Christopher J. Bannon
Christopher J. Bannon
MemberT: 312.755.3175
F: 312.222.6375Download vCard
cbannon@agdglaw.com
PRACTICE AREAS
Christopher J. Bannon
MemberT: 312.755.3175
F: 312.222.6375Download vCard
cbannon@agdglaw.com
PRACTICE AREAS

Chris Bannon focuses his practice on helping clients resolve commercial disputes, both informally and through litigation, mediation, arbitration, and other dispute resolution methods. He devotes the majority of his practice to representing insurance companies in resolving complex coverage disputes arising out of various types of insurance policies and relationships. In addition to serving as insurers' counsel in declaratory judgment and bad faith litigation, Chris counsels insurers in connection with the interpretation and application of insurance policies, assists insurers in the preparation of reservations of rights and other coverage-related correspondence, negotiates and drafts coverage-related agreements, and serves as monitoring counsel in connection with underlying claims and suits.

His counseling and coverage litigation practice involves insurance for professionals, directors and officers, employers, product manufacturers, premises owners, governmental entities, business owners, financial institutions, fiduciaries, construction-related entities, and various other types of insurance, both primary and excess. 

Chris' insurance-related practice has also included the defense of insureds and self-insured entities against claims and suits arising out of professional services, premises ownership, construction activity and business operations, among other things. And outside the insurance context, Chris has represented a wide range of business entities in commercial litigation, assisting clients in resolving claims arising out of contracts, real estate transactions, construction, leases, banking transactions, employment relationships and various other commercial matters.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Representing some of the country’s largest professional liability, management liability, directors and officers liability, errors and omissions, and casualty insurers, including as trial counsel, in declaratory judgment and other litigation in state and federal courts throughout the country arising out of various types of underlying claims

  • Obtained summary judgment in declaratory judgment action on behalf of professional liability insurer, the court finding that the insured engineering firm failed to provide timely notice of a suit and that the insurer therefore had no duty to defend or provide coverage

  • Obtained summary judgment, on behalf of lawyers' professional liability insurer, for rescission of policy based on misrepresentations in application.

  • Obtained partial judgment on the pleadings in favor of condominium association's D&O insurer, holding that coverage for multiple proceedings against association constituted a single claim, triggering only one policy period's coverage, and subsequently obtained summary judgment on insured's claims that insurer had waived, or was estopped from maintaining, the single claim position, and successfully defended appeal of the court’s rulings, obtaining affirmance on all issues appealed

  • Obtained declaratory judgment, in favor of insurance agent's errors and omissions insurer, that it had no duty to defend or indemnify the insured insurance agency against a lawsuit involving alleged errors that were the subject of a prior suit filed in an earlier policy period

  • Obtained declaratory judgment, in favor of a financial institutions errors and omissions insurer, that it had no duty to defend or indemnify the insured bank against a $7 million lawsuit arising out of alleged misrepresentations made to investors

  • Obtained summary judgment for rescission of legal professional liability insurance policy due to attorney's failure to disclose misuse of escrow funds

  • Obtained declaratory judgment that real estate errors and omissions insurance policy did not cover claims against real estate broker arising out of aborted business mergers, and successfully defended judgment on appeal

  • Obtained declaratory judgment that legal professional liability insurer had no duty to defend or indemnify law firm against suit alleging fraud

  • Obtained declaratory judgment in favor of an employment practices liability insurer in dispute over insurance coverage for claims for unpaid overtime wages, and successfully defended judgment on appeal

  • Obtained summary judgment for rescission of a comprehensive general liability insurance policy in light of the insured contractor's misrepresentations regarding its scope of services provided.

  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of legal professional liability insurer in dispute with law firm over coverage for suit involving alleged misuse of escrow funds

  • Obtained declaratory judgment that legal professional liability insurer owed no coverage for underlying claim made after policy expiration

  • Obtained judgments in favor of a professional liability insurer in multiple lawsuits involving insurance coverage for claims that insured title agents wrongfully charged customers fees

  • Obtained summary judgments on behalf of real estate errors and omissions insurer in separate suits concerning insurance coverage for claims that real estate agents improperly inflated commissions

  • Obtained summary judgment and declaration that legal professional liability policy did not provide coverage for suit involving acts before and after policy’s retroactive date

  • Successfully defended commercial property owner in trial of construction dispute, and successfully defended judgment on appeal

  • Obtained declaratory judgment in favor of errors and omissions insurer in dispute over insurance coverage for antitrust and other claims against real estate broker

  • Obtained declaratory judgment on behalf of accountants' professional liability insurer in dispute over coverage for securities-related suit against accountant, and successfully defended judgment on appeal

