Scott W. Berends
Legal Experience
Mr. Berends concentrates his practice primarily on civil litigation with an emphasis on insurance coverage, breach of contract and construction litigation. He has represented parties ranging from multi-million dollar international corporations to individuals. Mr. Berends has an outstanding record as a trial attorney and litigator. He has defeated over twenty million dollars in claims against his clients and has obtained over fifteen million dollars in judgments on behalf of clients. Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Berends has both prosecuted and defended lawsuits in alternative dispute resolution forums including the American Arbitration Association, Court Annexed Arbitration, Mediation and in other alternative dispute resolution forums. In addition to his courtroom experience, Mr. Berends has prepared or argued appeals before the Illinois Appellate Court for the First, Second and Third Districts and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Representative Cases
Hastings Mutual Insurance Company v. Focus Construction, et al
Represented a property and casualty company in a declaratory judgment action seeking a declaration of no coverage for a purported additional insured. Defeated multiple tenders by the purported insured and successfully argued summary judgment in favor of the insurer.
Chap Farms II, LLC v. CSWS, LLC et al.
Represented the majority owners of a limited liability company in several lawsuits brought by a disgruntled member.
Thornbrook, Inc. v. Rivercross
Represented investment company sued by multiple investors alleging fraud and breach of fiduciary duty. Following voluminous discovery and depositions, obtained summary judgment on behalf of the defendants.
SDI, Inc. v. Fred Chamanara
Represented company suing its landlord to enforce an option to purchase property. Obtained a verdict for the plaintiff following a nine-day trial involving multiple valuation experts and testimony from numerous witnesses.
Education
In 2003, Mr. Berends earned his Juris Doctor cum laude from the University of Illinois College of Law where he was repeatedly on the Dean’s List and was designated a Harno Scholar, an honor bestowed on the top ten percent of the students in a given semester. Mr. Berends earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy and Political Science from Illinois State University in 1999.
Corporate and Business Matters
In addition to his litigation experience, Mr. Berends also routinely represents individuals and companies with matters concerning corporate formation and governance. Mr. Berends has assisted in the formation of corporations throughout the United States and continues to assist corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships with the corporate governance matters.
Professional Memberships
Mr. Berends is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Admitted to Practice
Mr. Berends is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
When it matters most, experience counts
With nearly a century of combined trial litigation experience, Busse & Busse, P.C. has a long history of obtaining optimal results for our clients. Click on the profile links below for more information about our exceptional attorneys.