Robert Finley's diverse civil litigation practice is focused primarily in complex, employment-based and personal injury defense, including catastrophic, fatal and brain/psychological injury cases. He handles all aspects of workplace injury claims, including workers’ compensation defense, subrogation recovery, employers’ liability and excess coverage interests. Mr. Finley counsels clients on Medicare secondary payor regulatory and compliance issues affecting liability and workers’ compensation settlements. Mr. Finley assists corporate clients in the development of internal programs for more cost-effective management of workers’ compensation claims and insurance premiums. He is dedicated to understanding his clients’ business and litigation priorities and providing them proactive solutions in claim and litigation management. Mr. Finley has a substantial amount of experience with jury trials, representing clients in mediations and arbitration hearings, and workers’ compensation appellate practice.

Mr. Finley’s reported decisions include:

• Roadway Express v. Industrial Commission, 808 NE2d 1118 (IL. 2004). Successfully reversed Commission decision finding permanent, total disability and subsequently dismissed opponent’s appeal on jurisdictional grounds.
• Eugenio Hernandez v. Walsh Construction, 2008 WL 2600646 (IWCC). Case of first impression regarding application of the state’s medical fee schedule to unpaid bills awarded at trial, and limits on overtime pay as a basis for benefit rate calculations.

Mr. Finley joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in November 2003 and became a partner in 2008.

He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association, the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel and the Defense Research Institute. In addition, Mr. Finley was an investigator and hearing officer for the Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. Mr. Finley also served as a judge for the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition and its Regional Negotiation Competition.

From 2008 to 2010, Illinois Super Lawyers magazine named Mr. Finley annually to its Rising Star list. Recipients of this award have practiced law for less than 10 years or are 40 years old or younger.

While attending DePaul University College of Law, Mr. Finley was selected to study abroad at University College Dublin School of Law (Ireland), where he concentrated in comparative and European Union law studies and volunteered with a Dublin-based law firm in its litigation sector.

Prior to pursuing a career in law, Mr. Finley worked in the sports radio industry as a producer and reporter covering major spectator events, including the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, Kentucky Derby, U.S. Open Golf Championship, NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Mr. Finley regularly contributes to Hinshaw’s Employment Law Alert, providing articles, analysis and perspective on significant court decision and other developments in Illinois workers’ compensation law. His other publications include:

• “50-State Survey: Workers’ Compensation Benefits Eligibility for Intoxicated or Impaired Employees,” editor, Hinshaw publication, January 2012.
• “Illinois Temporary Total Disability: Workers’ Compensation Theory and Issues,” monograph collaborator, Quarterly, Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel, Fourth Quarter 2008.

Mr. Finley has delivered a number of presentations in the practice areas of workers’ compensation and defense litigation. He is also an instructor at Hinshaw University, the firm’s nationwide attorney training and education program, where he teaches the Deposition Workshop. Mr. Finley also serves on the firm’s associate development program. In addition, he is also involved in the development of business and educational programming for the firm’s practice groups.

His presentations include:

• “Medicare Compliance in Workers Compensation and Liability Cases: Cooperative Approaches for Counsel and Claims Professionals,” Gallagher Bassett, Indianapolis, Indiana, August 2011.
• "Medicare Secondary Payer Law and Liability Cases: Building Your Resolution Tool Box," Hinshaw University, Chicago, Illinois, July 2011.
• “2011 Illinois Workers’ Compensation Reform,” ED-RED Illinois Schools Advocacy Organization, Park Ridge, Illinois, June 2010.
• “Three-Headed Monster: Medicare Obligations in Liability Cases," Hinshaw University, Chicago, Illinois, October 2010.
• “Lawternatives,” American Bar Association Law Student Division 7th Circuit Spring Meeting, Valparaiso, Indiana, February 2010.
• “Illinois New Statutory Medical Fee Schedules Applied to Unpaid Medical Bills Awarded at Trial,” panelist, Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association, Chicago, Illinois, July 2008.
• “Joint Defense Agreements,” panel moderator, Hinshaw in-house presentation, Defense Litigation practice group, 2007.
• “Comprehensive Update on 2005 Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act Reforms,” Hinshaw in-house presentation, Labor& Employment specialty practice group, 2005.

Mr. Finley volunteers his time with a number of organizations. He is a member of The Irish Fellowship Club of Chicago; a parishioner at Old St. Patrick’s Church of Chicago; a committee chair for the Gala 2012 fundraiser; a member of Frances Xavier Warde School 2011 Strategic Planning Initiative; and a corporate sponsor host for the Western Golf Association 2010 and 2011 BMW Championship at Cog Hill.