The Salvi family in the law

Since the turn of the 20th century, Italian Americans have had a significant impact on the Illinois legal community, mostly through participation in the Justinian Society of Lawyers, and by community participation by individual achievements. There has been no greater impact than from the contributions of the very successful and highly respected Salvi family. They are not just attorneys who have passed the bar exam, but have been leaders in the community as well as, especially, the legal profession. From extremely successful trial lawyers in the catastrophic injury field, to bar leadership and community leaders, this outstanding family is well recognized and highly respected for all their contributions.

The history of the Salvis in America began when the great-grandfather, Alberto Salvi, a famous harpist, came to the United States in the early 1900s. He emigrated from a small town outside of Venice. After arriving in the United States, he had a son, Albert, who attended Notre Dame for his undergraduate studies and Northwestern Law School. He was a highly respected and successful general practitioner for decades in Lake County and started his own firm, Salvi, Salvi & Wifler, located in Lake Zurich, IL. Albert had nine children, five of whom have become lawyers — with more grandchildren on their way. For example, the most recent is Katie, a JD candidate at Ave Maria Law School.

Using the old adage, “the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree,” we highlight this month a number of Salvi lawyers, renowned catastrophic injury lawyers and extraordinarily successful in representing seriously injured victims in the tort field — and all in the same firm.

The now “senior” family member, Patrick A. Salvi, son of Albert, concentrates his legal practice in several limited areas primarily involving a trial practice in cases concerning serious personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death. This Salvi recently achieved record breaking jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, amounting to well over 100 million dollars, including a record high 33 million dollar jury verdict.

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard was established by Mr. Salvi in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1982. With offices in Chicago and Waukegan, the law firm has 12 lawyers and is supported by more than 25 staff members including paralegals, nurse paralegals and administrative assistants.

Today, Mr. Salvi is ranked by his peers as one of the most prominent attorneys in the country in his field. Not to mention one of the most well liked and available when it comes to supporting other Italian-Americans and activities of our ethnic community. His efforts on behalf of our ethnic causes are legendary, helping Italian-American political candidates, ethnic causes, programs and efforts.

Pat was named one of the “Best Lawyers in America” by Woodward/White Inc. Mr. Salvi was the recipient, year after year, of the Award for Trial Lawyer Excellence by The Jury Verdict Reporter and Law Bulletin Publishing Company.

In 2013, Mr. Salvi was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Jury Instructions in Civil Cases. A highly significant appointment, which speaks volumes of his, and his firm’s, esteem among judges and lawyers in Illinois. He is also a member of the prestigious Economic Club of Chicago providing members of the business world a platform to express and discuss economic, business and social issues. Other accolades include: “Highest Rating for Legal Ability and General Recommendation” and “Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers” from Martindale Hubbell American Law Directory; member of the AAJ Leaders Forum; “The Leading American Attorneys of Illinois” from The Consumer Law Guidebook; “One of the Top Ten Personal Injury Lawyers in Illinois” and “Top 5% of all Lawyers in Illinois” from a survey of lawyers and judges conducted by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Leading Lawyer Network.

In 2001, Patrick was invited to become a fellow in the prestigious International Academy of Trial Lawyers. He is also a former President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and served a three-year term (2010-2012) as Chairman on the Character and Fitness, 2nd District Committee of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. Additionally, Mr. Salvi is Chairman of the Law School Advisory Council and is an Adjunct Law Professor at the University of Notre Dame, teaching “Personal Injury Litigation” to 3rd year law students. And the list of his accomplishments and recognitions could go on and on.

He went to St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and after graduating from Notre Dame Law School in 1978, Pat went into his father’s general law practice. He was drawn to the courtroom.

Patrick was selected in 2014 as a “Super Lawyer” and was named one of the Top 10 Personal Injury Lawyers in Illinois in the consumer edition of Leading Lawyers Magazine.

Again using the old saw, “the fruit doesn’t all far from the tree,” Pat’s oldest son, Patrick A. Salvi II, has been practicing law for less than a decade. He joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard in 2007, and, with the firm, concentrates his practice on cases involving personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability and commercial litigation. An example of the talent of this young professional: during just his first trial as lead attorney, this Salvi secured a $1.28 million injury verdict for a teenage client who sustained a broken leg and knee cap. Furthermore, he has also obtained a $29.1 million verdict in a medical malpractice case brought in federal court and a $33.2 million jury verdict in a Lake County injury case. In that case, Salvi, along with his father, was trial counsel for a young man who suffered catastrophic injuries in an automobile collision resulting in the client being left as a quadriplegic. The trial resulted in the highest verdict ever achieved in Lake County, Illinois.

Patrick (the younger) received his B.A. from the University of Colorado in 2004 and earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2007 — carrying on the family’s Notre Dame tradition. While in law school, he received the award from the International Academy of Trial Lawyers for excellence in trial advocacy.

This Salvi is a member of the Lake County Bar Association, the Justinian Society of Lawyers (Lake County Chapter), the Chicago Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar Association, where he is a member of the Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations. He is involved with and a member of the American Association for Justice as well as the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, where he serves on the Board of Advocates and co-chairs the seminar planning committee. Young Patrick has judged ABA and AAJ trial competitions for the past four years, and this year was a judge in the ABA Moot Court competition. In addition, he has also been a speaker at the MBA business law class at Kellogg’s School of Management and for the class “Personal Injury Litigation” at the Notre Dame Law School.

Patrick II was formerly the chairman and currently sits on the Board of Advisors for St. Agnes of Bohemia Elementary School in the southwest side of Chicago. A few years back, the younger Patrick has been recognized by the legal community with one of its most prestigious recognitions, the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 40 lawyers under the age of 40 recognition.

This Patrick Salvi also enjoyed being named an “Illinois Super Lawyer” in 2014.

The most recent edition to the Salvi family of lawyers is recently licensed Brian L. Salvi, an attorney since 2013. He joined Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C. in 2013. He concentrates his legal practice on cases concerning personal injury, medical malpractice and product liability. Brian received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and his law degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

At Notre Dame Law School, Brian was a member of the school’s mock trial team and competed in the American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition. His mock trial team was the 2012 and 2013 Regional Champions in Louisville, Kentucky and 2013 National Champion in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the team’s 2013 National Championship run, they outperformed over 220 other teams and finished with an 11-0 trial record between the Regional and National Competition. Mr. Salvi also previously served as a law clerk at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard.

Additional credentials and distinctions Brian L. Salvi holds include: memberships in the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Lake County Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the American Association of Justice.