2025 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
MANUELA CABAL
AGE 33
FIRM McAndrews, Held & Malloy
LAW SCHOOL Valparaiso University School of Law
“
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Intellectual property
She brings a level of strategic insight and leadership you would expect from someone far more senior.
”
M anuela Cabal has built a reputation as a patent litigator whose depth of experience and leadership far exceeds her years. A Partner at McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Cabal has played pivotal roles in complex, high-stakes intellectual property disputes. Most notably, Cabal was a key member of the team repre- senting a Fortune 500 medical device company in one of the largest and most complex global patent litigations in recent history, encompassing more than 70 disputes across U.S. and international forums and over 50 patents. Manuela’s responsi- bilities included team and case management, and she actively contributed to all phases of the litigation—including IPRs and trial—helping secure critical victories in federal court and be- fore the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Her work has drawn praise from clients at the highest levels. “Manuela has exceptional case management skills and deep litigation experience compared to other attorneys at similar seniority,” said Diana Luo, Divisional Vice President and Asso- ciate General Counsel at Abbott. “She brings a level of strategic insight and leadership you would expect from someone far more senior.” Cabal’s ability to balance technical depth with strategic fore- sight also makes her a valued partner to clients and colleagues. They note her innate ability to see the forest for the trees and think creatively to achieve client goals. Known also for her
diligence and attention to detail, she is often asked to take on leadership responsibilities, coordinating complex litigation strat- egies and cross-functional collaboration with in-house legal and technical teams. Manuela’s McAndrews colleagues describe her as an attor- ney whose enthusiasm and collaborative spirit energizes teams and strengthens the firm’s culture. She has served in leadership roles on the firm’s Diversity, Recruiting, and Professional Devel- opment committees, reflecting her commitment to fostering inclusion and mentorship. Her contributions extend outside the firm. Manuela has held committee leadership roles with the Coalition of Women’s Ini- tiatives in Law (Chicago), helping foster inclusion and network- ing between women attorneys. Manuela has also shown a deep commitment to pro bono service, delivering life-changing victo- ries for clients. Drew Curle, supervisory attorney with the Great- er Chicago Legal Clinic, said that Cabal’s exceptional work with the clinic’s Criminal Records Program provided clients a second chance at employment, housing, and stability. For almost ten years, Manuela has also volunteered with the National Immigrant Justice Center (Chicago), representing a family of four in a complex asylum case. The combination of legal skill, strategic vision, and social im- pact makes Cabal stand out as one of the leading young voices in intellectual property law today.
40 Under Forty 2025
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CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
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