Picture of John A. Sopuch III

John A. Sopuch III

Of Counsel
jsopuch@collinslaw.com
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Phone: (630) 527-1595
Fax: (630) 527-1193

1770 Park St #200
Naperville, Illinois 60563

John A. Sopuch III, a trial lawyer with a history of winning some of the nation’s biggest verdicts, has joined The Collins Law Firm as Of Counsel.

In 2002, the National Law Journal recognized John’s nearly $43 million verdict (in Miami Cigar v. UST, et al., a business fraud case) as among the top 100 verdicts in the nation that year. In 2004, John did it again, with his $30 million verdict in a breach of contract case, Basic Capital Management Inc. v. Dynex Commercial, Inc.

Hailing from St. Louis, MO, John was born on March 21, 1965. Attending prep school at The St. Louis Priory, he went on to study at the University of Texas where he graduated in 1987. John received his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law in 1990. During law school, John was a member of the Law Review, a Dean’s Merit Scholar and he was selected to write for The Law Review’s California Supreme Court Survey. Also, John clerked for J.P. Vukasin, Jr., who was at the time, a federal district court judge in Northern District of California, sitting in San Francisco.

Upon graduating from law school, John joined a boutique litigation firm of Bickel & Brewer, working at the firm’s Chicago offices. John remained at Bickel & Brewer until 1997, becoming, at the time, the youngest person to make partner at the firm.

John left Bickel & Brewer in 1997 and started his own firm – Sopuch Annett Higgins & Gaubert – with offices in Chicago and Dallas. With growth of their practice/practice areas, in 2002 John and his partners opened an affiliated office, Moore & Sopuch, in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands, USVI.

In 1999 and again in 2001, John was appointed by Governor Charles W. Turbull of the USVI to be a Special Assistant Attorney General to aid the government of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue in several substantial pieces of litigation and favorably settled those matters for more than $10 million collectively.

In 2005, John left the firm he had been instrumental in founding, and became Of Counsel to the Honolulu firm of Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher. During his time in Hawaii, John represented the widow of a man who had died with serious liver failure and was able to secure one of the highest settlements in a wrongful death case in the State of Hawaii.

Recently, John moved back to Chicago and joined The Collins Law Firm, where his trial lawyering skills and list of verdicts for his clients add to the depth of talent at The Collins Law Firm. John’s practice areas are focused on business litigation and other forms of commercial dispute resolution.

Education

J.D., Pepperdine University, Malibu, California, 1990

B.S, The University of Texas at Austin
Major: History/English

Professional & Bar Association Memberships

Texas

Illinois

Virgin Islands

Hawaii

U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois

U.S. District Court District of the Virgin Islands

U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Shawn Collins is a very talented lawyer, as are all the attorneys on his team. I've known and worked with Shawn for more that 30 years. Not only is he a top notch technical litigator but his communication skills are second to none. If anyone I know is ever in need of an attorney, Shawn is my very first recommendation. He gives very solid advice that goes beyond the law. He is someone you can trust to tell you the truth so you are not lead astray in the complex legal world. You really can't find a better advocate. E.M.
★★★★★
We were incredibly satisfied with our experience with The Collins Law Firm. We worked closely with Ed Manzke and found that he had a personal touch and truly got to know us in addition to being knowledgeable and effective in his field. The caring and individual attitude helped us tremendously throughout the entire process and we always felt like our case was in safe hands. We would highly recommend The Collins Law Firm for both its stellar work and dedicated employees. M.A.
★★★★★
My father recommended The Collins Law Firm to me after watching Shawn Collins and Ed Manzke at trial representing Lisle residents against Lockformer. For years, he told us courtroom tales about Shawn and Ed, citing their incredible skill as trial lawyers and how they put the huge Lockformer legal team to shame. So when my son was the victim of a wrongful death, they were my first and only choice. I can't say enough to truly express how grateful I am to The Collin's Law Firm for all that they did for me and my family. This amazing team advocated for me in my darkest moments, surpassing my expectations in every way. I will be forever grateful to Shawn and Ed. K.D.
★★★★★
I have worked with Rob, Shawn and The Collins Law Firm team in connection with both complex business transactions and litigation over the past several years. Shawn is far and away the best business litigation attorney I have worked with. Rob has been our lead attorney on M&A and corporate restructures, and he has delivered each time, and on time. I would highly recommend Rob to get the deal done! W.D.
★★★★★
Rob has been our out-side General Counsel for ten years. As a business with a global presence, it is important that we have the very best legal representation. Rob and the team have guided us through litigation battles, negotiating and drafting our important business contracts, and advising us in our business strategies. He has a great team of lawyers working with him. M.F.