Brent’s dedication to resolving clients’ problems and the legal profession underscores his standing as a trusted advisor and litigator. He can often resolve complex legal disputes without litigation – a more efficient, less costly, and less contentious outcome for clients. When asked how he wants to be known by clients, Brent said, “I hope to be known as a passionate advocate who provides sound legal counsel to clients.”

Brenton “Brent” Vincent is a distinguished Chicago litigator with more than two decades of experience managing insurance and commercial disputes. He often deals with clients facing significant, potentially existential, liabilities and works to resolve those liabilities. He takes time to understand the client’s business and goals and how each matter affects them. He then collaborates with each client to bring about the necessary resolution.

Brent has a record of proactively identifying and mitigating risks, leading to the swift and favorable resolution of disputes outside the courtroom whenever plausible. Brent, however, is not hesitant to litigate when his client cannot achieve the desired result through negotiation. His foresight is evident in his handling of high-profile insurance coverage litigation, where he balances his legal acumen with a deep understanding of insurance and how the businesses he represents can utilize this asset to address potential liabilities.

As legal counsel for large corporations, small and mid-sized businesses, landowners and municipalities, Brent helps clients to solve problems. His practice involves litigation, mediation, negotiation and counseling on a variety of legal matters including:

  • Insurance coverage and insurance recovery
  • Commercial litigation
  • Tort defense
  • Eminent domain disputes
  • Environmental litigation
  • Land use litigation
  • Litigation management
  • Insurance counseling

Working with Brent means tapping into a profound reserve of knowledge and a strategic mindset aimed at resolving disputes efficiently and effectively. With a keen ability to dissect and maneuver through the complexities of legal challenges, Brent focuses on meeting clients’ business objectives while minimizing their legal burdens.

When asked…

Why did you become a lawyer?

I became an attorney because a just, fair and accessible legal system where everyone is equal in the eyes of the law is the basis of our society. I am honored to be a part of and an advocate for that system.

What do you do outside of work?

Outside of work, I do a lot of volunteer work. I enjoy serving on the Chicago Bar Foundation board of directors. I am also a former member of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services board of directors. I enjoy exploring our national parks. I am a Cubs, Bears and soccer fan, and most importantly, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our three children.

Areas of Focus

Services

Experience

Insurance Coverage Counseling & Litigation

  • Policyholder counsel in a nationwide case of first impression holding that permitted air emissions are not pollution for purposes of the absolute pollution exclusion.
  • Won summary judgment for policyholder against D&O insurer who refused to provide coverage for fraud claims asserted against indemnified former directors and officers.
  • Assisted in reaching global settlements of environmental class action and mass tort claims asserted against the client by obtaining full recovery from horizontal and vertical insurers.
  • Defeated attempt to forum shop and apply unfavorable state law in an eight-figure coverage action.
  • Representing religious organizations in revived abuse claims.
  • Negotiated buy-outs of historic policies to cover environmental liabilities.
  • Serve as outside general litigation counsel, helping to obtain coverage for and to resolve numerous personal injury and property damage claims and to implement forward-looking risk management strategies.

Bond Litigation

  • Representation of institutional bondholders in default litigation, including recovering past due sums, foreclosing on and disposing of collateral and negotiating restructuring of payment schedules.

Commercial Litigation

  • Won summary judgment for client in a commercial licensing dispute.

Eminent Domain

  • Representation of property owners, condemning authorities, tenants and lenders in litigation and negotiations related to the necessity and valuation of land takings.

Environmental Cost Recovery

  • Representation of clients, including municipal entities, seeking recovery for environmental liabilities and remediation costs, including contribution, insurance coverage, and pursuit of historically responsible parties.

Superfund Defense

  • Representation of PRPs at Superfund Sites and in related litigation matters.

Toxic Tort/Class Action Defense

  • Defeated certification of a putative class action alleging air pollution and odor nuisance. Representation of clients in air and groundwater toxic tort suits.

Credentials

Education

  • Northwestern University School of Law (J.D., 1999)
  • Washington and Lee University (B.A., 1994)

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

Recognitions

  • Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation Organization, "Distinguished Volunteer Award," 2002

Presentations

  • Speaker, "Overcoming Hurdles to Insurance Recovery for Legacy Environmental Site Clean-ups," Colorado Bar Association, December 18, 2018
  • Speaker, "Municipal Exceptions to CERCLA," Oklahoma Brownfields Conference, September 27, 2018
  • Speaker, "How to Manage Environmental Risk in Business Transactions," Environmental Law Institute, February 12, 2015
  • Speaker, "Pollution Wars: The Past, Present and Future of the Absolute Pollution Exclusion," National Forum for Environmental & Toxic Tort Issues, October 20, 2014
  • Speaker, "An Overview of Environmental Liability of Lender," Illinois State Bar Association, November 20, 2013
  • Panel Moderator, "The Community Right to Know Amendments: A Property Owner Perspective," Illinois Association of Environmental Professionals, March 9, 2006
  • Panelist, "Toxic Mold: Fact or Fiction," RealCom, June 4, 2003

Professional Activities

  • American Bar Association, Member
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2018-present
  • Chicago Bar Association, Member
    • Chicago Bar Foundation, Board of Directors, 2017-present
    • Chicago Bar Foundation, Advocacy Committee, 2016-present
    • Chair of Chicago Bar Foundation's 75th Anniversary Celebration

Community Involvement

  • Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation Organization
    • Advisory Board 2016-present
    • President 2008-2009
    • Executive Board Member, 2007-2008
    • Vice President-Development, 2005-2007
  • Saint Andrews Parish, Volunteer, 2005-present
    • Capital Campaign Steering Committee
    • Parish Transformation Steering Committee
    • Golf Committee Chair
  • AYSO Region-418, Board Member and Division Commissioner
  • Youth Soccer Coach and Refer