Joseph E. M. Franke
Associate

500 West Madison Street Suite 3700, Chicago, IL USA 60661

Overview

Joe Franke is an experienced junior litigator focusing his practice on complex commercial litigation matters. He regularly advises clients on all their complex commercial litigation and pre-litigation needs including motion practice, robust and complex discovery, depositions, oral advocacy, alternative dispute resolution, appellate practice, and jury trials.

Joe has quickly established his value to his clients with an advanced understanding of pre-trial litigation, trial practice, and appellate practice. Client-focused and results-oriented, Joe has successfully resolved cases in his clients’ favor at all stages of the litigation cycle, and his strategy and insight continue to prove integral to his clients’ success.

Joe has successfully litigated contract claims involving vendors, customers, and former employees, as well as numerous other business-to-business disputes. He also has significant experience prosecuting and defending restrictive covenants including non-competes, non-solicitation clause, and non-disclosure provisions, as well as counseling clients involved in trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference, and other unfair competition claims.

Prior to joining the firm, Joe was an associate in the Litigation Group at HMB Legal Counsel, a well-established, corporate-focused law firm based in Chicago, Illinois. Aside from his complex commercial litigation practice, Joe served as a member of HMB’s e-Discovery and information governance committee, where he became well versed in e-Discovery issues, formulating ESI protocols, predictive coding, and technology assisted search and review techniques.

While attending Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Joe competed for Loyola’s Wagner National Labor and Employment Moot Court Team where he was accredited for both his legal writing and oral advocacy skills. Joe also volunteered for Loyola’s Community Law Center clinic, where he served as guardian ad litem for an 11 year-old girl whose biological mother sought to regain custody after a years-long absence.

Joe was recognized in 2026 as one of the "Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch" for Commercial Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America®.

Joe is proficient in Spanish.

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Education

Loyola University Chicago School of Law J.D., Certificate in Advocacy (2022) Dean’s List (All Semesters), Wagner National Labor and Employment Moot Court Team

University of Wisconsin-Madison B.A., Legal Studies (2018)

Admissions

Illinois (2022)

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Professional & Community Activities

American Bar Association, Member

Chicago Bar Association, Member

Illinois Bar Association, Member

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