Zbigniew “Zibi” J. Bednarz
Partner
No stranger to hard work, Zibi attended law school part-time in the evenings. During the day, he worked full-time as a clerk in a workers’ compensation law firm. Over the course of his 5 years as a clerk, he participated in all aspects of the litigation process of both workers’ compensation and civil matters. Zibi was admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois in 2013. After becoming licensed, Zibi was able to take advantage of his extensive experience with workers’ compensation and personal injury claims and hit the ground running. In his first two years of practice prior to joining Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates, Zibi obtained over $2.5 million in settlements and awards for his clients. Zibi has tried several workers’ compensation cases in many venues throughout the state. He has argued before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, the Circuit Courts on Administrative Review and the Illinois Appellate Court. Zibi has also lectured before countless labor unions on workers’ compensation and injury law and how employees can best protect themselves in the unlucky event of a work-related injury.
Zibi is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association, and the Advocates Society, the Association of Polish-American Attorneys. Zibi is also an active member of Local 46 of the Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America.
Zibi speaks fluent Polish and Spanish, and has extensive experience with the unique challenges that non-English speaking clients encounter. Zibi has represented non-English speaking clients for his entire career and is happy to provide a level of service that can only be achieved when a client can communicate with an attorney in the language of his or her choice.
Primary Practice Focus
Zibi joined Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates in 2015. He completed his Juris Doctor at DePaul University and obtained his undergraduate degree at Loyola University Chicago. Zibi excelled academically at law school. He was published in the DePaul Law Review in 2012, and graduated Cum Laude in 2013. Zibi has also won the CALI award three times in the subjects of Remedies, Trial Advocacy II, and Legal Analysis, Research and Communication (LARC) III.
In-Depth Look
Zibi was born in Poland and moved to the United States as a small boy. He grew up in the northwest suburbs, moving to Chicago in 2004. Prior to college, Zibi worked in the stockroom at a Target and Ulta. During college, Zibi worked as a valet at two restaurants in Evanston, Illinois.
Zibi is an avid football and soccer fan and plays as a goalkeeper on a recreational soccer team. He also enjoys cycling, snowboarding, listening to NPR, playing video games, and spending time with his girlfriend and family. Zibi loves to travel, he has visited over 20 countries around the world.
