Philip Harnett Corboy (August 12, 1924 – June 12, 2012) was an American trial lawyer who was involved in personal injury, wrongful death and medical malpractice cases across the United States for more than half a century. He founded the Philip H. Corboy & Associates law firm which later became Corboy & Demetrio. Former Loyola University Chicago School of Law Dean, David Yellen, stated: "There are very few living lawyers who have had the kind of impact Phil Corboy has. He largely transformed the practice of personal injury law. He was a teacher and mentor to a couple of generations of leading lawyers in the country."Loyola University Chicago (LUC) archived His career was featured in a cover article in Chicago Lawyer entitled "Corboy College: Chicago Trial Lawyers' Alma Mater"."Corboy College: Chicago's Trial Lawyers' Alma Mater", Bob Yates, Chicago Lawyer, October 2007
Career The National Law Journal listed Corboy as one of the top 100 most influential lawyers in America,"Profiles in Power, The Nation's 100 Most Powerful Lawyers," The National Law Journal, April, 1985 and one of the nation's top 15 trial lawyers;"Winning - 15 of the Nation's Top Trial Lawyers Talk about Their Winning Tips and Techniques", The National Law Journal, April 1985 Chicago Magazine included him in its lists, The Power 100 and Power Lawyers,"The Power 100", Chicago Magazine, January 1998"Power Lawyers", Chicago Magazine, July 1994 and called him one of the 30 toughest lawyers in Chicago."30 Tough Lawyers," James Ylisela, Chicago Magazine, March 2002 Law & Business listed him as one of America's top trial lawyers.America's Top Trial Lawyers, Who They Are & Why They Win, Prentice Hall Law & Business, 1994 He has been in The Best Lawyers in America book since its inception in 1987.The Best Lawyers in America, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, Woodward/White
Corboy wrote more than 100 articles on legal and business topics and has been the subject of news and features in many publications and television shows. He has appeared on 20/20, 60 Minutes, Face the Nation, Nightline with Ted Koppel, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Corboy was a lecturer and panelist at legal, medical and insurance meetings and conventions around the world and profiles have been written about him by the Wall Street Journal,"For the Plaintiff ... Lawyers Specializing in Personal-Injury Suits Find Business is Good," The Wall Street Journal, August, 1972 USA Today,"Fighting for 'the brave,' Personal Injury Lawyer Loves to Take on Deep Pockets," USA Today, December, 1995 Chicago Magazine, and the Chicago Tribune."The Million-Dollar Attorney for the Maimed", Chicago Tribune Magazine, April 1977
Since 1995, the Philip H. Corboy Fellowship in Trial Advocacy program at Loyola University Chicago School of Law has supported and trained law students to become trial lawyers. In 2010, he and his wife, Mary Dempsey, made the largest single gift ever to the Loyola University Chicago School of Law. In recognition, Loyola renamed its law school building the Philip H. Corboy Law Center. In addition to numerous honors from religious organizations, legal associations and publications, Corboy was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law Degree from the John Marshall Law School"In The News", Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, January 28, 2008 and St. Ambrose University.
Later career and boards He was a president of the Chicago Bar Association and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and a former chairman of the Section on Litigation of the American Bar Association. Corboy served as general counsel for the Illinois Democratic Party and has served on the boards of directors of business, legal and charitable groups and as a member of task forces for courts, judicial and medical-related entities. He was also active in national and international associations such as the Inner Circle of Advocates, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, American College of Trial Lawyers, International Society of Barristers, American Board of Trial Advocates, and American Association for Justice.
Death Corboy died at home in Chicago on June 12, 2012, at age 87. He had five children, Phillip Jr., John, Thomas, Joan, and Robert. Joan and Robert predeceased their father.
References
External links Philip H. Corboy Bio