Carlos Ortiz is a trial attorney with broad litigation experience including handling commercial, class action, products liability, construction and employment litigation as well as professional liability defense. He is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Wisconsin.

While Mr. Ortiz devotes most of his practice to litigation, he also provides business clients counseling and advice, as well as represents them in incorporation and contract matters. On behalf of insurance companies and professionals, including lawyers, medical and construction professionals, Mr. Ortiz frequently litigates malpractice and coverage claims. He also handles construction contractual disputes and FDCPA litigation.

In the employment law arena, Mr. Ortiz is experienced in handling immigration matters in addition to discrimination and workers compensation cases. These include ADA and Title VII discrimination claims, as well as claims for unreasonable refusal to rehire. Mr. Ortiz has also handled cases involving trade secret violations.

Mr. Ortiz is experienced in all phases of trial practice, from developing a case strategy to taking depositions, drafting briefs and trying cases. His successes include disposing of insurance coverage, employment, professional liability, product liability and transportation cases on summary judgment. Mr. Ortiz’s representative cases include:

• Felde v. Town of Brookfield et al, 570 F.Supp.2d 1070 (E.D. Wis. 2008).
• Aaron, et al. v. Wisconsin Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, 04-CV-9012 (Milwaukee County Circuit Court).
• Killian v. Arby Construction, Inc., 06-012386 (Worker’s Compensation Division, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development).
• Dudley v. Erin East, Inc., 06-028119 (Worker’s Compensation Division, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development).
• Williams v. Asset Acceptance, 06-20316 (Milwaukee County Circuit Court).
• Cordell v. State Central Credit Union, 2005 WL 3536094 (E.D. Wis. 2005).
• Bruchert v. Tokio Marine, et al., 05-1049 (Milwaukee County Circuit Court).
• Jones v. Zeuger, et al., 04-5037 (Milwaukee County Circuit Court).
• Wollor v. Placon Corp., 04-03402 (Equal Rights Division, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development). Affirmed, Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, July 27, 2007.
• Bocskor v. Mazda Motor of America Inc, 04-0316 (Outagamie County Circuit Court).
• Snapp v. Rivera MD, et al,  03-6612 (Milwaukee County Circuit Court).

Mr. Ortiz joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as an associate in August 2004 after serving as a summer associate for the firm during 2003.

While in law school, Mr. Ortiz was a law clerk at Wickwire Gavin, in Madison, Wisconsin, where he gained experience in environmental matters such as land surveying and air pollution claims. In addition, he was a corporate legal summer associate with Edward Kraemer and Sons Construction in Plain, Wisconsin, where he managed and developed theory for defense of a workers' compensation claims, drafted summary judgment briefs in defense of ADA, Title VII and wrongful termination claims.

In addition to his other law school accomplishments, Mr. Ortiz was a member of the Moot Court Board and the Dean’s List, and was President of the Latino Law Students Association. He was the recipient of the G. Young Excellence in Service Award (2003) and the Wisconsin State Bar Award for the Best Grade in Equal Employment Law and Constitutional Law.

In 2001, Mr. Ortiz was a summer intern with State Farm Mutual Insurance Co., where he worked as a fire claims representative, investigating, analyzing, negotiating and settling complex property claims. Mr. Ortiz also was a project engineer summer intern with Walsh Construction in Chicago from June 1995 to January 2001.

Mr. Ortiz graduated with honors from St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.

Mr. Ortiz is the President of the Wisconsin Hispanic Lawyers Association. In 2009, he was selected by the Wisconsin Law Journal as an “Up and Coming Lawyer” for 2009. Mr. Ortiz is a member of the Defense Research Institute and the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals. Mr. Ortiz’s publications include:

• “Ethical Considerations for Attorneys Presented by Insurance Guidelines that Govern Representation of an Insured,” co-authored with Hinshaw attorney, Russell A. Klingaman, Insurer’s Duty to Defend: A Compendium of State Law – 2005, Defense Research Institute, 2005.
• "The United Nations and its Double Standard," 22 WIILJ 393 (2004), Wisconsin International Law Journal, Spring 2004.
• "Limits in Medical Malpractice: Defending Against Wrongful Birth and Wrongful Life Claims," co-authored with Hinshaw attorney Michael Malone, For the Defense, Defense Research Institute, October 2003.

Mr. Ortiz is a member of the Mexican Fiesta organization in Milwaukee. He has also worked with community high school mock trial programs throughout Southeastern Wisconsin.