Stephen W. Schwab

Chambers USA

• Band 2, Illinois Insurance: Transactional & Regulatory (2020-2024)
• Band 3, Illinois Insurance: Transactional & Regulatory (2012-2019)

Chambers USA has repeatedly recognized Stephen as one of America's leading insurance and reinsurance lawyers, and has ranked him within the first tier in Illinois in Insurance: Transactional and Regulatory. "Clients appreciate the breadth of his practice," and have stated that Stephen "is very well respected in the industry and we really like that we can go to him for any kind of work." Similarly, he receives "glowing market praise." Peers have described him as "a world-renowned reinsurance arbitrator," while sources have described him as "one of the best people around," as well as "very attentive to the client's needs and good on strategy." The directory said Stephen is "highly regarded as both 'a star reinsurance lawyer' and a strong transactional and regulatory presence. This broad practice makes him a leading player for insurance work across the board, both nationally and internationally." He has impressed clients with his "ability to develop strategic relationships, and easy-to-work-with, positive attitude." who stated he "performed extremely well in litigating in courts and negotiating complicated transactions."

The Legal 500 United States

• Leading Lawyer, Insurance: Non-contentious (2024)
• Recommended, Insurance: Non-contentious (2015, 2019, 2023)
• Recommended, Advice to Insurers (2023-2024)

The Legal 500 United States, another well-respected legal directory, has repeatedly recommended Stephen for his Insurance work, and has noted he is "creative, responsive and a true professional." Stephen is noted as "exceptional" and an attorney who provides "a much more complete, timely and comprehensive solution to legal and regulatory compliance matters than competitors.

Additional Awards

Martindale Hubbell has repeatedly recognized Stephen with its "Highest Possible Ratings in both Legal Ability & Ethical Standards," an honor based on confidential opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Stephen has been repeatedly selected to the AV Preeminent Attorney – Judicial Edition.

In 2022, 2015 and 2010, Stephen received the ILO Client Choice Award in the insurance and reinsurance division. He has been listed in Best of the Best USA as one of the top 25 insurance practitioners in the US (2007 – 2009), and Lawdragon named him among the 500 Leading Lawyers in America. He has also been listed in the 31ˢᵗ edition of The Best Lawyers in America® for his expertise in insurance law, and every year since 2006, including in the publication’s 2001 Expert Guides in the Insurance and Reinsurance category.

Stephen's additional recognitions include being listed in The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers for his Insurance and Reinsurance practice every year since 2003; in Euromoney's Guide to the World's Leading Insurance & Reinsurance Lawyers every year since 2000; as an Illinois Super Lawyer every year since 2005; in The Leading Lawyers Network in the commercial litigators category every year since 2005; Lexology Index: Insurance 2025; Lexology Index: Thought Leaders USA 2025; Who's Who Legal: Thought Leaders — Insurance in 2019; Top Lawyers in the Midwest 2022 by The American Registry and listed as a Top 10 Preeminent Insurance Transactional & Regulatory Lawyer in Illinois in 2023 by Business Today.

• Author, "Insurance division yields market multiplication," International Bar Association, July 27, 2022
• Co-Author, "Recent Judicial Interpretation of Facultative Certificates," FORC Journal, Vol. 33 Edition 1, Spring 2022
• "Divided We Stand," FORC Journal, Vol. 32 Edition 2, Summer 2021
• Illinois enacts business division law, DLA Piper, November 28, 2018
• "Part VII Legacy Transfers: 'Part 2'," Tort Trial & Insurance Practice, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance Committee Newsletter, Fall 2018
• "Insurance Sector Trends: Forecast for 2018 and 2017 Year End Review," Insurance Update, February 5, 2018
• Contributor, "Year End Review and Forecast for 2018," DLA Piper, 2018
• Contributor, "Year End Review and Forecast for 2017," DLA Piper, 2017 
• Contributor, "Year End Review and Forecast for 2016," DLA Piper, 2016
• Contributor, "Year End Review and Forecast for 2015," DLA Piper, 2015
• Contributor, "Year End Review and Forecast for 2014," DLA Piper, 2014
• Co-Author, "US Discovery Reaching Across Borders: Learning the Issues on the Fly," DRI's For the Defense (July 2012), DRI's The Voice, May 2012
• "Setoffs in Insurance Receiverships: Two Decades of Change," 18 J. of Reins. 81, 2011
• Co-Author, "Highlands Insurance Company, In Receivership," AIRROC Matters (Insolvency Special Edition), Summer 2011
• "Service of Process, Annotations to Surplus Lines Statutes, Fifth Ed," American Bar Association, 2010
• "The Credit Crisis and Its Effect on Insurance Companies: An Overview," Lockton, Inc. Circular, October 2008
• "Berrable Alternatives for Reinsurance Arbitration Part Three: International Dimensions," ABA Excess, Surplus Lines and Reinsurance Committee Newsletter, Winter 2007
• "Caught Between Rocks and Hard Places: The Plight of Reinsurance Intermediaries Under US and English Law," 16 Mich. J. Int'l L. 485 (1995), reprinted in 8 Nat'l Ins. L.Rev. 79, 1996
• Editor and Contributing Author, "Data Processing, Investigation and Asset Recovery, Claims, and Special Receiverships Chapters," National Association of Insurance Commissioners RECEIVER'S HANDBOOK FOR INSURANCE COMPANY INSOLVENCIES (1st and 2d eds. and Supp.)
• "Cross-Border Insurance Insolvency: The Search for a Forum Concursus," 12 U. Pa. J. Int. Bus. Law 303 (1991), reprinted in Ins. Law & Practice (2 parts), 1992
• "Onset of an Offset Revolution: The Application of Set-Offs in Insurance Insolvencies," 95 Dick. L. Rev. 448 (1991), 8 J. Ins. Reg. 446 (1990), reprinted in 5 Nat'l Ins. L. Rev. 813 (1992) and VI INSURANCE LAW ANTHOLOGY 107, 1992
• "Amreco: A Step Towards International Rehabilitations," 7 J. Ins. Reg. 388, 1989

