Edmond M. Burke

Principal

P 312 855 4352 F 312 444 9027

With decades of diverse experience advising and advocating for financial institutions in a wide range of lending, restructuring and insolvency matters, Ed Burke has a deeply ingrained and intuitive understanding of what his clients need from their outside counsel. His ability to protect their interests in distressed loan and other special asset situations as well as their bottom lines has made him an invaluable asset for banks and lenders of all sizes.

Overview

Leader of the firm’s Financial Services group, Ed oversees and works with a dedicated team of over 20 lawyers in Chicago and New York who share an unwavering commitment to delivering favorable outcomes and impeccable client service in equal measure. Ed’s years of fighting in the banking litigation trenches formed the foundation for the holistic, strategic and pragmatic counsel he delivers today. He has dealt with every possible scenario, issue, challenge and resolution involving distressed and defaulted loans. This allows Ed to quickly and efficiently identify core issues and craft effective approaches that position his clients for maximal recoveries on outstanding obligations.

Ed advises secured and unsecured lenders on loan workouts, reorganizations, asset sales and commercial mortgage foreclosures. He possesses intricate knowledge of complex bankruptcy matters, including Chapter 11 filings, confirmations and hearings, and also has experience representing banks in Article 3 and Article 4 matters arising under the Uniform Commercial Code as well as Electronic Fund Transfer Act claims. Well-versed in Small Business Administration (SBA) liquidation and repurchase processes, his ability to align strategies with the agency’s priorities has played a key role in preserving loan guarantees and disposing of assets tied to the SBA liquidation process.

Working seamlessly and collaboratively with his clients’ internal constituencies, Ed puts a premium on clear, consistent communications, transparency and lightning-fast responsiveness. He has established flexible yet proven systems and protocols designed to ensure that each client has the information they need in the manner they prefer while sparing them from esoteric or tangential matters that add to their burdens instead of adding value. Ed’s leadership, no-nonsense yet personable counseling style and the confidence and trust he instills have helped him forge enduring client relationships, while his professional accomplishments have earned him frequent accolades from his peers and colleagues.

Credentials

Education
DePaul University College of Law, J.D., 2002
Boston College, B.A., 1997

Bar Admissions
Illinois, 2002
Massachusetts, 2002

Court Admissions
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2002
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2012
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois, 2013
U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, 2015
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2017
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, 2018
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2021
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, 2021
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Oklahoma, 2025

Memberships & Associations
  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
Noteworthy
  • Leading Lawyer (2013 – 2025)
  • Super Lawyer (2024 – 2025)
  • Illinois Rising Star, selected by Super Lawyers (2010 to 2014)
  • Editor, DePaul University College of Law Business and Commercial Law Journal (2001 to 2002)

Ed Burke is a long-term player in the banking industry; Ed knows and understands financial institutions.

Ed Burke’s firsthand experience working at financial institutions gives him a unique, well-rounded perspective when advising his bank clients on complex workout and bankruptcy matters.