Robert R. Tepper
Of Counsel
Chicago
312-251-0031
Biography
Bob brings creative problem-solving to business disputes. He works to understand the facts and then employs his knowledge of substantive and procedural law to find efficient solutions. Bob is a court-certified mediator with vast experience of bringing about negotiated settlements for his clients. When settlement is not possible, Bob vigorously represents his clients. Bob has tried bench and jury trials in state and federal courts and briefed and argued appeals in the Illinois Supreme Court, in three districts of the Illinois Appellate Court, the Indiana Appellate Court, and the Federal Courts of Appeals.
Bob works to understand the facts and then employs his knowledge of substantive and procedural law to find efficient solutions
After graduating from University of Michigan Law School with honors, Bob ran a legal aid society and then joined a mid-size law firm in Chicago where he became the chairman of the litigation department and a member of the firm’s executive committee. Bob has recently joined Dressler Peters, bringing over 45 years of experience and concentration on commercial litigation matters. In addition, Bob has also handled family law, estate, and attorney malpractice cases. He has also presented CLE programs to other lawyers on mediation, discovery, attorney malpractice, and planning for litigation.
Representative Legal Achievements
- Lead defense counsel in double-class action involving 500,000 class members with 177 defendant members opting in
- Successful settlement of widow’s claim on her partnership buyout formula after two weeks of a Federal jury trial
- Complex divorce case involving interlocutory appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court and three trials comprising over 5,000 pages of transcript
- Recovery of over $200,000 in punitive damages for fraud by a real estate broker against his salesperson
- Successful settlement of a will contest alleging undue influence by a psychiatrist
- Several jury trials involving breach of contract in sale of goods—300 specially manufactured railcars, 5,000 specially manufactured trash compactors, and 5,000 tons of steel
- Successful appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court from Appellate Court’s decision charging a sales tax to a wholesaler
Credentials
Education
University of Michigan, J.D., cum laude
University of Michigan, B.A.
Northwestern University Mediation Certificate
Admissions
Illinois
Florida
U. S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (including the Trial Bar)
U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U. S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Accolades
Recognition
- Rated “Pre-eminent” by Martindale-Hubbell
- List of Illinois Super Lawyers, Business Litigation, 2007
The selections for the list of Illinois Super Lawyers are made using a patented multiphase selection process conducted by Super Lawyers, a service of the Thomson Reuters, Legal Division. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of lawyers in Illinois are selected for inclusion to the Illinois Super Lawyers list, and are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.
Professional and Civic Activities
- CBA State Judicial Evaluations Committee
- Instructor, SailChicago.org
- Former Vista volunteer
Affiliations
- Chicago Bar Association (Commercial Litigation, Family Law, and Attorney Malpractice Committees)
- Chicago Council of Lawyers
- Association for Conflict Resolution – Chicago