Overview

Fortune 500 and other market-leading businesses turn to the elite trial teams and C-Suite advisors of Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP (RSHC) to handle their most pressing challenges.

Noted by the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards as “a true diversity and inclusion pioneer for the profession,” the firm draws from its authentic diversity to assemble bespoke teams for each engagement, incorporating multiple perspectives to craft legal strategies and deliver business insights that create success in both the courtroom and boardroom. RSHC attorneys are united by a culture of excellence that is relentlessly client-focused, dynamically innovative, and passionately committed to winning.

Our lawyers are regularly retained to resolve some of the most challenging, complex, and high-stakes legal issues that our clients face. Our litigators handle the full range of investigation and advocacy, from whistleblower allegations to government investigations, from pre-litigation demands to full-blown multi-district litigation, and from discrete internal disputes to substantial and public corporate crises.

Our transactional attorneys are called on by clients to structure and negotiate sophisticated transactions. Whether it is a syndicated construction financing, an airport concessions joint venture, a private equity acquisition, or an asset disposition, our deal attorneys have closed significant transactions across the nation.

Our trial lawyers have tried hundreds of civil and criminal cases to verdicts in state and federal courts across more than two dozen states. Our class actions team has defended against complex claims in more than 30 states. Our appellate lawyers have appeared in most federal Courts of Appeal and the United States Supreme Court.

We have deep and broad experience dealing with government at many levels. Our lawyers have served as Assistant United States Attorneys and others have experience as state court prosecutors. One was an Illinois state judge. Another was First Deputy Chief of Staff and Public Safety for the City of Chicago. Another served as General Counsel to the Governor of Illinois, and Deputy Corporation Counsel in charge of all City of Chicago litigation. We have judiciously exercised the power of the government, and we have defended our clients against it.

All our attorneys see themselves as counselors to their clients. Several served in top roles in the legal departments of household name companies, handling the panoply of matters that confront 21st century business: governance, regulatory, risk, expansion, competition, employment, compliance, intellectual property, transaction, and securities issues. We are skilled at dealing with the press. We have balanced the competing constituencies that our clients serve: customers, employees, investors, and regulators. We know how to help our clients get to the other side of a crisis. We also know that the best lawsuit is the one that is never filed.

Our Principles

· We excel at what we do
· We deliver value to our clients, as they measure value
· We provide exceptional service
· We are diverse and inclusive
· We perform exemplary pro bono service
· We care about our clients and each other

By putting clients at the center of our mission, by aligning our interests with theirs, and by building processes that allow us to fulfill our promises, we hope to earn and maintain the trust of our clients, every day, on every matter.

Our Approach

We listen and we learn. We dedicate our time, energy, and resources to devise creative and effective solutions that will meet the immediate and long-term goals of our clients, wherever and whenever those needs arise.

We pride ourselves on our innovative fee arrangements, which are designed to align our interests with those of our clients and to put the emphasis on efficiency and results.

We believe that lawyers from different backgrounds provide a better perspective on the problems our clients face. Simply put, we believe that the more diverse our teams, the more value we produce for our clients.

We work in a climate that emphasizes collaboration and teamwork. Everyone at our firm makes a contribution to our clients. We genuinely enjoy working together and partnering with our clients.

Our Lawyers

Our attorneys serve as trusted advisors to clients whom we have served for decades, counseling them on a broad range of strategic decisions. We have experience handling complex and demanding litigation, from major class actions and trial consolidations to individual matters, where the outcome can determine the direction and long-term prospects of their businesses. We counsel clients on developing and coordinating nationwide litigation strategy. We have conducted complex and multi-pronged internal investigations and responded to dozens of regulators’ inquiries. We structure and negotiate complex business transactions. We manage clients’ transactional needs across a range of services, including real estate and leasing, and providing strategic business counsel.

Our attorneys serve as trusted advisors to our clients, some of whom we have served for decades, counseling them on a broad range of strategic decisions.

Our Services

RSHC lawyers have established national recognition and exceptional records in a diverse array of practice areas such as:

· Class Actions
· White Collar Defense, Investigations & Compliance
· Product Liability & Mass Torts
· Commercial Disputes & Litigation
· Energy & Utilities
· Environmental Litigation
· Appellate Practice
· Aerospace & Aviation
· Antitrust & Competition
· Intellectual Property
· Insurance Litigation
· Education
· Animal Law
· Blockchain & Cryptocurrency
· Labor & Employment
· Financial Services Litigation
· Connected and Autonomous Vehicles & Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
· Risk, Reputation & Crisis Management
· Pro Bono Engagements
· Business Transactions
· Compliance Program Counseling, Design & Assessment

Size:
99
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Practice Areas:
35
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Best Lawyers Recognized:
23

Rankings

National

Tier
1
National Ranking
Appellate Practice
Tier
1
National Ranking
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Tier
2
National Ranking
Commercial Litigation
Tier
2
National Ranking
Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Regional

Ann Arbor

Tier
1
Ann Arbor
Antitrust Law
Tier
1
Ann Arbor
Litigation - Antitrust
Tier
3
Ann Arbor
Commercial Litigation

Chicago

Tier
1
Chicago
Appellate Practice
Tier
1
Chicago
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier
1
Chicago
Commercial Litigation

About Our Clients

We represent companies, organizations, and individuals who need sophisticated legal help. Our client list ranges from some of the largest multinational corporations and publicly traded companies in the world—including a number of the Fortune 100—to small privately held companies and private individuals. What they have in common is a need for lawyers who personally focus intensely on their problems and craft timely, cost-effective solutions that achieve the results they desire.