• Guest Lecturer, "Insurance Basics – Responding to Need," St. John’s University-Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Spring 2023
• Guest Lecturer, "Insurance Basics – Responding to Need," St. John’s University-Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Fall 2022
• Panelist, "Solvency Regulation in the 21st Century," The Financial Examiners Educational Foundation’s 10th Annual Symposium on Insurance Regulation, April 2022
• Speaker, "Contract Structuring for Alternative Risk Transfer," Reinsurance Association of America's "Re Contracts: The Art of Designing Reinsurance Contracts and Programs," July 2022
• Panelist, "Insurer Rehabilitations: Developing Trends in Law and Practice," NOLHGA 29th Legal Seminar, July 2021
• Speaker, "Multinational Insurance Programs and Privacy," Continuing Legal Education Seminar, June 2019
• Speaker, "Regulatory Restructuring Issues in Reinsurance Arbitration: A Break-out Session," ARIAS U.S. 2019 Spring Conference, May 2019
• Moderator, "Business Transfers and Divisions, Here and Abroad," IAIR's 2019 Insurance Resolution Workshop, February 2019
• Speaker, "Handling Unliquidated Assets at Closing: A View from Another Angle," IAIR Technical Development Series VI: The End of the Road: Issues in Closing Receiverships, October 2018
• Speaker, "A Tail of Too Pities – Lessons from Penn Treat," IAIR Insurance Resolution Workshop, February 2017
• Moderator, "Wave of the Future for the Compliance Professionals: Managing Compliance Risk Through Metrics Reporting, Data, Predictive Analytics and How Does It All Inform Legal and Operational Risk," ACI's 12th National Forum on Insurance Regulation, July 2016
• Speaker, ''Contract Structuring for Alternate Capital,'' RAA's Re Contracts: The Art of Designing Reinsurance Contracts and Programs, July 2016
• Speaker, "Industry Response to Heightened Regulatory Scrutiny of Insurance Companies' Cybersecurity Preparedness," ACI's 11th National Forum on Insurance Regulation, February 2016
• Speaker, ''Dispute Resolution Clauses—Arbitration, Mediation and Litigation,'' RAA's Re Contracts: The Art of Designing Reinsurance Contracts and Programs, July 2015
• Co-Presenter, "Industry Response to OFAC Compliance for the Reinsurance Industry," American Conference Institute's National Forum on Reinsurance Regulation, July 2014
• Co-Presenter, "The "Effectiveness" of Transfers Part VII and Part VII "In Reverse"," AIRROC Networking/Commutation Day and Membership Meeting, July 2014
• Co-Panelist, "Towards A Common Global Capital Standard For Re/Insurers: Latest Steps," American Conference Institute's 8th Insurance Regulation, February 2014
• Co-Presenter, "Legal Advice, Cross Border and Other Multinational Insurance Issues", February 2014
• Co-Chair, "The Past is Prologue…The Present Requires Unique Thinking…How Can Reinsurers Prepare for the Future," Mealey’s 18th Annual Insurance Insolvency & Reinsurance Roundtable, March-April 2011

• Member, The Society of Colonial Wars, 2023 – present
• Member, Sons of the Revolution, 2020 – present
• Board Member, Museum of the American Revolution, 2016 – present
• Member, Penn State Law Development Council, 2018 – 2022
• Board Member, PoweredbyAction, 2017 – present
• Board Member, Museum of the American Revolution, 2016 – present
• Board Member, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, 2015 – present
• Board Member, Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms, 2015 – present
• Member, Boy Scouts of America, Central Region Board and President of Area 8 (2016 – 2020,); Board Chair and President, Pathway to Adventure Council (2016-2020, 2022 - present); Northeast Illinois Council: Board Member, VP Legal (2011 – 2015), Jamboree Committee Chair (2003-2005); Scoutmaster, Troop 5, Wilmette, IL, 1999-2003
• President, Congregation Council, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Ascension, Northfield, Illinois: (2009 – 2011); Member, Finance Committee, 2012-present

• Observer on behalf of the International Bar Association to the Uniform Law Commission, Drafting Committee on the Uniform International Choice of Court Agreements Act, 2009 – present
• International Bar Association delegate to the Hague Conference on Private International Law, Special Commission on Jurisdiction, Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters, 2004 – present
• International Bar Association
• American Bar Association, Chair, Excess Surplus Lines and Reinsurance Committee (2006 – 2007), Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section
• International Association of Insurance Receivers
• Federation of Regulatory Counsel, Co-Editor, FORC Journal, 2022 – present