Rex concentrates his practice in the area of civil litigation in federal and state courts, including the defense of professional and product liability cases involving potentially significant damages. He has represented numerous physicians, hospitals, medical schools and attorneys in professional liability matters. He is a recognized product liability authority representing many manufacturers and distributors in catastrophic injury cases.

Rex has held numerous leadership positions in many professional organizations at the International, national and local levels. He is frequently called upon to speak on product and professional liability issues before business and professional organizations. He is also a regular lecturer and author for various legal organizations concerning trial tactics and strategies.

• Neff v. Western Illinois Electric Not guilty verdict on trespass claim against electric utility that cut down 122 trees on plaintiffs' property.
• Main v. Ballymore Obtained not guilty verdict for manufacturer of rollable ladder in strict liability claim.
• Pennington v. R.D. Werner Obtained not guilty verdict in strict liability claim for manufacturer of aluma-plank scaffold after worker fell.
• Hobson v. L. Obtained not guilty verdict for chiropractor whose manipulation allegedly caused herniated disc.
• Wortz v. O. Obtained not guilty verdict in favor of orthopedic surgeon and nurse following bad result from surgery.
• Baldwin v. R.D. Werner Obtained not guilty verdict for aluminum ladder manufacturer when plaintiff fell sustaining a triple leg fracture and shoulder dislocation.
• Vezena v. Cornbelt Electric Not guilty verdict for electrical co-op when lineman fell from allegedly defective pole resulting in paralysis.
• Garza v. A. Not guilty verdict defending wrongful death medical malpractice against a trauma surgeon for failure to diagnose bleeding pancreas in 20-year-old male.
• Yeaman v. Shelby Electric Cooperative Obtained not guilty verdict in double wrongful death against electrical co-op where a 38-year-old farmer and 14-year-old nephew moved auger into power line near grain bins.
• Nye v. R.S. Not guilty verdict defending a lawyer who failed to timely file a medical malpractice claim.
• Montejo v. OSF Obtained not guilty verdict in wrongful death claim for two trauma surgeons who failed to diagnose pulmonary embolism in 38-year-old mother of two.

• "Defenses to Product Liability," chapter in Product Liability Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2009, 2012, 2014, 2019)
  
• "Attorney Liability to Non-Clients" chapter in Attorney's Legal Liability, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2012, 2014, 2018)
• "How the New Civil Rules Will Affect Defense and Corporate Counsel"
• "Update on Duty to Warn"
• "Preparing Your Expert Witness to Answer the Hard Questions at Deposition"
• Defense Counsel Training Manual (Chapter Author)
• "Winning the Defense Verdict" (Chapter Author)
• "Federal Preemption Defenses in Product Liability Cases," Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly Monograph (1996) - Download Article
  
• "Defending the Sick Building Case," Illinois Defense Counsel Quarterly (1995) - Download Article
  

• “Advanced Insurance, Settlement, and Trial Issues for Accident Cases”
  Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2013
• “Challenging Psychological Damages in Civil Litigation”
  
• “The Expert Dilemma - Challenging Unreliable Expert Testimony”
  
• “Jury Selection - What Information You Need and How you Decide Who to Excuse”
  
• “National Jury Trial Innovations Project”
  
• “Duty to Warn in Product Liability”
  
• “Preparing the Corporate Representative for Deposition”
  
• “Preparing the Doctor for a Deposition”
  
• “Cross-Examination of Opposing Economist”
  
• “Cross-Examination of Plaintiff’s Engineering Expert”
  
• “Party Depositions - Pre-Trial Preparation”
  

• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
• Named one of the top 100 Super Lawyers in Illinois in 2005 and to the Illinois Super Lawyers list each year thereafter (2005-2021). The Super Lawyers selection process is based on peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of the lawyers in each state earn this designation.
• Selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois. Only five percent of lawyers in the state are named as Leading Lawyers.
• DRI Service Award
• Bradley University Distinguished Alumnus Award

• International Association of Defense Counsel (President 1998-99, Executive Committee 1994-2000)
• Lawyers for Civil Justice (President 2002-03)
• Bar Association of the Central and Southern Federal Districts of Illinois (President 2007-09)
• Defense Research Institute (Board of Directors 1997-2000)
• Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (Past-Chair, Product Liability Committee)
• Seventh Circuit Bar Association (Central District-Illinois Liaison)
• Peoria County Bar Association (President 2005-06)
• American College of Trial Lawyers (Adjunct State Committee)
• Society of Trial Lawyers-Illinois
• American Bar Association
• Illinois State Bar Association

• State Courts of Illinois
• United States District Court, Central District of Illinois
• United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
• United States Supreme Court

• Bradley University (Board of Trustees, 1994-2013; Chairman 2002-06)
• Peoria Sister City Commission (Chair)
• OSF St. Francis Medical Center (President of Board 2007-08)
• Economic Development Council of the Peoria Area (Chair)
• Americorps *National Civilian Community Corps (Director)
• Forest Park Foundation (Director)
• Peoria Historical Society (Director)
• Community Foundation of Central Illinois (Past-Director)
• Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (Vice-Chair)
• Bradley University Institute for Principled Leadership (Council)
• Peoria Symphony Foundation (Director)
• American National Red Cross (Board of Governors 2000-06, Vice-Chair 2005-06, Past-Chair of National Bio-Medical Services Committee; Executive Committee 2003-06; Governance Committee 2004-06; Presidential Search Committee 2006-07; National Leadership Council 2009-
• American Red Cross (Midwest Region Chair 1997-2000; Midwest Regional Committee 1996-2000; Central Illinois Chapter Chair 1993-95; Heart of Illinois Blood Region Chair 1988-90)
• Creve Coeur Club (Past-President)
• Peoria Gridiron Dinner (Past-Chair)
• OSF Foundation Council (Past-Chair)
• Children's Hospital of Illinois (Past-President)
• Family House (Past-President)
• Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce (former Chairman)
• Bradley University National Alumni Association (Past-President)
• Bradley University Chiefs Club (Past-President)
• Friends of Wildlife Prairie State Park (Director)