Kenneth C. Apicella

Print Profile

Drost Gilbert Andrew & Apicella LLC

Founding partner Ken Apicella’s practice is concentrated in the areas of insurance coverage disputes, personal injury, employment, and civil litigation.

Since earning his law degree from DePaul University College of Law and being admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1999, Ken has successfully recovered tens of millions of dollars for his clients through settlements and trials. In addition to cases here in Illinois, Ken has gone where his clients need him, handling cases on a pro hac vice basis before the courts in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Iowa, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Washington and Hawaii. Ken Apicella is a member of the Northern District of Illinois’ Trial Bar and has been admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th and 7th Circuits.

He is a current member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association and was elected to the Board of Governors for the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, where he currently serves on the Executive Board as the First Vice President. Ken has earned the designations “Super Lawyer” and “Rising Star” by Thompson Reuters, honors awarded to only 5% of all attorneys nationally based upon professional achievements and a high degree of peer recognition.

In 2009, Ken was selected by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as one of Forty Illinois Attorneys under Forty to Watch. Ken has published articles in peer journals including the Trial Journal of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. He has authored materials and lectured for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and regularly serves as a moderator at NWSBA Continuing Legal Education seminars.

Bar Admissions

• Illinois, 1999
• U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. of Illinois, 1999
• U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. of Illinois, Trial Bar
• U.S. Dist. Court, Northern Dist. of Indiana, 2006
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit, 2006
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, 2006
• United States Supreme Court, 2008
• Admitted on a pro hac vice basis to courts in: Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Iowa, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Washington, and Hawaii.

Education

• DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
• Juris Doctorate – June 1999
• Dean’s List - 1998 & 1999
• Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois
• Bachelor of Science in Political Science – June 1996

Memberships/Associations

• American Association for Justice (past member)
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
• Illinois State Bar Association
• Chicago Bar Association
• DuPage County Bar Association
• Northwest Suburban Bar Association
• Long Range Planning Committee Member (2017-21)
• Mock Trial Co-Chair (2015-present)
• Online CLE Committee Member (2013 –2016)
• Judicial Evaluation Committee Co-Chair (2015-2016, 2018, 2020)
• Judicial Evaluation Committee Member (2011)
• Judges Night Committee Co-Chair (2017-2020)
• Dinner Meeting/Continuing Legal Education Committee Co-Chair (2010 - 2015)
• Attorney Room Committee Member (2018)
• Civil Litigation Committee Co-Chair (2019-2021)
• Membership Committee Member (2021)
• Attorney Referral Service Committee Member (2021)
• Secretary (2018)
• Treasurer (2019)
• Second Vice President (2020)
• First Vice President (2021)
• Board of Governors (2011 - present)
• Executive Committee (2018 - present)
• Suburban Bar Coalition
• Judicial Evaluation Committee Member (2016, 2020-2021)
• DePaul University College of Law Student Bar Association
• Executive Board Member (1998-99)

Appointments

• American Arbitration Association
• Illinois Uninsured Motorists Panel of Arbitrators (2017-present)

Honors & Awards

• Selected by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin as one of the 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch, 2009
• Selected by peers as an Illinois Super Lawyer Rising Star, 2011
• Named a Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers, 2012
• Selected by peers as a Super Lawyer, 2013, 2015-2021
• Elite Lawyer Award in Insurance Coverage, 2020-2021
• NWSBA Golden Apple Award 2021

Publications & Presentations

• Co-author, “Thoughts on Handling Special Interrogatories in Closing Argument,” Trial Journal of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Winter, 2000
• Author & Presenter, “Personal Injury Practice: Emerging Issues for 2010, Damages Update,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, June 23, 2010
• Moderator, “Modern Techniques, Tools, & Equipment for Vehicle Accident Investigation and Reconstruction,” Northwest Suburban Bar Association Joint Civil/Criminal Law CLE, February 23, 2011
• Moderator, “Mobile Device Forensics & Social Media Discovery,” Northwest Suburban Bar Association Winter Dinner Meeting CLE, January 24, 2013
• Moderator, “Professional Responsibility & Strategies for Successful Deponent and Witness Prep,” Northwest Suburban Bar Association Fall Dinner Meeting CLE, November 7, 2013
• Author & Presenter, “Personal Injury Practice Update, Damages Update,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, April 30, 2014
• Author & Presenter, “Damages Update – Trends in Joint/Several Liability, Contribution, Non-Economic Damages, etc.,” Northwest Suburban Bar Association, May 21, 2014
• Moderator, “Ethics Update & Diversity in the Legal Profession and the Impact of Statutory Amendments in the Advancement of Women,” Northwest Suburban Bar Association Fall Dinner Meeting CLE, November 6, 2014
• Author, “How to Handle a Denied Insurance Claim in Illinois,” Daily Herald Business Ledger, September 25, 2014

Languages

• English
• Spanish