The Villa Law Firm was founded by Robert K. Villa after thirteen years of practice as an appellate prosecutor and a litigation partner in a large national law firm. Rob is a graduate of the University of Illinois, Urbana and the DePaul College of Law.
Rob is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, having argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and Illinois’ Appellate Courts. Rob is admitted to practice before all of Illinois' state and federal courts and has appeared on matters before the state and federal courts of New York, Florida, California, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, Louisiana, Wisconsin and Indiana.
Rob began his legal career in 1995 with the Illinois Attorney General's criminal appeals division, where he served as lead counsel on numerous matters involving complex statutory, constitutional and criminal matters including Illinois’ death penalty. Thereafter, Rob was a litigation partner in the Chicago offices of Rooks, Pitts & Poust LLP and Dykema Gossett PLLC, where he also served as the firm’s Recruiting Chairman as well as the Chairman of its Summer Associate program. His legal practice included contract and employment matters, school and municipal law, intellectual property litigation and licensing agreements, deceptive business practices, tort liability and class actions. Rob has also actively represented insurance clients in regional and nationwide coverage litigation as well as adversary proceedings before federal bankruptcy courts.
In addition to his legal practice, Rob served on the City of Geneva’s Plan Commission (1999- 2002) and presently serves as the Hispanic National Bar Association's Regional President for Region IX (IL,WI, MI, IN).
Education
University of Illinois, B.S.
DePaul University, J.D.
Admitted to Practice
Illinois
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
Oral Arguments
(Supreme Court of Illinois / U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit)
- People v. Quigley, 183 Ill.2d 1, 697 N.E.2d 735 (Ill. 1998)
- People v. Watts, 181 Ill.2d 133, 692 N.E.2d 315 (Ill. 1998)
- People v. West, 294 Ill.App.3d 939, 691 N.E.2d 177 (5th Dist. 1998)
- People v. Howery, 178 Ill.2d 1, 687 N.E.2d 836 (Ill. 1997)
- People v. Hamilton, 179 Ill.2d 319, 688 N.E.2d 1166 (Ill. 1997)
- People v. Meyer, 176 Ill.2d 372, 680 N.E.2d 315 (Ill. 1997)
- Lieberman v. Washington, 128 F.3d 1085, 1997 WL 663141 (C.A.7 1997)
- Aliwoli v. Gilmore, 127 F.3d 632 (C.A.7 1997)
- Patrasso v. Nelson, 121 F.3d 297 (C.A.7 1997)
- People v. Gaultney, 174 Ill.2d 410, 675 N.E.2d 102 (Ill. 1996)
- Bocian v. Godinez, 101 F.3d 465 (C.A.7 1996)