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Meet Our Attorney

Background:
In February, 2001, attorney Martin K. Berks broke off from the Environmental Litigation Group, a Birmingham, Alabama law firm, where his practice was devoted almost exclusively to helping Alabama workers who had been injured by their job related exposure to asbestos. It became clear to Mr. Berks that there were many people who had been injured by other environmental exposures such as to benzene, lead, or chlorinated solvents who were struggling to find experienced counsel to assist them in seeking justice. Mr. Berks began the Environmental Attorneys Group with the goal of expanding his legal practice into these other areas in addition to the asbestos litigation in which he was already so heavily involved.

Position:
Managing Partner

Year Joined Organization:
2001

Areas of Practice:
  • Asbestos
  • Chemicals Cosmetics
  • Complex Litigation
  • Estate Planning
  • Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) -- Employee
  • Living Wills
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents -- Plaintiff
  • Personal Injury -- Plaintiff
  • Pharmaceutical Products
  • Powers of Attorney and Appointment
  • Premises Liability -- Plaintiff
  • Products Liability Law
  • Railroad Accidents -- Plaintiff
  • Slip and Fall -- Plaintiff
  • State Appellate Practice
  • State Trial Practice
  • Toxic Torts
  • Wills
  • Wrongful Death – Plaintiff

Litigation Percentage:
95% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions:
  • Illinois, 1992
  • Alabama, 1999
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 1992
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Alabama, 1999
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1995

Education:
  • John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
  • J.D.
  • Honors: Cum Laude
  • Law Review: John Marshall Law Review, Managing Editor
  • The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, 1989
  • B.S.
  • Major: Radio-Television-Film

Published Works:
  • Alabama v. White: Anonymous Tip Held Sufficient Basis For Investigatory Stop, 24 J.Marshall 6 Rev. 909, 1991
  • Collateral Estoppel in Summary Suspension "Administrative" Hearings, 20(6), ISBA Admin. L. Bull., 1991

Representative Cases:
  • Barnes v. Norfolk Southern Railway Company, 2001 WL 1178748 (S.Ct. 2001)
  • U.S. v. Madock, 108 F.3d 761 (7th Cir. 1997)
  • Lewis X. Cohen Insurance Trust v. Stern, 297 Ill.App.3d 220 (1998)
  • Lewis X. Cohen Insurance Trust v. Stern, 696 NE 2d 743 (1st Dist. 1998)
  • Aguilera v. Mt. Sinai Hospital Med. Ctr., 293 Ill.App.3d 967, 691 NE 2d 1 (1st Dist. 1998)
  • Jablonski v. Rothe, 287 Ill.App.3d 752, 678 N.E.2d 1108 (1997)

Past Employment Positions:
Hon. Robert Chapman Buckley, Illinois Appellate Court, First District, Judicial Clerk, 1992 - 1994

Birth Information:
1967, Chicago Illinois