Frank A. Sommario had just completed law school and was about to start his career as a workers' compensation lawyer when he suffered a crushed ankle in an accident. After a brief delay and months of rehabilitation, Frank began his new job. Today, you'd never know he had an accident that could have left him with a permanent disability. He is not only fully recovered, but was compensated for his injuries, thanks to an attorney he knew only in passing. Antonio Romanucci successfully represented him in a lawsuit.
Frank served as counsel to Antonio's law firm in workers' compensation matters before joining the firm full time in 2007. As a petitioner's workers' compensation lawyer, he vigorously fights for the rights of his clients, and has obtained several large settlements and favorable trial awards for those who have been injured. He considers it a privilege being able to help injured workers get the benefits they deserve.
For his successes representing injury victims, Frank has been named as one of Illinois' Super Lawyers for 2016, and one of Illinois' Rising Stars by Super Lawyers? for the years 2010-2015. He was named to Law Bulletin Publishing Company's "40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch for 2012." He also was named an Emerging Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers Division for the years 2015-2016. Frank worked as a law clerk for the Illinois Attorney General's Office and was an accountant-consultant for the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County while in law school. He is a certified public accountant as well as a registered investment advisor.
LEGAL ACTIVITIES
ITLA, Board of Managers, 2016-Present
Fenwick High School Bar Association, Board of Directors 2011-Present
Illinois Bar Foundation, Silver Fellow 2008-Present
Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Board of Governors 2008-2014
ISBA, General Assembly 2006-2008
ISBA, Workers' Compensation Law Section Council 2007-2009
ISBA, Board Liaison, Workers' Compensation Law Section Council 2009-2014
ISBA, Board Liaison, Environmental Law Section Council 2008-2010
ISBA, Board Liaison, Federal Taxation Section Council 2008-2014
ISBA, Board Liaison, Intellectual Property Section Council 2011-2012
ISBA, Co-Board Liaison, Young Lawyers Division Council 2008-2009
ISBA, Board Liaison, Standing Committee on Mentoring 2010-2011
ISBA, Board Liaison, Standing Committee on Continuing Legal Education 2012-2013
ISBA, Board Liaison, Standing Committee on Law Office Management & Economics 2013-2014
Justinian Society of Lawyers, President 2016-2017
Justinian Society of Lawyers, 1st Vice President 2015-2016
Justinian Society of Lawyers, 2nd Vice President 2014-2015
Justinian Society of Lawyers, 3rd Vice President 2013-2014
Justinian Society of Lawyers, Treasurer 2012-2013
Justinian Society of Lawyers, Secretary 2011-2012
Justinian Society of Lawyers, Executive Committee 2009-Present
Justinian Society of Lawyers Endowment Fund, Treasurer 2012-Present
Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, President 2013
Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, Vice President 2012
Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, Treasurer 2010-2011
Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, Board of Directors 2008-2014
Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, Comptroller 2015 - present
AWARDS/HONORS
Named an Illinois Super Lawyer for the year 2016
Named an Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers for the years 2010 - 2015
Named an Emerging Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company's Leading Lawyers Division for the years 2015-2016
Named 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch by Law Bulletin Publishing Company 2012
AVVO Top Rating 10/10
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT
14th Annual Chicago Trauma Symposium, Workers' Compensation: How the New Act Affects Physicians, The Palmer House, Chicago, IL August 2, 2012
PUBLICATIONS
"Odd-Lot" permanent total disability award affirmed, Vol. 45, No. 1, September 2007, Illinois State Bar Association, Workers' Compensation Law Newsletter
Statute of Limitations, 2008-2015, ITLA Worker's Compensation Lawyer's Notebook
APPOINTMENTS
In 2015, appointed to the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (IWCC) Rules Committee by Chairman Joann Fratianni
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONAL PARTICIPATION
American Association for Justice (AAJ)
American Association of Attorney-Certified Public Accountants (AAA-CPA)
American Bar Association (ABA)
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
Chicago Bar Association (CBA)
Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL)
DePaul University Alumnus
DePaul University College of Law Alumnus
Fenwick Bar Association (FBA)
Fenwick High School Alumnus
Illinois CPA Society & Foundation (ILCPA)
Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF)
Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
Illinois Trial Lawyers' Association (ITLA)
Justinian Society of Lawyers
National Italian American Bar Association (NIABA)
National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF)
Public Justice
Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI)
Workers' Compensation Lawyer's Association (WCLA)
Women's Injury Law & Advocacy Group (WILG)
OTHER PROFESSIONAL LICENSES
Illinois Certified Public Accountant, August, 1998
Registered Investment Advisor, September, 2003
EDUCATION
J.D., DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois, 2000
B.S., Commerce, Accounting, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, 1997
JURISDICTIONS ADMITTED TO PRACTICE:
Illinois, 2000
Northern District of Illinois, 2000
Minnesota, 2001
District of Columbia, 2001
