When Jeff Kubes and Tom Crisham formed Crisham & Kubes, Ltd. in 2001, a new era in complex civil litigation was born. It was a firm small in size but among the most highly respected in the country for bringing a specialized expertise and appreciation to the intricacies of civil litigation, particularly in the areas of construction law, professional liability and product liability.
In 2009, Jeff and Tom decided to combine their firm with the Schuyler Roche firm to be able to offer a broader spectrum of professional services to their clients. The law firm of Schuyler, Roche & Crisham, P.C. provides professional services to individuals, business entities and owners, including business formation, joint ventures, purchase and sale transactions, finance, tax planning, labor issues, employee benefits, real estate, estate planning, wealth management and all facets of land development — both commercial and residential.
Jeff Kubes has successfully represented numerous design professionals, contractors, and owners on claims involving allegations of design and construction defects, as well as failed projects and other transactional disputes.
Among his vast trial experience, including numerous jury verdicts in Cook County and four collar counties, Jeff Kubes and the defense teams under his guidance have been able to procure decisions at trial that have literally changed how the roles of design professionals are viewed in matters of professional liability.
Prolific author, highly sought-after lecturer and expert litigator, Jeff Kubes and his talented colleagues are proud to continue setting new standards in civil litigation as an integral part of Schuyler, Roche & Crisham, P.C.
PUBLICATIONS
Successfully Avoiding the Courtroom; seminar presented to Illinois Society of Professional Engineers — Annual Conference, Lisle, Illinois, July 22, 2011.
Risk Management and Business Planning Seminar for Design and Construction Professionals - The Administrative Side of the Practice Part VII, conducted for various clients; lectures and papers presented, Oak Brook, Illinois, February 16, 2011.
Illinois Design Professionals Beware - If You Include Duty to Defend Provisions in Your Contracts, You May End Up "Paying" for More Than You Bargained; paper published in Euclid Insurance Agencies Newsletter, July 2010.
Preferred Risk Management Seminar Part VI, conducted for various clients; lectures and papers presented, Oak Brook, Illinois, February 9, 2010.
Exit Stage Left - Tips for When a Professional Employee Moves to Your Competitor's Design Firm, handout at Preferred Risk Management Seminar - Part VI, Oak Brook, Illinois, February 9, 2010.
The Legal Aspects of the Practice of Engineering; seminar presented to Illinois Society of Professional Engineers - Salt Creek Chapter, Westmont, Illinois, January 20, 2010.
Illinois Court Enforces Contract Clause Shortening Status of Limitations; paper published in The Critical Path, a DRI Construction Law publication, October 29, 2009.
Limiting Counterclaims and Third-Party Claims In FHA Cases; paper published in The Critical Path, a DRI Construction Law publication, June 25, 2009.
Konstant Contract Clause Starts Four-Year Clock Ticking, article published in the Licensed Architect periodical, an Association of Licensed Architects publication, April 2009
The Ethics of the Practice - Keeping Your License Intact, lecture presented to the ASCE Geotechnical Group, Chicago, IL, February 11, 2009
Learning to Recognize Risk: A Case Study, seminar presented to the Association of Licensed Architects, Northbrook, IL, May 13, 2008
Don't Be Disabled by the ADA, seminar on the Americans with Disabilities Act, presented to engineers, municipal representatives and contractors, Itasca, IL, September 13, 2007
Defamation Claims Against Experts, paper published in The Critical Path, a DRI Construction Law publication, September 2007
Potential Benefits and Risks of Offshore Outsourcing, paper published in The Critical Path, September 2007
Members of the Political Action Committee of the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois, panelist, August 30, 2007
46th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys, moderator of three-day seminar presented to attorneys involved with the representation of design professionals throughout the U.S., Chicago, IL, May 16-18, 2007
Design and Construction Basics, seminar presented to professional liability insurance claims representatives of CNA, Chicago, IL, May 15, 2007
Consultant Liability, lecture presented to members of the American Society of Civil Engineers - Illinois Section, Schaumburg, IL February 8, 2007
Effects of Cutting Corners, lecture presented to members of the Structural Engineers Association of Illinois, Chicago, IL, January 9, 2007
Out-of-State Engineering Experts, paper published in For the Defense, a DRI Construction Law publication, September, 2006
Hiring Foreign Workers, paper published in For the Defense, September, 2006
Avoiding Litigation - Learning from Prior Mistakes, lecture presented to design professionals, Oak Brook, IL, September 29, 2006
The Ethics of the Practice - Keeping Your License Intact, lecture presented at the Chicago Architecture Conference sponsored by the Association of Licensed Architects, Oak Brook, IL, September 19, 2006
Seminar in Risk Management, conducted for representatives of a civil engineering/surveying firm, Naperville, IL, June 7, 2006
The Pros and Cons of Working with a Construction Manager, paper and lecture presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys, Savannah, Georgia, May 18-20, 2006
