Education & Background

Geoffrey “Geoff” Gist grew up in the Chatham neighborhood of Chicago in the 60s and 70s. He attended a neighborhood public elementary school, and graduated high school from Francis W. Parker in Lincoln Park. Geoff graduated from Northwestern University in Evanston with a major in economics, and earned his JD from the University of Michigan Law School.

Big Law

Mr. Gist began his legal career as an associate with the law firm of Jacobs, Williams & Montgomery (now Williams, Montgomery & John) concentrating in vehicular, premises liability and wrongful death defense litigation. Geoff next moved to the firm of Peterson & Ross, where he concentrated in medical malpractice defense, excess insurance and reinsurance litigation. Mr. Gist completed his law firm employment at Sanchez & Daniels (now Sanchez, Daniels & Hoffman), where he concentrated in general tort defense litigation. He successfully negotiated settlement of numerous lawsuits, and tried jury, bench and arbitration cases to verdict.

Private Practice

In 1995 Mr. Gist returned to the practice of law with the Law Offices of Geoffrey R. Gist, a firm concentrating in plaintiff’s personal injury litigation, real estate and small business transactions, wherein he tried bench and jury cases to verdict, litigated in arbitration hearings, and participated in mediations. He also litigated cases on appeal, including a well-publicized off-duty police shooting in which the Illinois Supreme Court affirmed the lower court decisions in favor of Mr. Gist’s clients.

Serving The Chinese Community

In 2010, Geoff represented a Chinese National who was wrongly accused of a criminal misdemeanor in downstate Illinois. Geoff earned a verdict of not guilty on her behalf, and the case was reported in the local paper and World journal. Through the guidance, support and wisdom of his martial arts mentor, the late Steve Mark, Geoff gradually became a fixture in Chicago’s Chinatown community. Shortly after Geoff founded and currently manages Black Dragon Legal Services, a law firm focusing on civil and criminal defense litigation, immigration and transactions within the Chicago-land Chinese Community. His fees are reasonable given his time, attention and outcomes! He works closely with his paralegal, Summer Tang, to process applications and ensure all of your needs (translation, filings, referrals, etc.) are met! Call anytime for a consultation! If Geoff and Summer cannot help you, they will try to refer you to an alternate attorney.

Who We Are

Meet Your Legal Allies

Civil Litigation | Criminal Defense Litigation | Immigration | Uncontested Divorces

Meet Your Legal Allies

Geoffrey "Geoff" Gist

Summer Tang

Values That Drive Us