About Joseph
Known both as a gifted leader and a consummate team player, Joe Cancila is a highly regarded, experienced, and tenacious litigator who has dedicated his career to defending clients in complex commercial class actions. He is a creative strategist, thorough investigator, and effective communicator—all qualities that make him a worthy adversary in and out of the courtroom. And as the leader of many practice teams, he has mastered the art of working collaboratively with co-counsel to best advance client interests and analyze and successfully resolve challenging and complicated legal problemsJoe has received national and state recognition for his defense practice, having brought several dozen class-action cases to successful resolution in jurisdictions widely dispersed throughout the country. He has successfully defended breach of contract, consumer fraud, complex commercial, antitrust, insurance bad faith, RICO, fair housing, trade secret, and environmental litigation, among others.
Joe has received national and state recognition for his defense practice, having brought several dozen class-action cases to successful resolution in jurisdictions widely dispersed throughout the country. He has successfully defended breach of contract, consumer fraud, complex commercial, antitrust, insurance bad faith, RICO, fair housing, trade secret, and environmental litigation, among others.
Practice Areas
Case History
Professional Affiliations
Awards & Recognition
- Lawyer of the Year: Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Chicago (2026)
- Lawyer of the Year: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Chicago (2024)
- Lawyer of the Year: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Chicago (2021)
- Recognized: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
- Recognized: Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Practice Area: Appellate Practice
- Practice Area: Arbitration
- Practice Area: Commercial Litigation
- Practice Area: Insurance Law
- Practice Area: Litigation - Environmental
- Practice Area: Mediation
- Practice Area: Product Liability Litigation
- Client Service All-Star (MVP)BTI Consulting Group (2020, 2022-2024)
- Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in AmericaLawdragon Inc. (2023-2025)
- Illinois Super LawyersThomson Reuters (2008-2025)