Mr. Kinnally concentrates his practice in general and commercial litigation, immigration and citizenship and administrative, environmental and local government law. He has been recognized by his peers as among the top five percent of all Illinois lawyers in commercial litigation (“Leading Lawyers”) and general litigation (“Super Lawyers”) and has received the highest peer rating for skill and integrity. He has been singled out statewide for his excellence in the general practice of law (Tradition of Excellence award). He is a respected, skilled and tenacious advocate sought after by lawyers, businesses and individuals alike.

Bar Admission: He was admitted to the practice of law in Illinois and Indiana in 1980. He is also admitted to the United States Supreme Court and to the Federal Trial Bar of the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana and the United States District Court for the Northern, Central and Southern Districts of Illinois. Mr. Kinnally is a certified mediator in Kane County and Cook County, Illinois.

Education: He graduated from Marmion Military Academy in 1968. He received his undergraduate degree from Loyola University cum laude in 1972 and his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 1980.

Honors: He has been named a “Leading Lawyer” in commercial litigation and a “Super Lawyer” in general litigation by survey of his peers, signifying that he is among the top five percent of all Illinois lawyers in these fields. He has also received from his peers the highest rating for skill and integrity with an A-V designation by Martindale Hubble.

He was awarded the Tradition of Excellence award in general practice by the Illinois State Bar Association in 2003, an award given once a year to a single lawyer in the state who demonstrates professional excellence in the general practice of law. He received the Pro Bono Award in 2004 and the Community Service Award in 2000, both presented by the Kane County Bar Association in recognition of a lawyer who demonstrates unfailing commitment to pro bono work and community service work, respectively.

He received the Citizen of the Year Award from El Centro Pan Americano in 1988 and the Public Service Award from the League of United Latin American Citizens in 2004, both in recognition of distinguished service to the Hispanic community. He received the Pro Bono Award in 2006 from CASA Kane County for volunteer work on behalf of court-appointed special advocates.

Mr. Kinnally was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court in 2006 to the Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board and later to the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. He served as a law clerk to Justice James Heiple at the Illinois Third District Appellate Court from 1980 - 1982.

Mr. Kinnally has been voted to the Board of Directors of the Kane County Bar Association and will be president in 2010-2011.

Teaching: He has been an adjunct professor of law at Northern Illinois University Law School since 1999, teaching Civil Procedure, Immigration and Nationality Law and Trial Skills. He has also been a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education programs sponsored by the Illinois State Bar Association, the Kane County Bar Association and the DuPage County Bar Association. He has written over forty articles covering a wide array of legal topics for various bar associations.

Significant Cases:

  • Navar v City of Aurora (2d Dist. 1991) 210 Ill. App. 3d 126, 568 N.E.2d. 978: Successfully challenged constitutionality of municipal noise ordinance declaring to be a nuisance any commercial activity audible from adjacent premises as vague and uncertain so as to violate state and federal due process provisions.
  • A.D. ex. rel. J.D. v Forest Preserve District of Kane County (2d. Dist. 2000) 313 Ill. App. 3d 919, 731 N.E.2d 955: Obtained jury verdict for defendant in willful/wanton personal injury claim.
  • Valdovinos v Gallant Insurance Co. (2d Dist 2000) 214 Ill. App. 3d 1018, 733 N.E. 2d 886: Successfully upheld bad faith verdict on behalf of plaintiff for insurance company’s failure to settle property damage claim and obtained reversal of trial court decision denying an award of costs and attorneys fees.
  • Dawn Equipment Company v Kentucky Farms (1998) 140 F.3d 1009: Jury verdict for plaintiff in patent infringement case reversed.

Publications:
See Publications

Professional Associations: He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), the Kane County Bar Association (KCBA) (Board of Directors), the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ILTLA), the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), the American Bar Association (ABA) and the DeKalb County Bar Association (DCBA).

Languages: Spanish

Personal: Mr. Kinnally was born in Aurora, Illinois on March 16, 1950. He is a lifelong resident of the Fox Valley. He has been married to his wife, Sally, for more than 25 years, and they have four children, Moira, Rorry, Cara and Calan. Before entering private practice, Mr. Kinnally was an instructor, examiner, attorney and teacher for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Community Involvement: Mr. Kinnally’s community involvement is extensive. During his career he has devoted time to such organizations as El Centro Pan Americano, the Holy Angels Food Pantry, Hesed House, Trinity Episcopal Church and as a coach in youth sport’s teams. Additionally, he has served as a special assistant state’s attorney for the Chairman of the Kane County Board and as a special assistant state’s attorney to the Kendall County Board. Mr. Kinnally has been the attorney for the Kane County Forest Preserve District for the last fifteen years.