Geoffrey J. Repo

Geoffrey Repo is a Partner in the Chicago office of GRSM and a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice and Insurance Groups.  With over 20 years of experience handling complex litigation matters throughout the United States, as well as other business and contractual disputes, Geoffrey is a trusted litigation advisor to businesses of all sizes ranging from sole proprietors to Fortune 500 Companies.  

Commercial Litigation

Geoffrey has extensive trial, appellate, mediation and arbitration experience in a broad range of commercial matters, including toxic tort, corporate management, product liability, environmental, premises, errors and omissions, professional liability, general liability and healthcare litigation. He also represents clients in class action, business, and other commercial matters, such as shareholder disputes, misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud and other business tort claims. Geoffrey also has experience in defending employment claims, including claims alleging retaliatory discharge and wrongful termination.

Insurance Litigation and Counseling 

Geoffrey is frequently retained to represent insurers in complex coverage disputes across the country.  He has extensive experience representing insurers in the areas of long-tail property and bodily injury liability claims, errors and omissions, director and officer liability, professional liability and other specialty and personal lines claims. He regularly counsels domestic insurers, specifically agents and brokers, with respect to coverage evaluation and litigation, claim practices, and has also helped drafted policy language for cyber liability policies issued by a Fortune 500 insurer.    

Bad Faith/Extra Contractual Litigation and Counseling

Geoffrey is often retained to handle disputes involving bad faith/extra contractual claims. He is a frequent presenter on bad faith topics, and has litigated bad faith claims in jurisdictions across the nation.

Background

Geoffrey grew up in Toronto, Canada and moved to Los Angeles in 1984. He received his undergraduate degree from UCLA (95), graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.  He received his Juris Doctorate from Boston University School of Law (99).  Geoffrey moved to Chicago in 1999 and lives there with his wife and two daughters.  He is avid hockey fan, runner, skier, hiker and a former professional musician.  

Admissions

• Illinois
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Central and Northern Districts of Illinois 
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Memberships

• State Bar of Illinois
• Chicago Bar Association
• American Bar Association

• Obtained summary judgment and successfully opposed cross-motion for summary judgment regarding the number of occurrences, and claims asserting waiver and estoppel, with respect to numerous bodily injury claims brought against insured. United Conveyor Corporation v. The Travelers Indemnity Co., et al., Case No. 2012 CH 30321, Slip. Op. (Cir. Ct. Cook Cty. Jan. 25, 2016).  The decision was affirmed by the Illinois Appellate Court, First District.

• Won fee petition in excess of $215,000 for several local businesses who successfully invalidated an administrative rule made by local administrative board.

• Obtained summary judgment with respect to claim for environmental contamination caused by a leaking methanol pipeline. The decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit.  Martin K. Eby Construction Co., Inc. v. OneBeacon Ins. Co., et al., 926 F. Supp. 2d 1237 (2013) (aff’d 777 F.3d 1132 (10th Cir. 2015)).

• Obtained temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in connection with a license revocation proceeding against a local business. 

• Obtained summary judgment with respect to an insurance coverage claim for environmental contamination associated with the insured’s former manufacturing operations. The decision was affirmed by the Supreme Court Appellate Division, Fourth Department.  Travelers Cas. and Surety Co., et al. v. Corning Inc., et al., Index No. 97801, Slip Op. (N.Y. Sup. Ct. July 11, 2014) (aff’d 132 A.D.3d 1285 (N.Y. App. Div. 2015)).

• Not So Fast: The 8 Corners Rule is Not the Final Word on the Duty to Defend in Illinois, Law 360, January 5, 2017. 

• The “Genuine Dispute” Doctrine is Alive and Well in California, New Appleman on Insurance, 2009 Binder.  

• The Day the Music Died, For the Defense, 2003.  

EDUCATION

J.D., Boston University School of Law

B.A., summa cum laude, UCLA, 

• Phi Beta Kappa