(312) 641-0060
[email protected]
Richard Cowen concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial, employment, and trust and estate litigation. He represents both plaintiffs as well as defendants in a wide range of matters at the trial and appellate levels and in arbitration.The majority of Mr. Cowen's representation is on behalf of individuals and small to medium size corporations and partnerships. Some examples of his experience in commercial litigation include:
- Protecting the rights of minority shareholders or partners
- Cases involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, waste or mismanagement
- Breach of contract actions for goods or services rendered, ranging from claims for tens of thousands to over one and a half million dollars
- Breaking deadlocks in corporate or partnership management
Employment disputes is one of the fastest growing areas in current day litigation. Mr. Cowen has the knowledge and experience to counsel clients not only in how to best protect themselves from claims but to aggressively represent the client when claims arise. Mr. Cowen has:- Litigated issues concerning agreements not to compete or disclose trade secrets, both on behalf of employers seeking to enforce these agreements and employees in defeating such claims
- Challenged and defended employment contracts, ranging from independent contractor agreements all the way to high level, executive contracts
- Handled charges of discrimination and wrongful termination before administrative agencies such as the EEOC, Illinois Human Rights Commission and the Department of Labor, and in courtroom litigation in both state and federal court
Mr. Cowen has represented clients in will contests, both in defending and challenging wills. In addition, claims frequently arise against executors, administrators, trustees and others in positions of trust in situations involving a breach of their fiduciary duties. Some of the types of cases that he has litigated include:- Claims against individual and corporate trustees for improper investment or use of trust assets
- Disputes between family members concerning the waste, misuse, or mismanagement of trust funds
- Determining whether joint tenancy accounts are true joint tenancies or only established for "convenience" purposes
Mr. Cowen has also litigated matters on behalf of Townships in Cook County and Lake County, Illinois. These cases have involved issues such as the recovery of monies due the township, suits to define the proper scope of elected officials' duties, and defeating litigation aimed at abolishing township governments.
Mr. Cowen also has extensive background and experience in election law in Illinois. He served on the Illinois State Board of Elections for fifteen years where he was elected chairman and vice-chairman during a consecutive four year period. He is currently a member of the Chicago Board of Elections. In both of these capacities he has acted in an administrative law judge role, ruling on challenges to nominating petitions. In private practice, Mr. Cowen has also litigated election law matters both on behalf of candidates and those objecting to candidates petitions.
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Federal Trial Bar
- Illinois State Board of Elections - former Chairman and Vice Chairman (appointed by the Governor)
- Chicago Board of Elections (appointed by the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County)
