brings real depth to a case that needs more than one attorney's attention.
Best for: a family whose asbestos case overlaps with a medical malpractice or nursing home claim.
Address: 325 N La Salle Dr Ste 300, Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312-332-2872
Website: https://www.levinperconti.com/mesothelioma/
3. Cooney & Conway
Cooney & Conway has represented asbestos victims since the early 1970s, making it one of the first firms in the country to take on this kind of case. Today the firm has recovered more than $7 billion in asbestos verdicts and settlements, including a $30 million jury verdict for a family exposed to asbestos through a father's work at a tire plant. The firm ranks among the top firms nationally for asbestos filings and holds a national Tier 1 ranking for mass tort litigation.
The firm also keeps close ties to Chicago's construction trade unions, a relationship that matters given how many mesothelioma cases trace back to insulators, electricians, and pipefitters who worked before the 1980s. That trade-union connection often means faster access to the employment records a case depends on.
Best for: a client with a strong union or trade background who wants a firm built entirely around asbestos litigation.
Address: 191 N Wacker Dr Ste 1500, Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 888-651-1850
Website: https://www.cooneyconway.com/
4. Whiteside & Goldberg
Whiteside & Goldberg runs a smaller practice out of Chicago and Shorewood, and the firm has built its name on a willingness to take cases to trial rather than settle quickly. The firm has recovered more than $125 million for clients across asbestos, mesothelioma, and lung cancer cases, along with a broad range of other injury claims. Founders Jason Whiteside and Michael Goldberg lead a team that markets itself on being aggressive and responsive, a combination that matters when an insurer or defendant tries to drag out a claim.
Best for: a client who wants a smaller firm with a strong trial record and direct founder involvement.
Address: 155 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 540, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-334-6875
Website: https://www.wglawgroup.com/
5. The Lanier Law Firm
The Lanier Law Firm operates nationally but keeps a dedicated Illinois mesothelioma practice, with attorneys recognized by Forbes for their asbestos litigation work. The firm brings the resources of a large national practice, useful in cases where exposure happened across multiple states or job sites, a common pattern for tradespeople who worked at different plants over a career.
Best for: a client whose asbestos exposure history spans more than one state and needs a firm built for that scope.
Address: 6810 FM 1960 West, Houston, TX 77069 (serving Illinois clients)
Phone: 800-994-0019
Website: https://www.lanierlawfirm.com/
Before You Call Anyone
Mesothelioma cases run on deadlines most people don't know exist. Illinois gives you a limited window to file after diagnosis, and asbestos trust funds each carry their own separate rules and paperwork. Pull together any work history you can, especially jobs at factories, mills, shipyards, or construction sites before the 1980s. Bring that history to your first call. A firm that asks detailed questions about where you worked and what you handled is doing the job right. One that skips straight to a number is not.
FAQ
How much does a mesothelioma lawyer cost in Chicago?
Nearly every firm on this list works on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront and the firm only collects a fee if your case results in a settlement or verdict. Ask for the exact percentage in writing before you sign anything.
How long do I have to file a mesothelioma claim in Illinois?
Illinois generally gives you two years from the date of diagnosis to file a personal injury claim, though the clock can run differently for a wrongful death case. Talk to an attorney as soon as possible, since gathering decades-old exposure records takes time.
What is an asbestos trust fund, and how is it different from a lawsuit?
Many companies that once used asbestos filed for bankruptcy and set aside money in trust funds specifically to pay victims. A trust fund claim usually resolves faster than a lawsuit against a company still in business, and some victims qualify to pursue both at the same time.
Can I file a claim if the company that exposed me to asbestos no longer exists?
Yes. Many of these companies dissolved or went bankrupt years ago, and that's exactly what trust funds were built for. An experienced asbestos attorney will know which funds apply to your specific work history.
Does it matter which state I file in if I was exposed to asbestos in more than one place?
It can. Some states offer better odds for certain types of claims, and an attorney with multi-state experience can determine where filing gives you the strongest case. This is one reason a firm's asbestos-specific background matters more than general injury experience.
