Thomas A. Demetrio, co-founding partner of the legendary law firm Corboy & Demetrio, is a nationally renowned trial lawyer. Demetrio received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and law degree from IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law. A proud U.S. Veteran, Demetrio served in the Army Reserve for six years.
One of his early milestones was acquiring the first 8-figure compensatory verdict in Illinois. Demetrio has since acquired well over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements. All of his verdicts have been paid, and he has never lost an appeal.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2026 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers | 2025 | Global Plaintiff, inc. Aviation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers | 2025 | Aviation Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers | 2024 | Global Plaintiff, inc. Aviation |
| The 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers | 2024 | Aviation Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability |
| The 2023 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers | 2023 | Aviation Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability |
| The 2022 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers | 2022 | Aviation Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability |
| The 2021 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers | 2021 | Aviation Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability |
| The 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2020 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| The 2020 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers | 2020 | Aviation Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability |
| The 2019 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2019 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers | 2019 | Aviation Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Product Liability |
| The 2018 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2018 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| The 2017 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2017 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| The 2016 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America | 2016 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| The 2014-15 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers | 2014-2015 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| The 2013 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers | 2013 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| The 2012 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers | 2012 | Plaintiff Litigation, Aviation |
| Legends of the 500 | 2015 | |
| Announcing the 2021 Inductees to the Lawdragon 500 Hall of Fame | 2021 |
For over 30 years, Demetrio has been an elected Fellow of: The International Academy of Trial Lawyers (top 500 in the U.S.), American College of Trial Lawyers (top 1% in the U.S.), and the Inner Circle of Advocates (top 100 in the U.S.).
A leader of the bar, Demetrio has served as President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the 22,000-member Chicago Bar Association. He is an internationally sought after lecturer on trial techniques and advocacy skills and has authored more than 60 professional articles.
Demetrio served on the Board of Advisors of IIT-Chicago Kent College of Law from 1992-2024, which included serving as its long-time Chairman. He has been President of its Alumni Association and has been honored by being named as one of its 125 Alumni of Distinction. He is a recipient of its Alumni Merit Award, Professional Achievement Award, and Distinguished Service Award.
Demetrio currently serves on the boards of the Center for Disability & Elder Law and Big Shoulders-Archdiocese of Chicago. He has previously served on the boards of: Illinois Institute of Technology; St. Ignatius College Prep; Mundelein Seminar; Notre Dame Law School; Dispute Resolution Research Center of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University; and the Constitutional Rights Foundation Center.
While Demetrio served as president of the Chicago Bar Association, he wanted to impact the lives of Chicago’s underprivileged children who, he sensed, would greatly benefit from quality mentoring. The Thomas A. Demetrio Award of Excellence was thus created recognizing the efforts of exceptional tutor/mentoring programs in Chicago communities. In 1995, with Demetrio’s inspiration, guidance, and support, the CBA and Chicago Bar Foundation created the Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth program, which continues to thrive today. In addition to the annual Demetrio Award, it has granted over $1.6 million to mentoring programs for underprivileged youth in the Chicago Area.
