Anthony L. Schumann
Partner
Chicago Office
115 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3100
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Anthony L. Schumann is a partner in the Chicago office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. He is the Chair of the Firm’s Governmental Enforcement & Corporate Internal Investigations Practice Group. For more than 30 years, Mr. Schumann has participated in over 150 civil and criminal trials and evidentiary hearings. He focuses his practice in the areas of governmental enforcement, corporate internal investigations, white collar criminal defense, commercial litigation, employment law, and government liability. He has extensive experience representing corporate, governmental and individual clients in state and federal courts and during all stages of investigation and throughout the litigation process. Mr. Schumann has extensive experience assisting companies with internal investigations and in handling compliance issues. He has attained an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, the highest professional rating awarded for legal ability and ethical standards; and he is also included in the listings of Illinois Leading Lawyer and Illinois Super Lawyer.
In 2005, Mr. Schumann entered into association with other attorneys in the formation of Grant Schumann, LLC, a Chicago-based minority owned law firm, where as a founding member and principal, he represented corporate and government sector clients and individuals for over 10 years. In 1996, he was the owner of his law practice in Chicago; and previously, he was a partner and owner of Duckworth & Schumann, P.C., where his practice emphasized the areas of civil and criminal litigation. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Schumann gained extensive courtroom experience as a trial lawyer with the Office of the Cook County Public Defender.
Mr. Schumann received his Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Bachelor of Arts from Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois.
Mr. Schumann is licensed to practice law in Illinois and is a member of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- Cook County Bar Association
- Chicago Bar Association
- Chicago Inn of Court – Master of the Bench
- Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Defense Research Institute
- National Bar Association
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
- National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms
Select Representations:
- An Illinois university in conducting confidential independent investigations involving allegations of employment harassment and intimidation, violations of workplace rules and policies, retaliation, whistleblowing, and potential criminal conduct.
- A local governmental entity in conducting a confidential independent investigation involving allegations of race discrimination and racial harassment, a request for employee disciplinary action by a supervisor and employee grievance, and accusations of inappropriate verbal communications by a supervisor toward various employees.
- A national golf course management company in conducting a confidential investigation involving allegations race discrimination brought by a member of a private golf club.
- A Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) contractor in an investigation conducted by the City of Chicago Office of Inspector General involving allegations that the contractor should be decertified as an MBE. The matter was successfully resolved in favor of the MBE contractor.
- Former sergeant of the Chicago Police Department in a matter in which the plaintiff brought claims pursuant to sections 1983 and 1981, alleging race, national origin, and religious discrimination and harassment, retaliation, and violation of his First Amendment rights to free speech.
- Ongoing and previous representations of physicians and professional entities in investigations of Medicare/Medicaid fraud and other allegations of improper billing or patient certification practices.
- The City of Chicago and numerous Chicago Police Officers in several cases (approximately 15-20 cases), from 2009 through 2018 involving allegations of unlawful detentions, unlawful searches, unlawful seizures, excessive use of force, failure to supervise and/or train, malicious prosecution, assault, and battery, as well as employment related issues. These matters resulted in dispositions by both settlements and jury trials.
- The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office in four separate Charges of Discrimination based on age, race and gender discrimination brought by former Assistant State’s Attorneys, including a supervisor and deputy supervisor, who were included in a 2017 reduction in force. The charges were investigated by the Illinois Department of Human Rights. All four charges were dismissed for lack of substantial evidence of discrimination.
- Secured a defense verdict on behalf of a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) subcontractor who provided elevator, escalator, moving walkways and lift maintenance at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago. The MBE subcontractor (100 percent African American owned) had been sued pursuant to the Illinois Human Rights Act on plaintiff’s claims of harassment/hostile environment based on race (African American) and age, discrimination in failing to promote plaintiff based on his race and age, and retaliation. The case was tried for four days before the Honorable John C. Griffin in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.