  • Obtained summary judgment declaring that real estate errors and omissions insurance policy did not provide coverage for claim against real estate broker arising out of the sale of agent's own property

  • Served as coordinating counsel for multiple excess insurer defendants in multimillion-dollar product liability insurance coverage action, resulting in favorable summary judgment rulings

  • Obtained judgment on the pleadings for real estate errors and omissions insurer in dispute over coverage for suit alleging real estate broker improperly managed property

  • Obtained declaratory judgment in favor of professional liability insurer in coverage dispute arising out of title agent's misappropriation of escrow fund

  • Obtained declaratory judgment that a condominium association’s errors and omissions insurer was not required to pay for the association’s defense of a lawsuit by unit owners, and that the association’s general liability insurer was instead required to pay for the defense

  • Successfully defended national real estate brokerage firm in litigation and arbitration involving commission disputes with other parties

  • Successfully defended a real estate brokerage firm against age discrimination lawsuit, obtaining dismissal of suit

  • Successfully defended seller of retail store business against fraud and breach of contract claims by purchaser

  • Obtained real estate property management firm’s dismissal from suit alleging employment-related claims

  • Obtained summary judgment in favor of ERISA-based employee benefit plan in action for constructive trust

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

Chris joined Aronberg Goldgehn in October 1989 and currently serves as the firm's General Counsel. From 2009-2022, Chris served as Co-Managing Member of the firm. As Co-Managing Member, he worked to ensure an integrated management and leadership approach to the firm's development, client service, business and operations.

Since 2009, he has been recognized annually as a Leading Lawyer in Insurance Coverage and Commercial Litigation by Illinois Leading Lawyers. Also, since 2011 he has been named a Super Lawyer in the areas of Insurance Coverage and Business Litigation by Illinois Super Lawyers.

Outside the office, Chris is active in community service. He is a volunteer sailing instructor for an adaptive sailing program dedicated to providing Lake Michigan sailing opportunities and education to individuals with disabilities. Chris also regularly volunteers throughout the year in Special Olympics Illinois programs, officiating basketball, soccer, volleyball and softball games, and participating as a ski escort in downhill skiing. He is also a marathon runner and triathlete, and enjoys hiking, biking, waterskiing and snow skiing.

SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS

Chris is an editor of, and regular contributor to, Aronberg Goldgehn’s Insurance Coverage Update, including:

His presentations have included:

  • “Independent Counsel: Conflicts, Considerations, and Consequences,” a private client seminar, November 20, 2023

  • “Coverage Investigations: Duty to Defend, Claim vs. Potential Claim, and Late Notice Considerations.”, a private client seminar, May 25, 2023

  • “Insurance Coverage Potpourri: Multiple Claimants, Consent Judgments, & Avoiding Post-Trial Allocation Disputes,” a private client seminar, June 23, 2021

  • "Multiple Claimants, Multiple Insureds and Consent Requirements - Settlement Considerations for Insurers," a private client seminar, April 17, 2018

  • "Avoiding Allocation Disputes - Itemized Verdicts & Insurer Intervention," a private client seminar, Feb. 13, 2018

  • "Consent Judgments: Considerations Before and After Entry," a private client seminar, April 25, 2017

  • "Rising Above the Stats: Defining and Encouraging Success for Women Attorneys and Methods for Achieving It", Illinois State Bar Association program, "Because You’re Worth It! Achieving Advancement & Fair Compensation in the Legal Profession," May 7, 2015

  • "Interplay of Coverage and Defense: Addressing Conflicting Interests, Avoiding Estoppel and Evaluating Policy Limits Demands," a private client seminar, April 20, 2007

  • "Settlement Considerations for Potential Excess of Limits Claims," a private client seminar, September 15, 2004

LEADERSHIP ROLES

  • General Counsel, Aronberg Goldgehn (2022-present)
  • Co-Managing Member, Aronberg Goldgehn (2009-2022)

RELATED NEWS



Loyola University Chicago School of Law, J.D., 1987

The University of Illinois at Chicago, B.A., English, 1984
College and University Honors



BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Seventh and Eleventh Circuits
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Illinois, Central District of Illinois, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Northern District of Indiana and District of Colorado

MEMBERSHIPS

  • American Bar Association
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Federal Trial Bar
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society


ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  • Illinois Leading Lawyer in Insurance Coverage and Commercial Litigation (2009-Present)
  • Illinois Super Lawyer in Insurance Coverage and Business Litigation (2011-Present)

PERSONAL

What is your favorite thing about working at Aronberg Goldgehn? It’s a real pleasure to work with people you like, respect and know will get the job done well.
What is your favorite place in Chicago? The Lakefront Trail. Running or biking as the sun rises over the lake never gets old.