Lew R.C. Bricker

Managing Partner
Lew Bricker, Amundsen Davis LLC Photo

Overview

In one of Lew Bricker’s most memorable cases he had the jury nodding along with his closing argument; a true testament to his litigation skills. He defends clients in the areas of commercial transportation, products liability and commercial litigation. He also counsels clients and attorneys on best practices for managing and litigating issues involving electronically stored information and e-discovery. 

As Amundsen Davis’s managing partner, Lew leads a collaborative team of attorneys and staff to ensure that Amundsen Davis provides the best possible legal services to clients while also maintaining focus on the business side of firm operations. He leads his clients’ Rapid Response Team, coordinating responses to catastrophic losses for clients in the Midwest. Lew started at the firm as a senior associate and worked his way up to partner, taking on additional leadership roles including the firm’s first diversity officer as well as chair of the Transportation & Logistics Service Group.

Lew’s clients include motor carriers, logistics providers, product manufacturers, retailers, distributors and their insurers. He represents many clients in commercial and contract disputes and counsels clients on best risk mitigation practices, business structure, management and marketing practices in the transportation, retail and manufacturing industries.

Lew currently serves as the Chair Emeritus of the USLAW Network and serves on the Network’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors. In 2008 he served as the chair of the USLAW Transportation Practice Group. He designed and coordinated the Transportation Motor Carrier Boot Camp, a training program for transportation lawyers held every two years.

Lew holds many titles, but husband and dad are among his most cherished. He is involved with his kids and active in the community where he raises his family. He coached his kids in youth sports and ran the community baseball and softball organizations for several years, overseeing more than 150 teams. During his tenure he rebuilt the softball program, restored the organization financially and saw teams to multiple championships. He currently serves as past commissioner. He also served on the local high school district facilities community, helping to identify the needs of the local high school and lobbying for the passage of a referendum.

Experience

Membership & Involvement

  • Amundsen Davis Executive Committee
  • USLAW Executive Committee: Conference Educational Coordinator, Fall Conference, 2019; Chair Emeritus, 2018 – present; Immediate Past Chair, 2017 – present; Chair, 2016 – 2017; Vice Chair, 2015 – 2016; Treasurer, 2013 – 2015; Transportation Practice Group Chair, 2007 – 2008, Vice Chairman, 2006 – 2007, Secretary 2006; Business Litigation Group: Sub Chair 2010 – 2011
  • TELFA: Board of Directors, ex officio representative, 2016 – present 
  • Technology Liaison: Defense Research Institute Diversity Committee
  • Section Council Member: Illinois State Bar Association Public Utilities and Transportation Council, 2004 – present; Illinois State Bar Association Tort Law Council 2004 – present
  • Member: Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA); Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA); Chicago Traffic Club; American Bar Association; Illinois State Bar Association; Intermodal Association of North America (IANA); Defense Research Institute (DRI)

Honors

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ rated
  • Named a BTI Client Service All-Star, 2012
  • Selected by the Leading Lawyers Network as a "Leading Lawyer" in transportation defense law
  • Selected as a "Stand-Out Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters: 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers list: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Selected to The Best Lawyers in America© in Transportation Law: 2021, 2022, 2023
  • USLAW O’Hagan Award Recipient, 2008

