Melvin Brooks

In 2018, Mr. Brooks was selected by Leading Lawyers in the areas of personal injury law and civil rights litigation. From 2013 through 2018, Mr. Brooks was selected to the Illinois Super Lawyers list in the area of personal injury law. Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is an exclusive, unbiased rating service of outstanding attorneys from business and consumer practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The honor is limited to no more than 5% of the attorneys in the State of Illinois who have distinguished themselves and demonstrated excellence in the practice of law. In 2015 and 2017-2018, Brooks was selected among the Nation's Top One Percent by the National Asociation of Distinguished Counsel.  During the years 2008-2009, he was selected by the American Trial Lawyers Association as one of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers."  As an advocate of victims' rights, Mr. Brooks has been successful in obtaining verdicts and settlements for his clients in excess of $45 million dollars.  

Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Brooks began his legal career on the south side of Chicago where he joined the Law Office of Benjamin E. Starks. In 1986, he furthered his litigation skills at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office representing indigent clients.  After serving for several years in the Felony Trial Division, in 1991, Mr. Brooks made a transition from criminal practice to civil litigation when he joined the City of Chicago Law Department.  While at the City, he quickly moved through the ranks holding the position of Assistant Corporation Counsel, Chief Assistant and then the position of Deputy Corporation Counsel. 

Prior to taking on the role of Managing Partner for The Cochran Firm Chicago, Mr. Brooks was partnered with the firm of Cochran, Cherry, Givens, Smith, & Montgomery, and formerly associated with the personal injury firm of Costello, McMahon & Burke, Ltd., handling cases involving construction negligence, police misconduct, products liability and medical negligence.