John Chen is a commercial litigator.  Before forming Chen Nelson Roberts Ltd. (and its predecessor firm Chen Nelson Ltd.), John was a partner at the law firm of Piper Rudnick and its predecessor firm, Rudnick & Wolfe, where he was a member of the litigation department.  John practices in a number of different areas including: real estate litigation; trade secret litigation; environmental litigation; insurance and reinsurance litigation; class action defense; professional liability litigation; and business disputes.   John is a trial lawyer.  He has successfully tried a number of cases to verdict in state and federal court, and has received favorable rulings in arbitration.   John also is an adjunct professor at the Northwestern University School of Law where he teaches trial advocacy.  In 1997, John received the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award.  John graduated from the University of Illinois College Of Law (J.D. magna cum laude) in 1986 and the University of Illinois College of Commerce and Business Administration (B.S. high honors, Distinction in Economics) in 1983.