Sergio E. Acosta and Joel D. Bertocchi. Partners in Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP’s Chicago office, were interviewed on June 27, 2011, about the conviction of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Mr. Acosta spoke on Chicago radio station WBEZ, and Mr. Bertocchi spoke on Chicago television station WTTW’s Chicago Tonight program.
Sergio Acosta is an experienced criminal and appellate litigator and investigator. His cases have involved claims regarding criminal civil rights, fraud, violent crimes, labor racketeering and domestic terrorism investigations and prosecutions. During his tenure with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois, Mr. Acosta tried more than 25 jury trials in federal court and many appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Mr. Acosta’s practice also encompasses corporate governance, corporate investigations, regulatory enforcement and gaming law. He has worked in concert with many state and federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, Illinois Department of Revenue, Illinois State Police and all of the federal law enforcement agencies.
Mr. Bertocchi is an experienced criminal and appellate litigator. He is a former Solicitor General of the State of Illinois and Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, and has litigated in courts ranging from the trial level to the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Bertocchi briefs and argues civil and criminal appeals, as well as complex motions (class certification, dismissal, summary judgment, etc.) in trial courts. He also represents individuals, groups and companies in connection with criminal and regulatory investigations, counsels them on compliance policies and related issues and conducts internal investigations in all areas, including corporate governance and employee misconduct. Mr. Bertocchi also provides strategic advice to clients, in and outside the litigation context, on the application of complex statutes and regulatory issues, including RICO and fraud.
Founded in 1934, Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a national law firm with approximately 500 lawyers in 24 offices spanning 12 states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.
Hinshaw offers a full-service practice, with an emphasis in litigation, business law and corporate transactions, environmental, intellectual property, labor and employment law, professional liability defense, estate planning and taxation matters. The firm represents a range of for-profit and not-for-profit clients in industries that include alarm and security services, construction, financial services, health care, hospitality, insurance, lawyers and law firms, manufacturing, real estate, retail and transportation. Hinshaw clients also include government agencies, municipalities and schools.