Partner

Alan L. Farkas is Co-chair of SmithAmundsen's aerospace practice. An accomplished trial attorney, Alan concentrates his practice in aviation, real estate, complex torts, and commercial litigation. He began representing clients at trial early in his career, and has maintained a near unblemished record at trial, with a 95 percent success rate. Alan has been practicing law since 1993, and has handled a variety of complex cases, from aviation air disasters to defending individuals and municipalities in Civil Rights lawsuits. In 2009, Alan took four cases to trial with barely a rest between them, including one in which he represented a nationally known hospital in a public hearing challenging the installation of a heliport in downtown Chicago.

Alan was elected Trustee of the Village of Deerfield, Illinois in 2009 and named to the Illinois Super Lawyers* list in 2009 and 2010, a peer review designation published by Law & Politics magazine. Alan was also named as one of Illinois’ Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and the Law Bulletin Publishing Company. He is a member of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society in which membership is limited to 3,500 Fellows, or one-half of one percent of American lawyers. Alan is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell for his legal ability and ethics.

In addition to trial work, Alan has been retained to advise corporations, pilots, airports, and municipalities on regulatory and statutory compliance, formation and organization, and liability protection. Alan has also served as Chairman of EAA’s Legal Advisory Council since 2011.

*The selection of attorneys to the Super Lawyers list does not guarantee a positive client outcome in any specific legal matter or engagement nor constitute a representation by the firm of SmithAmundsen about the caliber of legal work performed by any other attorney not selected as part of these lists.

Presenter, “General Session VIII: A Flight School on Trial,” Third Annual International Flight Operators Conference, Las Vegas, NV, May 3, 2012.

Contributor, Aviators' Model Code of Conduct, 2011. http://www.secureav.com/.

Presenter,"What Business Aviation Needs to Know About Criminal Negligence Charges and Prosecution of Accidents," SmithAmundsen Aerospace and Marsh USA presentation, Oakbrook, IL, November 4, 2011.

Author, “Cramming Cases into Existing Tests,” Journal of the Section of Litigation, Vol. 38, No. 1, Fall 2011.

Author, “Trimming the Claws of the Internet’s Jurisdictional Reach,” Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, Spring-Summer 2011 (46-3&4).

Author, "Brief of Experimental Aircraft Association as Amicus Curiae in Support of the Petition for Review and Motion for a Stay Pending Review," July 7, 2011.

Reference, "Court Reinstates Vacated Verdict in Favor of Officers," Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, June 2, 2011.

Contributor, "Due Process: Getting busted by the FAA," EAA Sport Aviation Magazine, April 2011.

Presenter, “The Future of Negligent Security Claims against Airlines and Airports,” SMU Air Law Symposium, March 2011.

Author, "Hellerstein's Shadow: The Future of Negligent Security Claims in the United States," SMU Air Law Symposium, March 2011.

Presenter, Annual Forums at EAA Airventure on FAA Enforcement and Homebuilder Liability, 2003-2010.

Presenter, “Basics of Sec. 1983 Litigation,” Airport Counsel International – North America Legal Affairs Conference, April 2010.

Presenter, “Anatomy of an Aviation Case – The Gulfstream G-IV Crash at Palwaukee Airport,” Chicago Bar Association, February 2009.

Presenter, “How Do I Protect Myself from Litigation?” Women in Aviation International (WAI) Annual Meeting, February 2008.

Presenter, “The Insurer’s Role in the NTSB Investigation,” Aviation Insurance Association (AIA) Annual Meeting, April 2008.

Presenter, “Runway Surface Friction and Landing Performance Monitoring Technology,” Lawyer Pilot Bar Association (LPBA) Annual Meeting, August 2008.

Co-author, “Sanctions in the Court of Appeals: the Seventh Circuit Takes Off the Gloves,” The Circuit Rider, May, 2007.

Presenter, “Mock Trial of an FAA Enforcement Case – Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA), April 2006.

Author, “Aviation Law and Tragedy,” Sport Aviation, March, 1999.

Author, “Changing Your Aircraft,” Sport Aviation, July, 1998.

Presenter, “Spoliation of Evidence,” Aviation Insurance Association, Colorado Springs, May 1996.

Co-author “Ethical Considerations,” Mastering Real Estate & Title Insurance National Business Institute, January 11, 1996.

Presenter, “Ethical Considerations-Mastering Real Estate Titles and Title Insurance,” National Business Institute, 1996.