Terrence P. McAvoy
Terrence P. McAvoy
Of Counsel
He/Him
"My goal is to always protect my client's interests and maintain confidentiality. Defending lawyers and firms is very rewarding and allows me to learn a wide variety of areas of law."

Terrence P. McAvoy
Of Counsel
He/Him
"My goal is to always protect my client's interests and maintain confidentiality. Defending lawyers and firms is very rewarding and allows me to learn a wide variety of areas of law."
About Terry
A seasoned litigator and trial attorney, Terry has more than three decades of civil litigation experience in state and federal courts, including at the appellate level. He has defended countless cases and claims against attorneys and law firms involving professional liability, legal malpractice and professional negligence, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, common law fraud, violations of the Consumer Fraud Act, defamation, and disciplinary action matters.
Previously, Terry counseled professional liability carriers on lawyers' professional liability insurance coverage and was national claims counsel overseeing defense activities.
Areas of Focus
Recognition
- Leading Lawyers: Commercial Litigation; Professional Malpractice Defense Law
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Peer Review Rating
Credentials
Education
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, JD, with distinction, 1987
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, BS, 1983
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- "Current Issues in Conflict-of-Interest Situations: Understanding and Managing Conflicts of Interest," Chicago Bar Association Committee Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, May 3, 2017
- "Three's Company: Navigating the Winding Road of the Insurer, Insured and Defense Counsel," West LegalEdcenter live webcast, March 2013
- "The Significant New Decisions Affecting Litigation Attorneys," Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference, Chicago, Illinois, March 2013
- "What's Your Little Secret? They Want to Know," Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference, in Chicago, Illinois, March 2010
Event
In The News
- Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute Six Chapters to the "Attorneys’ Legal Liability" IICLE Handbook, Jun 12, 2025
- A Team of Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute to 2018 Edition of IICLE Attorneys' Legal Liability Handbook, Feb 19, 2018
- DRI Professional Perspectives: Failure to Plead "But for" Causation Leads to Dismissal of Malpractice Claim, Feb 7, 2017
- Terry McAvoy Authors DRI Article on Texas Supreme Court Malpractice Case, Oct 27, 2016
- Twelve Hinshaw Lawyers Contribute to IICLE's Attorneys' Legal Liability, 2014 Edition, Oct 13, 2014
Lawyers for the Profession® Alerts
- Do Illinois Attorneys Have a Duty to Assess Their Client's Mental Competence?, Jan 7, 2025
- Hinshaw Readers' Choice Awards: Top Professional Liability and Legal Ethics Articles of 2024, Dec 30, 2024
- Arbitration Clause in Attorney-Client Agreement Deemed Unenforceable Due to Lack of Informed Consent, Sep 30, 2024
- Wisconsin Appellate Court Enforces Limited Scope Retainer Agreement, Sep 25, 2024
- Absolute Litigation Privilege Bars Claims Stemming From Communications Related to Litigation, Aug 22, 2024
Interests
In his spare time, Terry likes engaging with family and friends. Sports are a good distraction, too.
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- "Current Issues in Conflict-of-Interest Situations: Understanding and Managing Conflicts of Interest," Chicago Bar Association Committee Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, May 3, 2017
- "Three's Company: Navigating the Winding Road of the Insurer, Insured and Defense Counsel," West LegalEdcenter live webcast, March 2013
- "The Significant New Decisions Affecting Litigation Attorneys," Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference, Chicago, Illinois, March 2013
- "What's Your Little Secret? They Want to Know," Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference, in Chicago, Illinois, March 2010
Event
In The News
- Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute Six Chapters to the "Attorneys’ Legal Liability" IICLE Handbook, Jun 12, 2025
- A Team of Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute to 2018 Edition of IICLE Attorneys' Legal Liability Handbook, Feb 19, 2018
- DRI Professional Perspectives: Failure to Plead "But for" Causation Leads to Dismissal of Malpractice Claim, Feb 7, 2017
- Terry McAvoy Authors DRI Article on Texas Supreme Court Malpractice Case, Oct 27, 2016
- Twelve Hinshaw Lawyers Contribute to IICLE's Attorneys' Legal Liability, 2014 Edition, Oct 13, 2014
Lawyers for the Profession® Alerts
- Do Illinois Attorneys Have a Duty to Assess Their Client's Mental Competence?, Jan 7, 2025
- Hinshaw Readers' Choice Awards: Top Professional Liability and Legal Ethics Articles of 2024, Dec 30, 2024
- Arbitration Clause in Attorney-Client Agreement Deemed Unenforceable Due to Lack of Informed Consent, Sep 30, 2024
- Wisconsin Appellate Court Enforces Limited Scope Retainer Agreement, Sep 25, 2024
- Absolute Litigation Privilege Bars Claims Stemming From Communications Related to Litigation, Aug 22, 2024
Terry's Insights

In The News
Jun 12, 2025
Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute Six Chapters to the "Attorneys’ Legal Liability" IICLE Handbook

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Jan 7, 2025
Do Illinois Attorneys Have a Duty to Assess Their Client's Mental Competence?

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Dec 30, 2024
Hinshaw Readers' Choice Awards: Top Professional Liability and Legal Ethics Articles of 2024

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Sep 30, 2024
Arbitration Clause in Attorney-Client Agreement Deemed Unenforceable Due to Lack of Informed Consent

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Sep 25, 2024
Wisconsin Appellate Court Enforces Limited Scope Retainer Agreement

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Aug 22, 2024
Absolute Litigation Privilege Bars Claims Stemming From Communications Related to Litigation

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Jun 24, 2024
Lack of Expert Testimony Results in $1.4 Million Legal Malpractice Verdict Being Overturned

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
May 3, 2024
A Defense Win in Texas on the Issue of "But For" Proximate Causation in a Legal Malpractice Case

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Apr 1, 2024
Illinois Appellate Court Rejects the Crime-Fraud Exception in a Defamation Claim

Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Feb 22, 2024
Deciphering Forum Non-Conveniens: Global Law Firm Headquarters’ Location Deemed a Convenient Forum