Douglas Garmager

Partner
Chicago
200 S. Wacker Drive
Suite 2550
Chicago, IL 60606

Doug Garmager concentrates his practice on insurance coverage, including risk management, litigation and arbitration. He routinely represents domestic and foreign insurers in complex insurance coverage matters arising under commercial and professional liability policies. Representative experience includes investigating and resolving fidelity bond and computer crime claims; counseling insurers on claims involving mortgage bankers and brokers liability, directors and officers’ liability, miscellaneous professional liability, and employment practices liability; and serving as litigation counsel for insurers in direct action and declaratory judgment litigation.

Doug is experienced in representing insurers through the life of a claim. He regularly conducts claim investigations, provides coverage opinions, monitors claims for efficient resolution, and acts as litigation counsel when coverage disputes arise. He also regularly advises insurers on policy drafting issues, changes in the law, and other risk management issues.

In addition to his insurance coverage practice, Doug also provides direct defense of professional liability matters, with a particular focus on the defense of condominium associations, real estate professionals, architects, engineers, insurance agents and brokers, and other non‑medical professionals.

Professional & Community Involvement

  • Appellate Lawyers Association of Illinois, Director (2024-2026)
    • Co-Chair of Supreme Court Rules Committee (2025 – present)

Selected Speaking Engagements & Publications

Speaking Engagements:

  • 11.16.21 “Tips for Preventing Professional Liability Exposure and Avoiding E&O Claims,” Forensic Expert Witness Association

Publications: 

  • Co-Author, Update to Chapter 5 – “Condominium Litigation,” Illinois Condominium Law, published by Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE), 2024
  • “Does a Design Professional Owe a Duty to Third Parties?” American Society of Civil Engineers Risk Management Blog, September 2021
  • “Design Professional Negligence? Only an Expert Can Tell,” American Society of Civil Engineers Risk Management Blog, February 2020
  • “Discrimination Outside of the Office: Where to Draw the Walls of the Workplace for a ‘Hostile Work Environment’ Claim Under Title VII,” Chicago-Kent Law Review, 2010

Assistant

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2010
  • University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, B.A., 2004

Practices

Admissions

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Industries

Weber Gallagher Simpson Stapleton Fires & Newby, LLP
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