About John M
John M Power earned his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1987. He completed his legal education at a time when courtroom experience mattered. That early training set the course for a long career in trial work and litigation.
After law school Power moved into practice in Illinois and spent several years building a courtroom practice. In 2012 he took a major step and became a founding partner of Cogan & Power. The firm’s creation marked a shift from solo and small-firm work to running a practice that could handle extended litigation and trial matters.
Professional collaboration has been part of Power’s career for more than a decade. He joined the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association in 2013 and has served there since. In 2017 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Illinois Society of Trial Lawyers, a post he continues to hold. Those roles put him in regular contact with other trial attorneys across the state and keep him connected to emerging issues in litigation practice.
Colleagues describe Power as methodical in court preparation and deliberate in trial strategy. He has spent years refining trial skills and courtroom procedures. That work includes pretrial investigation, witness preparation, and presenting evidence to judges and juries. His service on statewide trial lawyer boards has also involved evaluating best practices for courtroom advocacy and participating in peer discussions about evolving rules and standards.
At Cogan & Power Power supervises litigation teams and handles bench and jury trials. He manages case flow and contributes to the firm’s approach to discovery and motion practice. He also mentors younger attorneys at the firm and helps shape case strategy for more complex matters. His calendar still includes appearances in court and long days preparing for trial.
Outside the courtroom Power’s board service occupies a significant portion of his professional life. The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Illinois Society of Trial Lawyers are organizations where he exchanges ideas about trial technique, case law developments, and procedural issues. Those exchanges inform his practice and help him keep current on developments that affect trial work.
He lives and practices in Illinois as a founding partner of Cogan & Power. His current practice focuses on trial litigation.