Rankings

National

Tier
1
National Ranking
Appellate Practice
Tier
1
National Ranking
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Tier
2
National Ranking
Commercial Litigation
Tier
2
National Ranking
Criminal Defense: White-Collar

Regional

Ann Arbor

Tier
1
Ann Arbor
Antitrust Law
Tier
1
Ann Arbor
Litigation - Antitrust
Tier
3
Ann Arbor
Commercial Litigation

Chicago

Tier
1
Chicago
Appellate Practice
Tier
1
Chicago
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Tier
1
Chicago
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
Chicago
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Tier
1
Chicago
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Tier
1
Chicago
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Tier
2
Chicago
Employment Law - Management
Tier
3
Chicago
Real Estate Law

New York City

Tier
2
New York City
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Orange County

Tier
3
Orange County
Commercial Litigation

San Francisco

Tier
1
San Francisco
Commercial Litigation
Tier
1
San Francisco
Product Liability Litigation - Defendants

Practice Areas

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP has been ranked by Best Law Firms for excellence in 10 specialties, reflecting the firm's commitment to delivering outstanding legal services.
Additionally, the firm provides services in these practice areas:
  • Animal Law
  • Antitrust Law
  • Appellate Practice
  • Aviation Law
  • Bet-the-Company Litigation
  • Cannabis Law
  • Commercial Finance Law
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Corporate Compliance Law
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Education Law
  • Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law
  • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Insurance Law
  • Intellectual Property Law
  • Litigation - Antitrust
  • Litigation - Banking and Finance
  • Litigation - Construction
  • Litigation - Environmental
  • Litigation - Health Care
  • Litigation - Insurance
  • Litigation - Intellectual Property
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
  • Litigation - Patent
  • Litigation - Real Estate
  • Litigation - Securities
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
  • Patent Law
  • Privacy and Data Security Law
  • Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
  • Project Finance Law
  • Real Estate Law
  • Sports Law
  • Trade Secrets Law

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP proudly has 23 lawyers recognized for their outstanding professional performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. This peer-reviewed honor highlights individual excellence and directly qualifies the firm for consideration in the prestigious Best Law Firms rankings. For over four decades, Best Lawyers has been the gold standard for recognizing top legal talent, serving as the cornerstone for Best Law Firms awards. Learn more about our rigorous Best Lawyers research and selection process.
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Client Comments

A strong relationship between a client and their law firm is key to achieving the best possible outcomes. Open communication, trust, and collaboration ensure that attorneys understand each client’s unique goals and needs. Choosing the right firm means finding a team with the experience, knowledge, and dedication to guide you through every stage of the legal process.
Client comments reflect personal opinions and individual experiences. Every case is different, and outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances. Past results and testimonials do not guarantee similar outcomes in future matters. For personalized legal advice, consult directly with an experienced attorney who can evaluate your specific situation and provide tailored guidance.
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Best Law Firms Insights

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A Lawyer's Guide to Negotiation
Eight negotiation insights inspired by Shakespeare.
A Lawyer's Guide to Negotiation

Awards

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP is honored to be recognized for excellence by Best Law Firms and other leading legal industry organizations. Our rankings and awards reflect the dedication, skill, and results our attorneys deliver across a wide range of practice areas. In addition to our Best Law Firms awards, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP has earned accolades from respected national and regional publications for outstanding legal service and professional achievement. Explore our awards below to learn more about how Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP continues to set the standard for quality legal representation.
Named Pro Bono Leader by Law360 (2022)
Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization Diversity Partnership Award (2023)
BTI Consulting Class Action Leader (2024); Leader in Litigation (2024); Client Service A-Team Top 100 List (2023-2024); Leader in Cost Control (2024); Midsize Client Service Masters (2022)
RSHC is named a National Tier 1 firm in Appellate Practice and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and National Tier 3 Firm in Commercial Litigation and Criminal Defense: White-Collar by Best Lawyers® for the 2024 Edition
RSHC is named a Metropolitan Tier 1 and Tier 2 Firm in Ann Arbor, Chicago, and San Francisco in nine practice areas by Best Lawyers® for the 2024 Edition of "Best Law Firms."
Chambers USA Awards 2023, Diversity & Inclusion: Outstanding Contribution – Patricia Brown Holmes and Finalist Chambers USA Awards, Diversity & Inclusion: Outstanding Firm (2023, 2021)
Commitment & Investment Award from The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms (2023, 2021) and Delivering Diversity Award from The Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms (2022)
RSHC Named to Exelon DEI Honor Roll (2021-2022)
RSHC Selected as 2022 McDonald's EMPOWER Award Winner
Law360 Ranked Top 10 for Most Diverse Attorney Workforce Nationwide (2018-2022); Top 10 for Most Diverse Equity Partnership (2020-2024); Top 100 Social Impact Leader (2023)
RSHC Ranked a Vault Top 150 Under 150 (2021-2025)

Offices & Contacts

Chicago, IL
1 South Dearborn Street, Suite 2200
Chicago, IL 60603
United States
San Francisco, CA
New York, NY
Ann Arbor, MI
2723 South State Street, Suite 150
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
United States
Irvine, CA
100 Spectrum Center Drive, Suite 650
Irvine, CA 92618
United States
Therese Squillo
Director of Marketing, Events & Social Media
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