- A franchisee before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, Illinois Human Rights Commission and in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois in a matter in which the Plaintiff made claims of racial harassment, racial discrimination, sexual harassment, harassment based on sexual orientation, retaliation and violation of Illinois Gender Violence Act. The case was resolved by favorable settlement before the Honorable Charles R. Norgle.
- An Indiana local governmental entity in its defense of a lawsuit in which Plaintiff made claims of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, wrongful discharge and violations of right of privacy. The case was resolved by favorable settlement after mediation.
- Convinced the Government to dismiss an indictment charging a physician with dispensing controlled substances using the DEA registration number of another physician. After hearing his argument, he then convinced the court to enter an order dismissing the indictment with prejudice.
Mr. Schumann is a frequent lecturer and speaker at local and national conferences. He has also served as a moderator and panelist on topics addressing diversity in the legal profession.
Speaking Engagements:
- State Farm Insurance, CLE Session: “Insurance Fraud: Use of It as a Sword or a Shield” Speaker (2021)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI), CLE Session: “Dazed and Confused: Assisting Employers Feeling the Effects of Cannabis Legalization” Guest Panelist (2019)
- Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) CME Session: “Sexual Harassment by Physicians: Implications for Medical Staff Privileges, Licensure, and Physician Practices” Presenter (2019)
- National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), White Collar Defense & Internal Investigation Practice Committee, CLE Session: “In-House Counsel at Risk: Enforcement Actions Against Gatekeepers” Guest Panelist (2019)
- National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), CLE Session: “Untangling the Knots of Conflicting Priorities in Corporate Internal Investigations” Organizer & Moderator (2018)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI), CLE Session: “A Survey of the Effects of Marijuana Legalization on Employment Law” Presenter (2018)
- National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), White Collar Defense & Internal Investigation Practice Area Committee, CLE Session: “Avoiding and Untangling Knots in Company Internal Investigations in Today’s Age” Guest Panelist (2018)
- National Association of Minority and Woman Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), CLE Session “Anatomy of State and Local Investigations” Presenter (2017)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI), CLE Session: “Bridging the Divide: Law Enforcement and Community Relations” Guest Panelist (2017)
- Edward Jones & Co., CLE Session: “Handling Corporate Internal Investigations” Presenter (2017)
- National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), CLE
- Session: “From Discovery to Verdict – Using Technology to Make an Impact at Trial” Presenter (2016)
- National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), White
- Collar PAC, CLE Session for Walmart In-House Counsel: “Review of the Attorney-Client Privilege: A Focus on In-House Counsel” Presenter (2016)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI), CLE Session: “Big City Law Enforcement and Legal Defense Challenges with Policing” Presenter (2016)
- National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), CLE Session: “To Kill or Not To Kill – The Trial Attorney” Presenter (2015)
- Chicago Minority Supplier Development Council, Minority Business Enterprise Legal Series, “Hiring in the Age of Medical Marijuana and Conceal and Carry” Guest Speaker (2014)
- National Bar Association’s Small Business Law Section, “Strategies for Developing and Maintaining Successful In-house/Outside Counsel Relationships” Guest Panelist/Participant (2013)
- Chicago Urban League, Contractor Development Program, “Construction Subcontract Agreements” Guest Speaker (2009)
- Cook County Bar Association, “Counseling Clients During the Economic Downturn” Guest Panelist/Speaker (2009)
Publications:
- Defense Research Institute (DRI) In House Defense Quarterly: “Employers and Medical Marijuana-Prescribed Employees” (2019)
- Defense Research Institute (DRI) For The Defense Magazine: “When Must Law Enforcement Agencies Release Video Footage?” (2017)
In his community, Mr. Schumann serves as an advisory board member of Legal Prep Charter Academy.
Related Articles
QPWB Gets Defense Verdict for MBE Maintenance Subcontractor Servicing O'Hare International Airport on Claims of Discrimination
QPWB Trial Attorney Gets Defense Verdict for City of Chicago Police