Craig Liljestrand has extensive experience in the areas of toxic tort, products liability and environmental litigation. He is recognized for his litigation and trial skills in the areas of asbestos, silica, welding fumes, lead paint and occupational disease claims. His client base is expansive, and includes Fortune 500 companies in which he has successfully defended various industrial product and equipment manufacturers, contractors and premises owners in numerous toxic tort/environmental cases throughout the country. Mr. Liljestrand also is the regional counsel for a major industrial manufacturer.

Mr. Liljestrand also has extensive experience with multi-district litigation (MDL), and is recognized for his ability to handle litigation that is national in jurisdiction. In addition, he counsels and advises clients on toxic tort issues in purchase and sale agreements for commercial real estate. In 2005, Mr. Liljestrand was selected by his peers and named by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer Magazine as one of the top "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch." He also holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability.

Mr. Liljestrand is a co-chair of the firm’s toxic tort specialty group. He has served on the firm's Associate Evaluation Committee, and has also served as an instructor in the firm's training program for associate attorneys, Hinshaw University. Mr. Liljestrand is active professionally and is a member of the Defense Research Institute, Illinois State Bar Association and the American Welding Society (AWS).

Before joining Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, Mr. Liljestrand was a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Doyle A. Rowland in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

In 2006 and 2008 Mr. Liljestrand was a player/coach of the firm's Chicago Lawyer League Championship 16-inch softball team. He is also an Illinois licensed real estate broker. Mr. Liljestrand frequently publishes legal articles in the areas of toxic tort and environmental litigation. One of his articles was  referenced and cited to by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in Matter of Musick, 143 N.J. 206, 670 A.2d 11 (1996).

His article, "Silica and the 'Sophisticated User Doctrine’ – Avoiding Legal Sand Traps under the Duty to Warn," was published as a chapter in "Exploring Toxic Tort and Environmental Liability Claims," by the Defense Research Institute in 2007.

Mr. Liljestand’s other publications include:

• "Illinois Appellate Court Washes Away Household Exposure Claims," co-author, 8 DRI The Voice 25, June 24, 2009.
• “Nolan v. Weil-McLain: Was It Worth the Wait? Yes, If You Have a Sole Proximate Cause Defense,” co-author, 8 DRI The Voice 14, April 22, 2009.
• “Federal Appeals Court Finds that Asbestos Bystander Exposure was Not Foreseeable under Kentucky Law,” 8 DRI The Voice 14, April 8, 2009.
• “Ohio Property Owners are Immune from all Secondhand Asbestos Exposure Cases,” 8 DRI The Voice 14, April 8, 2009.
• “The Chilling Effect of Collateral Estoppel: An Investigative Look Back at the Workers’ Compensation File May Put the Plaintiff’s Toxic Tort Action on Ice,” 8 DRI The Voice 4, January 28, 2009.
• “Mississippi Affirms Reversal of Multimillion-Dollar Benzene Suit Based on the Absence of Any Causation Evidence,” Legal Insights, an AIG Domestic Claims publication, Fall 2008.
• “Oregon Hands Toxic Torts Defendants a Big Win,” 3 In-House Defense Quarterly 11, Summer 2008.
• “California Adopts the “Sophisticated User Defense”: Toxic Tort Defendants Now Have a Powerful and Viable Defense in Their Arsenal,” co-author, 50 For the Defense (DRI) 4, May 2008.
• “Exposure to Welding Fumes: Are The Welding Industry’s Risk Management Practices Ready to Face This Growing Litigation Threat?” co-author, 49 For the Defense (DRI) 16, June 2007.
• "Silica and the 'Sophisticated User Doctrine’: Avoiding Legal Sand Traps under the Duty to Warn," 47 For The Defense (DRI) 61, July 2005.
• "Silica and the Sophisticated User Doctrine: Keeping the Silica Manufacturer/Supplier Out of the Legal Quicksand," 46 For The Defense (DRI) 24, September 2004.
• "Silica and the Sophisticated User Doctrine: Defending the Manufacturer/Supplier against a Sandstorm of Litigation," 2 Mealey's Litigation Report 7, March 2004.
• "And The Defense Wins!!," 3 DRI The Voice 10, March 10-16, 2004. Defense Victory Commentary for Viacom, Inc.
• “Neglecting Mandatory Asbestos Reinspections Could Lead To Liability For Schools,” 91 Illinois Bar Journal 571, November 2003. Reprinted in 48 The Missouri Association of Legal Secretaries 3, Winter 2003.
• "Complex Bill to Resolve Asbestos Cases Loses Support," Chicago Lawyer, interview and commentary, September 2003.
• “The Asbestos Compensation Fairness Act," 45 For the Defense (DRI) 20, June 2003.
• “The Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Cell Phone Towers: Possible Preclusion of Private Causes of Action for EMF Health Issues," 18 Toxics Law Reporter 160, February 13, 2003.
• “The Telecommunications Act of 1996 and Cell Phone Towers,” 1 Asset & Risk Management Forum, Issue 2, Summer 2002.
• “Asbestos In Schools: No Room For Tardiness In Performing The Mandatory Reinspections Under AHERA,” 3 The Report Card, Issue 1, April 2002.
• “Cell Phone Suits Have No Basis in Science or Law,” 15 Legal Backgrounder No. 55, Washington Legal Foundation - December 15, 2000.
• “Lead Paint Litigation & ‘Medical Monitoring’ Class Actions,” 1 Toxic Exposure Litigation, Issue 2, November 2000.
• “Courts Reshape Conspiracy Litigation in Illinois,” 1 Toxic Exposure Litigation, Issue 1, June 2000.
• “Defending the Pill: Oral Contraceptives and Strict Liability in Illinois,” 84 Illinois Bar Journal 364, July 1996.
• “Electromagnetic Fields (EMF's) and the Potential for Injury: Real Danger Or Overreaction?,” 62 Defense Counsel Journal 323, July 1995.
• “Repetitive Stress Injuries and the Computer Keyboard: If There Still Is No Causal Relationship between Use and Injury, Is it Wise to Warn?,” 13 John Marshall Journal of Computer & Information Law 391, Spring 1995.
• “The Aids Epidemic in America's Prisons: Have the Courts Correctly Diagnosed a Cure for Inmates with Aids?,” 71 Michigan Bar Journal 1174-77, Nov. 1992.

Mr. Liljestrand frequently speaks before organizations and clients on various legal issues. His presentations have included:

• "Background on EMF's and Defense Attorney's Perspective on Recent Health Studies and Cases on Electromagnetic Fields (EMF): Emerging Area of Litigation," Sponsored by the Chicago Bar Association - Environmental Law & Energy Committee, 1995.
• "Product Liability and Intellectual Property Law in the United States of America for Electronic Videogames," Sumitomo Insurance Company, 1996.
• "Repetitive Stress Injuries - Current Events," for Zurich Insurance Company, 1998.