Charles graduated from John Marshall Law School and was subsequently appointed an Assistant Attorney General in 1994. He spent the next five years handling complex litigation matters in both federal and state courts. His specialty was defending civil rights lawsuits brought by incarcerated felons and represented by federally appointed ‘brown-shoe’ law firms. Although, at such an early point in his career, he was trying cases against some of the most renown and accomplished trial lawyers in Chicago, Charles won every case he litigated. When he wasn’t on trial, Charles was what was called a ‘fireman’. Meaning that he was called upon to handle many of the most potentially explosive motions and court appearances across the state. Charles argued successfully on behalf of his clients in more than 15 counties and federal districts across Illinois.

By 1999, Charles had developed a reputation as a trial lawyer that the private sector couldn’t ignore. He was sought out and given offers to leave public service, ultimately spending an eternity working for one year on the side of the insurance defense industry before finding his true calling as a plaintiff’s lawyer. In 2000 Charles joined a very well respected and accomplished solo practitioner and spent the next seven years under the direct tutelage of a consummate trial attorney. He handled all aspects of their cases, from the discovery phase to trial to appellate arguments.

In 2007, Charles joined the Morici, Figlioli & Associates family and has thrived in the courtroom on behalf of our clients. Charles has settled cases well in excess of seven figures on behalf of our clients, but his true talents lie in the courtroom. One example is a trial that Charles orchestrated on behalf of an injured iron worker during which the insurance carrier raised their monetary offer each day at the conclusion of testimony until the iron worker could no longer resist the amount of money and settled. Adversaries who haven’t been prescient enough to offer acceptable settlements to Charles’ clients have regretted it. Such as the defendant general contractor who just lost their appeal of Charles’ $1.8m verdict for a mason who fell from his own scaffolding and injured his back.

As one judge opined of Charles’ ability after presiding over a two week trial, ‘he has an innate ability in the courtroom, you can’t teach what he does.’ Charles believes deeply that with such an ability comes a tremendous responsibility to work as hard as possible to advocate on behalf of his clients. In less than fifteen years of practice, Charles has already played an integral role in amassing more than $40 million in verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients.

Charles grew up in Rock Island, Illinois, where his father has practiced law for more than 50 years. Charles’ wife, Ashley, is also an attorney and in their free time they enjoy caring for their animals and working for numerous animal charities. They insist on making time to travel, but are admittedly too lax about making time for tennis and other exercises they enjoy.