Family Legacy in Public Service and the Law

Hailing from Highland Park, personal injury attorney Michael F. Bonamarte IV continues the family legacy of serving the public and those in need.

Bonamarte’s father, Michael III, practiced with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s office before setting up his own practice, Law Offices of Michael F. Bonamarte, and represented clients in probate transactions. Michael F. Bonamarte Jr., was the chief of the Highland Park Police for nearly 40 years and headed both the police and fire departments during his final four years. And Michael F. Bonamarte Sr., born in 1909, was a fingerprint expert with the Highland Park Police.

A former varsity quarterback for Highland Park High School, Bonamarte did not plan on becoming a lawyer during his undergraduate years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Instead, he envisioned himself in a white lab coat and hoped to attend medical school to become a doctor who would help patients and make an impact on their health.

But Bonamarte also felt drawn to continue in his father’s footsteps by practicing law. After graduation, he took the LSAT and was accepted at the John Marshall Law School, where he quickly became interested in trial work and litigation. Advocacy was in Michael IV’s blood.

Recognizing his son’s interest in becoming a trial lawyer, Bonamarte’s father connected him to Steven Levin, a founder and partner of Levin & Perconti, a personal injury firm in Chicago. Bonamarte also had attended high school with Levin’s son.

During Bonamarte’s first year of law school, Levin tutored him in his legal studies. Bonamarte later secured his first clerkship at Levin & Perconti and was hired as an associate in 2005, ultimately paving the way for his career as a successful personal injury attorney.

Before Bonamarte could be sworn in as a lawyer, his father suddenly passed away in 2006. In memory of his father, Bonamarte created the Michael F. Bonamarte III Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and funding research on the treatment and prevention of strokes. Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $60,000, which has been donated to the Northwestern Memorial Neurology Program. The stroke unit at Northwestern has a room named after the foundation.

Bonamarte was named partner at Levin & Perconti in 2014. He concentrates his practice on advocating for people harmed in nursing home abuse and neglect cases, medical malpractice, personal injury and wrongful death.

As the 2019-2020 chair of the American Association of Justice’s Nursing Home Litigation Group, Bonamarte works to educate others on nursing home legislation, what to look for when choosing a nursing home, and the rights of consumers in this industry. Additionally, he works with the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education and the Justinian Society of Lawyers. Bonamarte travels both locally and nationally to speak at bar associations and community groups. Proud to be carrying on his family’s legacy of hard work and service to the community, Bonamarte fights for the rights of his clients both inside and outside the courtroom.

In addition to the example his father and grandfather set, Bonamarte credits his success to a team of mentors at Levin & Perconti who have always challenged him to better himself both professionally and in his personal life. Founding partners Steven Levin and John Perconti, and partner Susan Novosad, all have been instrumental in growing the firm and investing in one-on-one training for the younger lawyers. In turn, Bonamarte is active in mentoring the firm’s newest attorneys, training them in case preparation, depositions and legal issues.

Now a family man who calls Winnetka home, Bonamarte enjoys spending time with his wife, Julia, and his daughter, Gabriella Grace, known as “GG.”