Sean O’Malley
Associate Attorney

Sean O’Malley has spent his entire career litigating cases from inception through appeal, most prominently in the areas of personal injury, medical malpractice, commercial disputes, and intentional torts, but also with considerable experience in criminal defense, probate, and domestic relations. Since joining HME in 2024, his practice has expanded to include federal class actions, corporate disputes, and civil rights violations. This diversity of practice permits Sean to evaluate and litigate cases while armed with a broad base of legal knowledge and procedural familiarity that he successfully leverages to the benefit of his clients. Sean is particularly adept at engaging in complex investigations, emphasizing nuance and attention to detail in synthesizing vast amounts of information to develop comprehensive factual narratives and legal theories. In describing his professional philosophy, Sean explains: “In most cases, the relevant facts pertain to past events that cannot be changed. In that context, I view my primary responsibility as an attorney and advocate as being devoted to the tireless discovery, analysis, and presentation of those facts most suitable to the legal principles that best serve my client’s interests in the most compelling manner possible.”

Sean received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), where he was also a standout member of the men’s varsity volleyball team and 2006 National Champion, before continuing his education at Boston College Law School. During law school Sean clerked for the felony trial division of the Cook County Public Defender’s office, where he utilized his Ill. S. Ct. R. 711 Law License to actively participate in contested motions, evidentiary hearings, and jury trials. Prior to joining HME, Sean spent 10 years at a boutique firm in Chicago specializing in medical malpractice.

Sean grew up in Oak Park, where he now resides with his wife and two children. In his free time Sean enjoys bicycling, watching English Premier League soccer, and following domestic politics and foreign affairs.

Practice Areas

• Medical Malpractice & Nursing Home
• Sex Abuse
• Civil Rights
• Business Litigation & Counseling

Education

• University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), B.A., 2009
• Boston College Law School, J.D., 2012

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

• Illinois, 2012
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2023
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2024

Notable Results

• Wrongful Conviction (Civil Rights): Following the submission of Sean’s appellate brief on behalf of a man from southern Illinois convicted of murder, the district attorney was forced to publicly concede three instances of plain error for his racist remarks and arguments presented to the jury, leading to the conviction being vacated.
• Medical Malpractice Settlements (Medical Malpractice): Several multimillion-dollar settlements on behalf of clients aggrieved by medical malpractice.
• Medical Malpractice Verdict (Medical Malpractice): Following a three-week jury trial in Cook County in 2023, while acting as first-chair Sean achieved a verdict of $5.3 million against all defendants in a medical malpractice case for the wrongful death of a 68-year-old woman.