Philip A. Bareck

Philip A. Bareck has been an integral part of Katz Friedman since 1991, advancing to partner in 2003 and becoming a shareholder in 2007. His legal expertise is focused on representing injured employees in Workers’ Compensation and Occupational Disease cases before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, as well as Illinois Circuit and Appellate courts.

Currently, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he teaches Workers' Recovery Law. In 2022, Philip was inducted into the College of Workers' Financial Recovery. His professional accolades include being named an Illinois Super Lawyer, recognized in Best Lawyers in Workers’ Damages Law, and included in the Top Trial Lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association. Additionally, he has been acknowledged as one of America’s Most Honored Professionals and nominated as one of the “10 Best” Workers’ Financial Recovery Attorneys for Illinois by the American Institute of Legal Counsel.

Philip has a robust record of representing thousands of clients, deposing numerous physicians, and ensuring the protection and preservation of his clients' rights. He has successfully secured future medical rights and ongoing treatment for clients requiring long-term care. His practice consistently involves standing up against major corporations such as Caterpillar, Fiat-Chrysler, Knapheide, the State of Illinois/Illinois Veterans Home, and UTC Hamilton-Sundstrand. Notably, in 2016, he achieved a significant legal victory in the case of Dunteman v. Caterpillar, where the Appellate Court ruled that self-treatment at home for a work-related injury, which worsened the condition, remained covered under the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act.