Thomas R. Rakowski

Justice Rakowski transitioned to private dispute resolution after a distinguished thirty-year tenure within the Illinois judiciary. His career includes serving as a Justice on the Illinois Appellate Court for over a decade, where he also held a position on the Industrial Commission Division. Prior to his appellate work, he served as a judge in the Cook County Circuit Court's Law Division and Criminal Division. Since entering private practice, he has presided over more than 1,000 mediations and 100 arbitrations, specializing in complex multi-party disputes and high-stakes commercial litigation.

Justice Rakowski offers a unique judicial perspective derived from decades on the bench, making him particularly effective for neutral evaluations and appellate-level mediations.

One of the few neutrals with extensive experience as both a trial judge and an appellate justice, including specialized expertise in workers' compensation through the Industrial Commission Division.

He is recognized by legal professionals for his analytical rigor and his ability to navigate the complexities of appellate review and multi-party commercial settlements.