Our Team

Upon graduating from SMU Law School, Henry “Skip” Tonigan returned to Waukegan and began his legal career with the law firm of Morrison & Nemanich, a highly regarded litigation law firm, where he focused his career on land use and eminent domain cases. “Skip” earned a reputation as a powerful and fair litigator trying numerous jury trials each year. Within 8 years as a civil litigator, he earned a highly qualified rating from the Lake County Bar Association Civil Committee and was appointed in 1983 as an 19th Circuit Associate Judge.

Judge Tonigan was appointed a Circuit Judge by the Illinois Supreme Court in 1990 and continued to serve in the Felony Division. In 1992 he was elected as a Circuit Judge and became Chief of the Felony Division, still managing a full caseload. In 1998 Judge Tonigan became Chief Judge for Lake and McHenry counties. Thereafter, in 2000 he became Presiding Judge of the Civil Division, where he earned the reputation of effectively settling a variety of difficult cases. Willing to give parties their right to jury trials, in one year he presided over 5 muti-week jury medical malpractice cases.

Upon retirement from the bench in 2007, Judge Tonigan joined “as counsel” the firm of Kelleher & Buckley of Barrington, where he focused his practice in mediation & arbitration, probate and real estate tax appeals. Judge Tonigan also serves as administrative hearing officer for 10 municipalities in Lake and McHenry counties. 

In December 2022, he opened his own office to continue to serve clients and assist with alternative dispute resolution.

Henry “Skip” Tonigan has been involved in the support of Masonic Charities for the past 42 years, having served in positions of leadership in the Scottish Rite Valley of Chicago.  From 2016 to 2022 he served as a Director on the Board of the Lake County Bar Association Foundation.  

An avid golfer, “Skip” recently obtained his 5th hole in one and is planning his 4th trip to Scotland and Ireland, home of the greatest game.

Specialties:

Mediation:

Judge Tonigan is recognized for his services in mediating civil cases, including:

· Personal Injury

· Fire Loss

· Commercial Disputes

· Probate

· Eminent Domain

Plaintiffs and insurance defense attorneys regularly select Judge Tonigan for his legal experience, mediation skills and ultimately, his ability to obtain mutual consensus, saving time and money for all.

Judges in Lake, McHenry and Cook have assigned many cases for mediation to Judge Tonigan. Judge Tonigan has a greater than 85 % success rate in bringing parties to an amicable resolution. He has been a frequent panelist for bar association seminars on alternative dispute resolution.

ARBITRATION:

Each year Judge Tonigan gets selected as the “neutral arbitrator” in many 3 panel arbitration cases for Uninsured or Under-insured personal injury cases.  Judge Tonigan has never served as arbitrator for either plaintiff or defendant, but he has turned down such requests.

Although these matters often resolve pre-hearing, no 3 panel hearing awards conducted by him have been appealed.

Judge Tonigan has also served as a single arbitrator in personal injury cases, which has become more frequent with the advent of Zoom and the changes from COVID. Often these assignments carry with them an undisclosed “high – low” agreement.

Utilizing Judge Tonigan’s experience and knowledge of local jury verdicts, these single arbitration assignments permit parties to obtain a fair result and to avoid costly expert fees, time and uncertainty associated with jury trials.

PROBATE:

Henry “Skip” Tonigan receives regular appointments to serve as Guardian ad litem for disabled adults and children. He has spoken to bar association forums regarding the issues facing adults with the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Judge Tonigan, has also been appointed by Probate Judges as special administrator for unique cases, that can include foreign jurisdictions and real estate. In addition, he has represented adult wards in contested guardianships.

PROPERTY TAX APPEALS:

Judge Tonigan’s vast knowledge of property tax and land use laws, as well as his relationships with recognized appraisers and other experts result in his successful history of property tax appeals. His is married to Rebecca Tonigan, who served as Cuba Township Assessor for 18 years

For the past 15 years, Skip has successfully represented owners of estate, commercial, industrial, office and farm properties in Lake and McHenry counties. For Cook County tax appeals, Skip works as co-counsel with Cook County experts.

Judge Tonigan’s representation and fees in tax appeal matters are based on a contingent basis, so that success is a driving force for you and him. You don’t pay him unless he wins.