  • Firm Managing Partner

Resources & Insights

Alerts

Speaking Engagements

  • Rapid Response 101 (plus); The Aftermath: Hands-On Truck Inspections
    Speaking Engagement, Client Seminar; Richfield, OH,
  • What Can Go Wrong with Commercial Transportation Claims and Cases and Strategies for Reducing Them
    Speaking Engagement, Client Seminar; Lisle, IL,
  • Rapid Response 101 (plus); The Aftermath: Hands-On Truck Inspections
    Speaking Engagement, Client Seminar; Richfield, OH,
  • Best Procedures and Practices for Handling Inward and Outward Facing Bus Videos
    Speaking Engagement, Client Seminar, Cincinnati, OH,
  • Illinois Legal Issues for Your Consideration; Key Issues in an Immediate Response; and Low Impact Soft Tissues Claims and Causes
    Speaking Engagement, Client Seminar; Temple, TX,
  • Understanding the Unique Challenges Faced in Commercial Claim Handling
    Speaking Engagement, Client Seminar; Richfield, OH,
  • Speaking Engagement, Society of Casualty Safety Engineers, Seminar; Schaumburg, IL,
  • Current Auto Liability Trends and Preventing Products Liability Claims
    Speaking Engagement, Arthur J. Gallagher Roundtable; Chicago, IL,
  • Crisis Management and Its Triggers
    Speaking Engagement, USLAW Fall Conference; Austin, TX,
  • How to Combat Nuclear Verdicts
    Speaking Engagement, Client Litigation Conference; Arlington, TX,
  • Mock Trials and Focus Groups
    Speaking Engagement, USLAW Summer Transportation Forum; Asheville, NC,
  • Speaking Engagement, Stafford; Webcast,
  • Psychology of a Jury – Causes of Verdicts:  How to Defend Them and How to Prevent Them
    Speaking Engagement, Client Customer Seminar; Nashville, TN,
  • Seconds in Command: Are We Doing Enough to Identify and Prepare Them?
    Speaking Engagement, USLAW Spring Conference, Seminar; Amelia Island, FL,
  • Update - Should Our Traditional Model of Conservative, Neutral and Liberal Jurisdictions be Reconsidered? How has Today’s Political Landscape Impacted the Composition
    Speaking Engagement, USLAW Spring Conference, Seminar; Amelia Island, FL,
  • Psychology of a Jury – Causes of Nuclear Verdicts and How to Combat Them
    Speaking Engagement, TIDA Annual Seminar; Philadelphia, PA,
  • Litigation Trends in a Post-COVID-19 World: Should Our Traditional Model of Conservative, Neutral and Liberal Jurisdictions be Reconsidered? How has Today’s Political Landscape Impacted the Composition
    USLAW Fall Conference, Seminar; Colorado Springs, CO,
  • 2021 ATA Litigation Center Trucking Legal Forum, Seminar; Washington, DC,
  • Litigation Financing and Letters of Protection
    USLAW Summer Legal Forum, Seminar; Jackson, WY,
  • Event, Amundsen Davis, Webcast,
  • USLAW Network, Webcast, September 30, 2020 - October 9, 2020
  • USLAW,
  • 2020 American Trucking Association Litigation Center Trucking Legal Forum, Webcast,
  • Transportation Safety, Compliance and Drivers
    Client Roundtable Moderator,
  • Resolution Strategies in the COVID-19 World
    Client Roundtable Moderator, June 16 - 18, 2020
  • Safety Precautions, Policies and Procedures for Re-opening Your Business and Your Stores
    Client Roundtable Moderator,
  • USLAW Transportation Exchange
    Conference Chair and Program Co-Moderator; New Orleans, LA, February 27 - 28, 2020
  • Some Illinois Legal Issues for Your Consideration . . .
    Client Seminar; Richfield, OH,
  • New Technology in Vehicle Collisions, Psychological and Communication Factors that Influence Negotiations, and Best Practices for Both
    Client Seminar; St. Louis, MO,
  • Just Saying No: The Successes, Perils and Pitfalls of Believing in Your Product and How It Can Affect Litigation
    USLAW Fall Conference; Washington, D.C.,
  • USLAW Fall Conference
    Conference Educational Coordinator; Washington, D.C.,
  • Going on the Offensive - "Proving Up" A Company is Being Safety Conscious
    USLAW Summer Legal Forum; Quebec City, QC, CA,
  • Corporate Representatives and FROCP 30(b)(6)
    Client Seminar; Phoenix, AZ,
  • Data Preservation Post-Accident
    USLAW Transportation Exchange; Las Vegas, NV,
  • Nuclear Verdicts and Defense/Claim Strategies Panel Discussion and Q&A
    Client Presentation; Kansas City, KS,
  • Avoiding the Big Mistake: Protocols, Procedures and Preservation
    Speaking Engagement, TrueNorth-USLAW Network, Webcast,
  • Training Programs Are Not Created Equal
    Client Workshop; Las Vegas, NV,
