Ernesto Rafael Palomo

Ernesto represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of business disputes, including civil RICO, antitrust, fraud, copyright infringement, interference with contractual relations, unfair competition, and theft of trade secrets. He is also well-versed in securing emergency equitable remedies, such as temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions.

Ernesto’s clients include insurers, reinsurers, and large corporations. He serves as a key strategic advisor for insurers and their national coordinating counsel regarding personal injury asbestos and environmental pollution litigation throughout the U.S. He handles disputes in the life reinsurance and property and casualty reinsurance and direct insurance market.

• Obtained a federal court ruling appointing a Rule 53 monitor against the Cook County Clerk’s office after a bench trial. The ruling is part of the firm’s ongoing enforcement of the Shakman consent decrees prohibiting state and local governments from discriminating against employees and job applicants on the basis of their political affiliation.
• Obtained a Seventh Circuit ruling affirming a summary judgment opinion holding that certain claims brought by the assignee of an insolvent cedent’s reinsurance receivables were time-barred.
• Obtained an order from a federal district court judge holding that a South American reinsurer was immune from the security requirements of the Illinois Insurance Code under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.
• Obtained an order from a federal district court judge holding that the purported assignee of several reinsurance contracts lacked standing to compel arbitration.
• Obtained a panel order granting summary disposition in favor of a life reinsurer on a retrocessionaire’s misrepresentation and breach of “minimum cessions” provision claims.
• Obtained an order from a state court judge dismissing claims against an insurance company under the Illinois Trade Secrets Act.
• Represented a life reinsurance company in an arbitration hearing regarding YRT Treaty rate increases.
• Obtained a panel order granting reformation of a life reinsurance treaty and damages for breach of contract.

• Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois, Latino Lawyer of the Year (2024)
• Crain’s Chicago Business, Notable Leader in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (2021-2023)
• Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization, Legal Eagle Award (2021)
• Insurance Business America, 5-Star Insurance Lawyer Award (2021)
• Hispanic National Bar Association, Latino Attorney of the Year (2019)
• Crain’s Chicago Business, Notable Minorities in Law (2019)
• Negocios Now, Who’s Who in Hispanic Chicago (2019)