Eric P. Schoonveld
HIGHLIGHTS
HPS cofounder and former managing partner
Trial lawyer who specializes in unusual and challenging cases
BIOGRAPHY
Eric Schoonveld is the legal equivalent of an extreme-sports diehard, continually drawn to cases with dimensions that are unfamiliar or unique. He’s most comfortable when he’s out of his comfort zone.
“I love being the guy that clients call to say, “I've got this super challenging case. I've never seen anything like it. I don't understand it. Can you help?’’ says Schoonveld. “That excites me. It’s in my DNA.”
Indeed, that’s why he decided in the 2000s to take on HPS’ first-ever case outside of Illinois, defending a Nevada hospital in a wrongful-death suit involving a legendary jazz singer. His success led to HPS’ westward expansion, and the firm now has more than 20 lawyers operating out of five western offices.
It’s also why, later that decade, Schoonveld was willing to take the reins in a high-profile case in Utah after the lead counsel dropped out just weeks before trial. His success there solidified the national reputation of HPS’ Catastrophic Trial Team, an elite group of attorneys who try high-exposure, catastrophic injury cases around the country.
And it’s why Schoonveld recently expanded his practice to include more cases involving medical care delivered in a correctional setting. The results are notable, including a victory in a contentious federal case in Colorado—his success in that matter opened the door for HPS’ fast-growing correctional care practice.
Schoonveld’s appetite for adventure spurred him to cofound HPS in 2002, and to become the firm’s first managing partner. After earning his law degree from Northwestern University in 1991, he had joined Chicago firm Locke Lord, then called Lord Bissell & Brook, where he established his medical malpractice defense practice and became a partner. After a little more than a decade there, he joined with several coworkers to start a new trial firm devoted to defending healthcare systems and providers. Schoonveld’s accolades over a 30-year career include regular recognition both as an Illinois Super Lawyer and as a peer-selected Leading Lawyer. In addition, Eric was named a “2024 Thomson Reuters: Stand-Out Lawyer” and was also awarded the "2024 Lawyers of Distinction" honor for his outstanding contributions to the legal profession. He also has been listed among America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators, handling cases across the country.
Schoonveld’s extreme-sports mindset isn’t merely figurative—he’s a rock climber, a skier and a martial artist. After shattering his femur in a life-threatening mountain-biking accident in Utah, he turned to Ironman Triathlons with the encouragement of Olympic Gold Medalist Ashton Eaton.
“The accident reset my wiring,” Schoonveld says. “I used to like to do things that provided a fair amount of adrenaline without requiring much effort. Now, put me at the bottom of a mountain, and I’ll just happily grind up the switchbacks for hours.”
Schoonveld lives on Chicago’s West Side in a home that is predictably unconventional: a former warehouse that’s been rehabbed into a dwelling suitable for his family of four, as well as their collection of dogs, frogs, ducks and chickens.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
CREDENTIALS
EDUCATION
Northwestern University School of Law, J.D. (1991)
Trinity Christian College, B.A. (1988)
BAR ADMISSIONS
Illinois
Utah
COURT ADMISSIONS
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, District of Utah
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of New Mexico
Admitted pro hac vice in multiple jurisdictions
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
American Bar Association
Society of Trial Lawyers
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