About Mark
Mark Varboncouer made an unusual transition from chemical engineering to law. He earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1988, then returned to campus to complete his J.D. at the University of Illinois College of Law in 2000. The technical training and the legal education set the stage for a career that spans trial work, appeals and federal practice.
After law school, Varboncouer joined a large national firm. Records show early service at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he became a partner in 2000. That role placed him in complex commercial work and large-scale litigation, environments where teams and strategy matter. In 2010 he is listed as a partner at McGuireWoods LLP, continuing a path through big-firm practice and high-stakes matters.
Across those years he added admissions that broadened the venues where he can appear. He is admitted in Illinois and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He also holds admission to the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court, credentials that reflect experience in appellate procedure and federal practice. Those admissions give him the technical ability to argue in a range of federal forums.
Colleagues describe Varboncouer as methodical. The engineering background shows in his approach to case analysis. He favors precise briefing and careful record development. That attention to detail proved useful in both trial teams and appellate work, where the record and the framing of issues shape outcomes.
In recent years Varboncouer moved from large firm structures to a smaller practice model. He now operates under Varboncouer Law, with offices in Frankfort and Chicago. The firm handles matters that draw on his prior experience at national firms and on his federal admissions. He manages client files personally and remains involved in the courtroom and on appeal.
Those who have tracked Varboncouer’s trajectory see a professional who blends technical training and courtroom experience. He continues to practice from Varboncouer Law’s Frankfort and Chicago offices, concentrating on appellate and federal-court matters.
