Legal advocacy is often shaped long before a case reaches a courtroom. For many injured individuals and families, the strength of a claim depends on how carefully the facts are investigated, documented, and presented from the beginning. Attorney Jon Walner has built his career around this preparation-focused approach, representing clients in personal injury, wrongful death, nursing home, medical malpractice, and other complex matters.
Based in Chicago, attorney Walner brings decades of experience to cases where the details can significantly influence the path toward resolution. His practice has primarily focused on pre-litigation work, where careful investigation and documentation can help establish what happened, who was responsible, and what a client may be entitled to recover.
A Career Rooted in Chicago Legal Experience
Attorney Walner’s professional journey is closely connected to the history of his family’s legal practice. The firm began as Rosner and Walner in 1962 before his father, Harvey L. Walner, established a practice concentrating on personal injury claims in 1973. Jon Walner became a shareholder of Walner Law® in 1988 and has served as the firm’s President for the past 21 years.
That long-term leadership has allowed this attorney to develop a broad perspective on personal injury advocacy. Rather than applying the same process to every case, his work involves examining the specific circumstances of each claim and determining how the available evidence can support the client’s position.
His professional experience extends beyond individual injury claims. He has worked on significant class action and antitrust matters involving large groups of people. Among these cases were an antitrust claim involving Ticketmaster, a claim concerning a resin manufacturer whose product was used in engine blocks, and a mass tort involving 35 deaths and hundreds of other injuries connected to the City of Milwaukee and Sara Lee.
Emphasizing Preparation Before Litigation
A significant part of attorney Walner’s practice involves pre-litigation matters. This stage can require substantial work before a lawsuit is ever filed. Medical records, accident information, witness accounts, insurance coverage, and other documentation may all become important in understanding a claim.
Attorney Walner also handles a considerable number of uninsured and underinsured motorist cases. These claims can involve questions about available insurance coverage and the nature and extent of a person’s injuries. His experience with arbitration provides another avenue for resolving disputes.
Rather than relying exclusively on lengthy litigation, attorney Walner frequently participates in alternative dispute resolution. He has arbitrated cases through three-person panels and with retired judges, using these proceedings as a way to pursue resolution without requiring every matter to move through a prolonged courtroom process.
His professional record includes more than 75 arbitrations through the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration system, where he was appointed as Chair. He has also helped settle more than $50 million in personal injury cases and has been involved in class actions initiated by the firm involving more than one million class members.
Experience Across Complex Injury Matters
The range of cases handled by this attorney reflects an approach that extends beyond routine personal injury claims. His experience includes complex medical malpractice matters, product liability claims, serious truck accident injuries, and mass tort litigation.
He has also worked on claims involving transvaginal mesh, prosthetic hip and knee joint injuries, and other product-related injuries. These matters can require an understanding of medical information, product issues, corporate conduct, and the long-term effects an injury may have on an individual or family.
This breadth of experience allows Attorney Walner to approach complicated claims with an appreciation for both their legal and practical dimensions. His work often involves identifying the evidence needed to establish a claim while keeping the client’s circumstances at the center of the process.
Professional Service and Community Involvement
Attorney Walner’s involvement in the legal profession extends beyond his individual caseload. He is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois State Bar Association, and American Bar Association. He has been admitted to practice in Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois since 1987, Arizona since 2022, and Missouri since 2025.
His professional and community activities also reflect an interest in education and service. He has served as a judge for an American Trial Lawyers law school competition and has participated in fundraising and volunteer initiatives. His involvement has included support for organizations serving children, individuals with disabilities, disadvantaged families, and educational programs.
A Life Connected to Family and Chicago
Outside his legal career, Jon Walner maintains strong connections to family and his Chicago community. He has been married to his wife, Julie, for 31 years, and they are the parents of two sons who graduated from Emory University and Tulane University.
Away from the practice of law, he enjoys golf, follows the Chicago Bears and Cubs, and takes an interest in the city’s music, architecture, festivals, beaches, restaurants, and traditions. He also enjoys skiing, hiking, and traveling with his family.
Through decades of legal practice, professional leadership, arbitration, complex litigation, and community involvement, Attorney Jon Walner represents a career shaped by preparation and a broad understanding of advocacy. His work continues to reflect the value of examining each case carefully, pursuing practical paths toward resolution, and remaining committed to the people behind every legal claim.