  • Legal Developments In Transportation Litigation
    Client Seminar; Dubuque, IA,
  • Auto Risk Management Seminar: Legal Implications and Risk Management of Telematics, Distracted Driving and Hired Non Owned Autos
    Client Seminar; Chicago, IL,
  • Avoiding the Crisis Created Long Before the Accident: Legal and Litigation Issues with Employee Handbooks and Training Manuals
    Arkansas Trucking Conference; Rogers, AR,
  • Program Co-Director and Presenter, USLAW Trucking Boot Camp for Lawyers
    USLAW Trucking Boot Camp for Lawyers; Omaha, NE, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018
  • Managing Internal Expectations – How General Counsel and Attorneys Manage Expectations, Litigation Strategies and Competing Interests
    USLAW Conference; Montreal, Quebec, Canada,
  • New Technology Issues from Availability to Trial
    USLAW Transportation Industry Summer Legal Forum; Half Moon Bay, CA,
  • Women in Law Firm Management: A View from the Managing Partner's Chair
    USLAW Women's Conference; Charleston, SC,
  • Avoiding the Crisis Created Long Before the Accident: Legal and Litigation Issues with Employee Handbooks and Training Manuals
    USLAW Conference,
  • Legal and Litigation Issues with Employee Handbooks and Training Manuals
    Client Seminar; Las Vegas, Nevada,
  • Best Litigation and Claims Practices
    Client Seminar; Dallas, Texas,
  • Strategies and Considerations for Initial Accident and Case Handling: Collection and Protection, Early Resolutions Strategies, Preservation and Spoliation, and The Reptile and Case Preparation
    Client Seminar; Carmel, IN,
  • Truck Accident Litigation 101 - Basics and Issues
    MyLawCLE and Wolters Kluwer; Webinar,
  • Broker Liability
    USLAW Summer Legal Forum; Colorado Springs, CO,
  • Stafford; Webinar,
  • Defending the Reptile and Witness Preparation
    Client Presentation,
  • Why Broker Liability Matters; Load and Unloading Cases
    Client Presentation,
  • Broker and Logistics Liability, Preservation and Spoilation, and DOT and OSHA Issues for Trucking Companies
    Client Presentation,
  • The U.S. Election and its Effect on Business
    Seminar, Trans European Law Firm Alliance, Paris, France,
  • Preservation and Spoliation
    Client Presentation, Pittsburgh, PA,
  • American Trucking Associations; Seminar, Bellevue, Washington,
  • Strafford, Webinar,
  • Stafford; Webinar,
  • Dissecting Written Policies: The Do's and Don'ts of Crafting Safety Policies
    USLAW Client Conference, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA,
  • The Parameters of a Roadside Inspection:  What They Can Ask for and What They Can’t
    American Trucking Association Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel,
  • Insurance Issues in Trucking Litigation
    Client Seminar, Brookfield, WI,
  • How to Make a Negative into a Positive
    USLAW Client Conference, San Antonio, TX,
  • Preservation and Best Practices for Motor Carriers
    Client In-house Training Meetings, Sunset Hills, MO,

Published Works

  • Publication, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education
  • National Editor and Illinois Author
    USLAW Network Joint and Several Liability Compendium of Law,
  • Illinois Offer of Judgment Law
    USLAW Network Offer of Judgment Law Compendium,
  • USLAW National Compendium of Law, National Editor
    USLAW National Compendium, 2008; 2010; 2012; 2015; 2017; 2018
  • State of Illinois Transportation Compendium of Law
    USLAW, 2017, 2018, 2021
  • Chapter Author, Special Considerations in a Premises Liability Case
    Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021
  • Chapter Author, Special Considerations in Product Liability Cases
    Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2021
  • USLAW DigiKnow,
  • It's a Matter of Control...or is it? Broker / Logistics Liability & The Coercion Rule
    American Trucking Association Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel,
  • USLAW DigiKnow,
  • Parameters of a Roadside Inspection
    American Trucking Association Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel,

Firm News

Education

University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., 1991, cum laude

University of Illinois, B.A., 1988, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • Supreme Court of the United States
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