Residential Projects - The Real Money Pit, lecture and seminar presented for the Association of Licensed Architects, Northbrook, IL, May 4, 2006
Joint and Several Liability Issues: Defending Multiparty Cases, paper and lecture presented at the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel Spring Defense Tactics Seminar, Chicago, IL, March 10, 2006
Avoiding the Courtroom - Learning from the Mistakes of Others, lecture presented at the Chicago Architecture Conference sponsored by the Association of Licensed Architects, Oak Brook, IL November 8, 2005
Author of various articles published monthly for the Construction Law and Litigation Committee of the IADC, 2004-2005
Avoiding Pitfalls in Construction Litigation, paper published in the Defense Counsel Journal, Vol. 72, No. 2, Pages 170-180, April, 2005
Author of several articles published semi-annually in The Critical Path, 2005-2006
Risk Management Seminar, conducted for representatives of civil engineering and surveying firms, Lansing, IL, March 7, 2005
Utilizing AIA Contract Forms, lecture and paper presented at the IADC Mid-Year Meeting, February, 2005
The Perils of Third-Party Practice in Construction Litigation, lecture and paper presented at the IADC Mid-Year Meeting, February 10, 2004
Legal Issues Affecting the Practice of Civil Engineering and Wetland Consulting, lecture presented at the Illinois Association for Floodplain and Storm Water Management annual conference, March 4, 2004
Preferred Risk Management Seminar - Part IV, lectures and papers presented to insurers and insureds, Oak Brook, IL, May 8, 2003
Legal Issues Affecting the MEP Engineer, lecture presented to the Illinois Chapter of ASHRAE, April 14, 2004
Defective Construction Claims, paper and lectures presented at a seminar sponsored by Property Loss Research Bureau, Orlando, FL, March 31-April 2, 2003
Technology Round Table, paper and letter presented for the Chicago Building Congress, Chicago, IL, March 19, 2003
Architects/Engineers' Liability: Latest Trends, paper and lecture presented at a seminar sponsored by Lorman Educational Institute, Chicago, IL, February 12, 2003
The Design Professional in the Electronic Age, Glenview, IL, June 18, 2002
Illinois Law for Design Professionals, sponsored by Lorman Educational Institute, Chicago, IL, June 13, 2002
Preferred Risk Management Seminar - Part III, lectures and papers presented to insurers and insureds, Oak Brook, IL, May, 2002
Claim Prevention for Illinois Design Professionals, papers and lectures presented at a seminar sponsored by Lorman Educational Institute, Chicago, IL, April 11, 2002
Risk Management Seminar, conducted for representatives of civil engineering and surveying firms, Oak Brook, IL, March, 2002
Contracts and Lawsuits - Is This the Remedy? - lecture presented at PLUS 2001 International Conference, Chicago, IL, November 15, 2001
Illinois Law for Design Professionals, Part II, papers and lectures presented at a seminar sponsored by Lorman Educational Institute, Chicago, IL, November 6, 2001
May a Design Professional Electronically Seal or Sign Drawings? - article, August, 2001
Requests for Information - Protecting Against Greedy Contractors, article, June, 2001
Preferred Risk Management Seminar - Part II, lectures and papers presented to insurers and insureds, Oak Brook, IL, June, 2001
Illinois Law for Design Professionals, papers and lectures presented at a seminar sponsored by Lorman Educational Institute, Chicago, IL, November 29, 2000
Preferred Risk Management Seminar, lectures and papers presented to insurers and insureds, Oak Brook, IL, September, 2000
Professional Liability Update, paper and lecture presented at seminar sponsored by Professional Liability Underwriting Society - Midwest Chapter, Chicago, IL, October, 1999
The FFHA and ADA: Do They Spell Trouble for Design Professionals? - paper and lecture presented at seminar sponsored by CNA Insurance Company, Tucson, AZ, May 22, 1999
Broad Interpretation of the ADA - Owners, Contractors and Design Professionals Beware, paper and lecture presented at seminar sponsored by the Defense Research Institute Construction Law Committee, Las Vegas, NV, March 11, 1999
Owners, Architects, Design Professionals, Contractors: Who's Responsible for Safety? - paper and lecture presented at seminar sponsored by the Construction Safety Counsel, Rosemont, IL, March, 1999
Interviewing Witnesses and Clients, paper and lecture presented at a seminar sponsored by the Illinois Paralegal Association, Chicago, IL, November 11, 1998
Tort Law Update, paper and lecture presented at the 37th Annual Meeting of Invited Attorneys, New Orleans, LA, May, 1998
Trial Preparation Update, paper and lecture presented at seminar sponsored by the Illinois Paralegal Association, Chicago, IL, 1996 and 1997
No Docs - No Dough, paper and lecture presented to the American Subcontractors Association - Chicago Chapter, Hillside, IL, May 3, 1994
Trial Preparation, paper and lecture presented at seminar sponsored by the Illinois Paralegal Association, Chicago, IL, October 20, 1994
Risk Management, presentation to the Pan American and Hispanic American Construction Industry Association, Chicago, IL, 1993
Author of various articles for the Tort Trends publication of the Illinois State Bar Association Tort Litigation Committee, 1992-1995
Case Summaries on Latest Construction Precedent, Hinshaw Reports: Torts, 1991-1995
Additional Insured Status - Insurers Beware! - lecture and papers presented to representatives of various insurers, 1992-1993
My Insurance Company is Insolvent - Now What..., Illinois State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division publication, May 1991
