OVERVIEW
Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, P.C. (“Heyl Royster”) is a regional Midwest law firm with more than 100 lawyers, and offices in Peoria, Chicago, Edwardsville, Rockford, Springfield and Urbana, Illinois. The firm provides legal services for businesses and corporations, professionals, healthcare organizations, governmental entities, universities, insurance carriers and other major institutions. Our lawyers have successfully defended clients in state, federal and appellate courts, and before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commissions, throughout Illinois, as well as in Missouri and Wisconsin. Our attorneys also counsel clients on commercial transactions and all aspects of business life. Through our lawyers’ participation in bar and industry activities, we identify and help develop trends in the law which we believe will be of benefit to our clients.
History of the Firm
Our firm began in 1910 when Clarence W. Heyl opened his law practice in Peoria, Illinois. Clarence quickly established a reputation as one of the premier trial lawyers in downstate Illinois. Although he handled many types of cases, Clarence built a strong practice in the field of insurance defense. Clarence also earned respect for his ethics and professionalism, eventually being honored as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and with election as President of the Illinois State Bar Association.
A large number of associates worked in Clarence’s practice. One of these was Clarence’s son-in-law, John H. Royster. John’s specialty was transactional practice, which meshed well with the already existing trial practice of the firm. John became a partner and grew the firm’s practice in areas of corporate, real estate, probate, and trust law, until his retirement.
Just after World War II, William J. Voelker, Jr. joined the firm, and in 1948, the firm of Heyl, Royster & Voelker was established. Bill was an outstanding trial lawyer and later took over management of the firm. Bill was elected President of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel in 1970, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education in 1973-77, and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Lyle W. Allen joined the firm in 1951. Lyle had a broad practice and was one of the first lawyers in downstate Illinois to represent doctors in malpractice cases, gaining a particularly fine reputation in that field. In 1962, the firm changed its name to Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen. Lyle was elected President of the Illinois State Bar Association in 1972-73, and was a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
The expansion of our firm has been continuous since the early 1970’s. Starting with the opening of the Springfield office in 1970, the firm opened offices in Urbana, Rockford, Edwardsville, and Chicago. During this period, the number of lawyers in the firm grew substantially, as did the areas in which our firm regularly practices.
Today Heyl Royster has more than 100 lawyers and represents clients in all 102 counties in Illinois as well as in Missouri and Wisconsin. We have a national reputation in litigation, and a strong and growing transactional practice. Our lawyers are routinely rated as among the best in Illinois in their fields of practice and several have been elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers and College of Workers Compensation Lawyers. We remain active and prominent in professional organizations. Three of our lawyers have served as President of the Illinois State Bar Association and four of our lawyers have served as President of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel. Our lawyers have also served as President of national defense organizations FDCC, ADTA, IADC, and Lawyers for Civil Justice as well as officers and Board members for numerous other professional organization.
From 1910 until today, our philosophy remains the same as Mr. Heyl’s – to put the needs of our clients first and to represent our clients efficiently and effectively.
Practices
Agribusiness
Appellate Advocacy
Arson, Fraud and First-Party Property Claims
Business and Commercial Litigation
Business and Corporate Organizations
Cannabis Business & Law
Casualty/Tort Litigation
Civil Rights Litigation/Section 1983
Class Actions/Mass Tort
Construction
Creditors’ Rights and Bankruptcy
Drone Law
Education
Elder Law
Employment & Labor
Environmental Law
Estate, Wealth and Succession Planning
Government Contracts
Governmental
Healthcare
Insurance Coverage
Liquor Liability/Dramshop
Long Term Care/Nursing Homes
Mediation Services/Alternative Dispute Resolution
Military Law
Not-for-Profit Organizations
Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices
Product Liability
Professional Liability
– Medical Malpractice Defense
– Legal Malpractice Defense
– Accountant and Realtor Malpractice
– Design Professionals Litigation
Professional Regulation/Licensure
Qui Tam (Whistleblower)
Railroad Litigation
Real Estate and Title Services
Religious/Clergy
Toxic Torts & Asbestos
Trucking
– Litigation
– Workers’ Compensation
– Employment & Labor
Trusts and Probate
Utilities
Workers’ Compensation