Judge Patrick F. Lustig, a highly respected judge and attorney, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his private mediation practice. With over 40 years of civil litigation experience as both a Judge and practicing attorney, he has established an excellent reputation in the legal community for his knowledge of the law, fairness and ability to help parties resolve disputes that they are unable to resolve on their own.  Since his retirement from the bench, Judge Lustig has developed a reputation for being one of the most effective mediators in the areas of medical malpractice, nursing home negligence and hospital negligence disputes in Chicago.  He has previously been recognized as one of the top mediators in the Midwest in The National Law Journal Best of the Midwest reader survey.

In 2022, Judge Lustig was inducted into the prestigious National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals (NADN).  The NADN is a professional association whose membership consists of ADR professionals distinguished by their hands-on experience in the field of civil and commercial conflict resolution. Membership is by invitation only and all Academy members have been thoroughly reviewed and found to meet stringent practice criteria. Members are amongst the most in-demand neutrals in their respective states, as selected by their peers and approved by local litigators.

Judge Lustig served as an Associate Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County in both the Law and Municipal Divisions in jury trial rooms for 17 years. During his time on the bench he has presided over in excess of 600 jury trials, hundreds of bench trials and thousands of settlement conferences. Because of his reputation as a fair and equitable judge, both plaintiff and defense attorneys would agree to have their cases transferred to him from other judge’s calendars for pre-trial purposes so he could assist them in achieving a successful resolution of their cases. His “big picture” vision and practical approach to dispute resolution made him a “go to judge” for resolution of some of the most difficult and complex cases.

Before becoming a Judge, Judge Lustig was an Equity Partner and trial attorney at a major Chicago law firm for 19 years, where he specialized in medical malpractice, professional malpractice, personal injury, construction and other civil litigation matters. He was also a member of the firm’s Executive, Finance, Compensation and Hiring Committees. Because of Judge Lustig’s extensive experience both on the bench and as a private attorney, he has a unique perspective and appreciation for the intricacies of successfully resolving disputes. He is mindful of the costs, both financial and personal, as well as the stress that litigation can cause to all parties involved. His practical, common sense approach and calm, relaxed demeanor, makes parties comfortable in an environment that they are frequently unfamiliar with and assists in bringing matters to a successful resolution. Judge Lustig is known for his patience and persistence in getting matters resolved. His depth and breadth of experience in the law provide a solid foundation for his work as a mediator and arbitrator at Resolute.