ERIN MCADAMS FRANZBLAU
AGE 37
FIRM Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres
LAW SCHOOL Indiana University Maurer School of Law
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE Employment litigation, counseling, and transactional work
2024 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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W hat makes Erin McAdams Franzblau such a successful attorney? Her peers say it comes down to dedication. As one nominator says, when Franzblau represents a client, she leaves no stone unturned. Myka Held, teaching fellow with the Georgetown University Law Center, points to Franzblau's extensive pro bono work as an example of this tenacity. In one case, Franzblau successfully argued two motions to protect a teen sexual assault survivor during court proceedings. Franzblau refused to give up after a ruling adverse to her client. She continued her non-legal advocacy for the client and, most impressively, conducted what Held says was the most devastat- ing cross-examination against an adverse witness that she had ever seen. "I have learned so much from Erin, despite the fact that I was in the role of teacher in the context of our pro bono cases," Held said. "Erin set the bar as high as possible for co-counseling cases. I could not have had a better partner on tough cases and our clients are so lucky to have had her." In addition to her pro bono success, Franzblau, who until re- cently practiced at Smith, Gambrell & Russell (formerly Free- born & Peters) has earned a long list of victories for her em- ployment law clients. She recently represented an ambulance company in several federal court litigations, earning a favorable ruling in a motion to dismiss in one, and low-dollar settlements in both. She was also part of a team that secured a complete victory in a breach of contract claim, upheld this past spring by
Our clients are so lucky to have had her. ”
the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division. During the past several years, Franzblau has also served as the lead employment lawyer in a variety of multi-million-dollar M&A transactions, including those in the fields of logistics, real estate, healthcare and technology. "Erin has always demonstrated that she is a unique and exceptional lawyer," said Daniel Lanciloti of Fisher Phillips in Chicago. "She has an incredible work ethic and a strong analytical and creative legal mind." Allison Powers of Barack Ferrazzano Kirschbaum & Nagelberg also added, "She is a skilled negotiator and litigator who demonstrates excellence in her work for clients." Franzblau also gives back to her community. This fall, she will be sworn in as President of the Federal Bar Association, Chicago Chapter, the premier bar association supporting federal practi- tioners and judges. She earned the 2023 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, where she represent- ed an indigent client in a race discrimination case, earning a fa- vorable result for him.
40 Under Forty 2024
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CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
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