William P. Schmitz, Jr.

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Attorney

William P. Schmitz, Jr. joined Kanoski Bresney after spending approximately a decade representing injured clients throughout Illinois. His practice has focused heavily on personal injury and workers' compensation matters, and he has represented hundreds of clients seeking financial recovery for injuries caused by accidents and other forms of negligence.

Before joining Kanoski Bresney, William served as a Senior Associate Attorney with Malman Law Offices, where he handled cases from inception through resolution. His responsibilities included client intake, investigations, evidence collection, motions, settlement negotiations, depositions, pretrial hearings, arbitration, trial, and appeals. William regularly managed a substantial caseload while continuing to provide clients with direct guidance throughout the legal process. He also helped spearhead the development and opening of the firm's satellite offices in Rockford and Champaign.

During his tenure with Malman Law, William obtained favorable resolutions in hundreds of cases. In 2024 alone, he secured more than $4 million in total compensation for clients, and he obtained at least $8 million in total compensation during his time with the firm. Prior to joining Malman Law, William practiced with Spiros Law, P.C., where he represented clients in personal injury and workers' compensation cases and averaged more than 70 favorable resolutions annually beginning in 2017.

William earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 2016. While in law school, he served as Managing Internet Editor of the University of Illinois Law Review, received the CALI Award for earning the highest grade in Illinois Constitutional Law, and was awarded a merit-based scholarship. He also gained legal experience with the Champaign County State's Attorney's Office, the Illinois State Senate, and Frederick & Hagle.

William has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star annually from 2022 through 2026. He has also earned a 10.0 Avvo Rating and received the Avvo Clients' Choice Award annually from 2018 through 2025. His legal scholarship includes publications addressing personal injury recovery in cases involving insurance company insolvency and the constitutionality of legislative "kill switches."

Areas of Practice

• Workers' Compensation Law
• Personal Injury
• Civil Litigation

Education

• University of Illinois College of Law, Champaign, IL
  • J.D. - 2016
  • Cum Laude
  • University of Illinois Law Review, Managing Internet Editor, 2015 – 2016
  • CALI Award for Highest Grade in Illinois Constitutional Law, 2015
  • Merit-Based Scholarship, 2013 – 2016
• University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Iowa City, IA
  • B.A. - 2013
  • Major: Political Science
  • Minor: Economics
  • Dean's List, Six Semesters
  • National Scholar's Award, All Four Years
  • Sigma Chi Fraternity, Executive Board Member, 2010 – 2012

Honors and Awards

• Super Lawyers Rising Stars, 2022 – 2026
• 10.0 Avvo Rating
• Avvo Clients' Choice Award, 2018 – 2025

Publications

• Recovering for Your P.I. Client Despite Insurance Company Insolvency, 106 Ill. B.J. 32 (2018)
• A Fix for the Smartphone Glitch: Consumer Protection by Way of Legislative "Kill Switch", 1 U. Ill. L. Rev. 285 (2016)

Relevant Past Employment Positions

• Malman Law Offices – Chicago, Rockford, and Champaign, IL
  • October 2020 – July 2026
  • Senior Associate Attorney
• Spiros Law, P.C. – Champaign, Danville, and Kankakee, IL
  • August 2016 – September 2020
  • Associate Attorney
• Champaign County State's Attorney's Office – Champaign County, IL
  • September 2015 – May 2016
  • Rule 7-11 Legal Intern
• Illinois State Senate – Springfield, IL
  • January 2016 – May 2016
  • Legal Intern – Legislative Research & Support
• Frederick & Hagle – Urbana, IL
  • August 2014 – September 2015
  • Law Clerk