Zachary Greening is an associate in the Insurance and Litigation Practice Groups. Zach focuses his practice in the areas of insurance coverage analysis and litigation. He has drafted coverage opinions, position letters and other coverage-related documents for insurance carriers. He handles a variety of coverage issues and policies, including general liability, commercial auto, umbrella policies and business owners liability, among others. He also has vast experience handling coverage litigation matters independently, including declaratory suits.
Zach received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and currently works out of Tressler's Chicago office.
Where are you from?
Columbus, Ohio.
What was your first job?
I worked at Panera Bread and a local Columbus restaurant, waiting tables. A long journey to becoming an attorney.
Do you have any hidden talents and/or unique hobbies?
I am an avid sports fan and enjoy both watching and playing sports. Growing up in Ohio, my fandom starts and ends with Ohio State football. I have also had the pleasure (or displeasure) of being a Cleveland sports fan my whole life. I can say that being a Cleveland sports fan has taught me patience and humility, since they don’t do a lot of winning in Cleveland.
In my spare time, the thing I enjoy doing most is exploring Chicago and finding new, fun places to eat. There are so many unique restaurants and bars around the city, so finding new places to go and explore with friends is always fun.
I also make as much time as possible to see and hang out with my niece and nephew – who is arguably the whole reason why I am in Chicago today.
Zach and his niece.
What is on your bucket list?
Traveling throughout Asia. In college, I was a social studies education major, with a focus on Asian studies. The culture has always been of particular interest to me, so having the chance to trek throughout the continent is something that I have always wanted to do.
Why did you decide to become an attorney?
Being a lawyer runs in the family – my brother and sister-in-law are both attorneys. While I was teaching, I had a strong interest in using the skills I had learned in the classroom towards the law.
Before becoming an attorney, I was a sixth grade social studies teacher. My teaching background taught me patience, how to communicate effectively, and how to be organized in everything I do. That experience helps me every day in my legal career.
What are you passionate about?
History is certainly a passion of mine. People tend to forget that events in the past always come about again, and we can always learn from history as to what works, what doesn’t and how to better strategize and formulate new perspectives on issues and life.
If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?
If I could interview or go to dinner with any person, it would be a prior president from history. How the job affected them, the hard decisions they have to make and how much goes into the job is fascinating to me.
Why did you choose your areas of practice?
I enjoy researching complex issues and coming up with creative ways to advocate for my clients. Insurance coverage and litigation prioritize these and require in-depth analysis, so it has always been something I enjoyed practicing.
What does a typical workday look for you?
Typically, my day consists of reviewing and analyzing insurance policies, putting together complex analysis relevant to the specific terms of a given policy, applying research and communicating with clients. A typical day also includes drafting motions and/or briefs and communicating with colleagues on litigation strategy and issues in each case.
What do you like most about Tressler?
The people. The interactions I get to have daily with both partners and associates nationwide is something that I have never gotten to experience in my legal career and is certainly what I treasure the most about Tressler.
Zach can be reached at zgreening@tresslerllp.com. Learn more about our attorneys by visiting https://www.tresslerllp.com/attorneys.