Derrick L. Haddox
Swanson Martin and Bell
Commercial litigation, construction litigation, personal-injury defense, medical-malpractice defense

Derrick Haddox is always in demand. That’s because this young attorney, a partner with Chicago’s Swanson, Martin and Bell, has earned a reputation as one of the top young product liability and construction litigation defense lawyers in the city.

This reputation has been earned. Haddox gets results for his clients. It’s why his client list today is so long, and why the companies on it remain so loyal to him.

Nicole Brunson, associated general counsel for litigation with Ingersoll Rand, worked with Haddox in two product liability matters. In both instances, Haddox was successful in tendering Brunson’s client’s defense to another party, a move that saved his client both damages and costs.

“Derrick has managed every matter assigned to him to success,” Brunson said. “He has invested his time and thoughtfulness into crafting detailed strategies and executing smart plans to achieve great results, not just once, but every time.”

Gary Stone, of Chicago’s Karchmar & Stone, once opposed Haddox on a complicated litigation matter. During the litigation, Stone gained plenty of respect for Haddox.

“Derrick exhibited excellent legal skills and a civil demeanor that was very valuable for his client,” Stone said.

It’s little surprise to his peers that Haddox has built such a respected practice.

Timothy Nickels, managing partner of Swanson, Martin and Bell, also had praise for Haddox.

“From the very beginning Derrick has been a difference maker,” Nickels said. “He was always the first lawyer to volunteer for an assignment, the first to take on a new project and the first to handle a challenge he had not tackled before.”

Haddox impresses his peers with his desire to serve his client’s best interest, the firm’s best interest and his community. He is currently the chair of Swanson, Martin and Bell’s construction practice and a member of the firm’s diversity committee. In addition, he is an active member of DRI, where he serves as the vice liaison to that legal organization’s diversity committee.

In addition, to building his thriving practice, Haddox has always found time to give back to his community. He is a devoted husband and father and is a busy member with the Evangelistic Crusaders Church of God in Christ. Here, Haddox is an Elder, Youth Minister Pastor Adjutant.

The church’s pastor, Larry Egwu, said that congregants look forward to those services in which Haddox speaks.

“During the delivery of his sermons he has such skills, demeanor, body movement, vocabulary and voice accentuations that it makes one feel that one is actually in a courtroom,” Egwu said.