Carlos A. Vera

Carlos Vera is a shareholder in Johnson & Bell’s Business Litigation and Professional Liability practice groups. Mr. Vera concentrates his practice in general and complex commercial litigation and has represented businesses large and small in the areas of business torts, UCC violations, breach of warranty, products liability, antitrust, commercial real estate disputes, and employment litigation.

He has served as lead trial counsel in jury trials to verdict, including successfully defending against claims for alleged business losses of more than $20 million. Mr. Vera also defends professionals, including attorneys, against malpractice claims, and also practices in the area of white-collar defense.

Mr. Vera has represented individuals and business entities in Illinois and Indiana state court, in federal court, in regulatory matters before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations, the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, the Illinois Human Rights Commission and the Illinois Department of Human Relations.

Prior to joining Johnson & Bell, Mr. Vera worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County. There, he gained trial experience from prosecuting over 200 bench trials and seven jury trials to verdict.  Mr. Vera also drafted numerous appellate briefs and argued before the 1st District Court of Appeals on behalf of the State. Mr. Vera previously clerked on the Commercial Calendar of the Circuit Court of Cook County dealing extensively with matters arising out of commercial litigation.

Mr. Vera graduated cum laude from Chicago-Kent College of Law, in 2012.  While in law school, Mr. Vera competed in regional and national trial advocacy competitions and served as a law clerk in the Trial Division of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where he litigated cases pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 711. Mr. Vera served as a judicial extern to the Honorable James Holderman, Chief Judge (ret.), U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Mr. Vera also received CALI Awards for achieving the highest grades in Constitutional Law and Civil Procedure.

Mr. Vera was named as one of the “Forty Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” for 2020 by Law Bulletin Publishing Company, publishers of Chicago Lawyer magazine, and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.  He is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association (“ISBA”), and serves as chair of the ISBA Civil Practice & Procedure Section Council. Mr. Vera is also a member of the American Law Firm Association (ALFA International) where he is active in the Business Litigation Practice Group, Professional Liability Practice Group, and Future Leaders Practice Group.