About Jonathan Estes
Jonathan Estes Walner is a seasoned personal injury attorney based in Chicago, Illinois. He has been practicing law since 1987, focusing on personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death cases. As the managing attorney and shareholder at Walner Law, he leads a team dedicated to pre-litigation matters, emphasizing thorough investigation and documentation to support clients' claims. The firm, established in 1962, has a longstanding reputation for handling complex cases efficiently. Mr. Walner earned his Juris Doctor from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1987. Prior to that, he obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan in 1984. His legal career began with his admission to the Illinois State Bar in 1987.
He has since been admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the State Bar of Arizona in 2022, and the State Bar of Missouri in 2025. This diverse licensure allows him to represent clients across multiple jurisdictions. Throughout his career, Mr. Walner has handled many cases, including uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, complex medical malpractice, product liability, and catastrophic injury cases resulting from trucking and motor vehicle accidents. He has also been involved in mass tort cases, such as those involving transvaginal mesh and defective hip and knee prosthetics. His experience has enabled him to secure significant settlements and verdicts for his clients. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr.
Walner has been actively involved in alternative dispute resolution. He has arbitrated over 75 cases in the Cook County Mandatory Arbitration system, settling more than $50 million in personal injury cases. His leadership in class action and antitrust litigation includes initiating and managing cases with over a million class members. Notably, he was involved in an antitrust claim against a resin manufacturer used in engine blocks and a mass tort case involving 35 deaths and hundreds of injuries against the city of Milwaukee and Sara Lee. Mr. Walner is a member of several professional organizations, including the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois State Bar Association. The American Bar Association. His commitment to the legal community is further demonstrated through his pro bono work, such as serving as a judge for the American Trial Lawyers Law School Competition and supporting organizations that serve children and adults with disabilities.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Mr. Walner enjoys playing golf, supporting Chicago's sports teams, and exploring the city's cultural offerings. He is married to Julie, who serves as the Vice President of a major real estate firm. Together, they support various charitable organizations focused on women's reproductive rights, education, and services for disabled individuals. They have two sons who are graduates of Emory University and Tulane University.
