Hall, Christopher A.

Larry Ruder is a partner at GWC.  Larry is an accomplished trial attorney who has recovered millions of dollars for victims of catastrophic personal injury accidents during his 30-year career. He has a record of passionate advocacy on behalf of personal injury victims and their families whose lives have been torn apart because of traumatic brain injury, paralysis, amputated limbs and wrongful death.

Larry holds the record for the largest personal injury award ever handed down in the history of McHenry County, Illinois in a products liability case.  This verdict has stood as the record in McHenry County for the last 20 years.  The success Larry achieved in that case, where he represented a young Hispanic factory worker, is a true reflection of the dedication, skill and legal expertise he provides to personal injury victims who seek his help. 

Larry has been extremely active and successful in the courtroom of late.  In March 2011, Larry set another record in McHenry County when he obtained the largest personal injury verdict ever handed down against a local school district. And, in January 2012, Larry obtained a verdict of $4.25 Million in Cook County for the death of a 28 year old West African girl who was killed on the Indiana Tollway when her stopped, disabled car was rear ended by a speeding 18 wheel tractor-trailer. The lawyers for the trucking company, YRC Worldwide, offered a mere $100,000 to settle the case before trial.

Larry has tried dozens of jury trials to verdict and his closing arguments have been widely published in numerous law books, from Closing Arguments: the Art and the Law to Cyclopedia of Trial Practice.  He has also published teaching articles in the respected Illinois Trial Lawyers Association Journal and has regularly lectured to attorneys on developments in personal injury law.

Additionally, Martindale-Hubbell has included Larry in its Register of Preeminent Lawyers and has distinguished him with its highest ranking for legal ability and adherence to ethical standards.  He has consistently been listed in Who's Who in American Law and in 2009, 2010 and 2011, he was named one of the top 100 trial lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association. In 2012, Larry was named as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois.

A graduate of the John Marshall Law School, Larry is a member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (Product Liability and Civil Practice committees), The American Association for Justice (Product Liability Committee), The American Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Lake County Bar Association (Civil Trials and Appeals Committee), the Society of Trial Lawyers, and the National Latino Trial Lawyers Association.

Known for his service and contribution to the underserved in his community, Larry has proudly sponsored the Ruder Scholarship for Hispanic Law Students.  And, for the past 12 years he has run a weekly pro bono legal clinic at the Most Blessed Trinity Parish in Waukegan, Illinois.