Chicago Lawyer is proud to present the 2024 Women in Law — Leaders Leaning In special publication.
5th Annual Awards Honoring W OMEN IN LAW Leaders Leaning In
BERGER SCHATZ CONGRATULATES
2024 TOP WOMEN IN LAW
DINA WARNER
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5th Annual Awards Honoring W OMEN IN LAW Leaders Leaning In
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Congratulations to our 2024 Women in Law Honorees Inside this special edition are profiles of exceptional women lead- ers in the law who have been named as the Law Bulletin Media’s 5th annual Women in Law – Leaders Leaning In honorees. Each of them have this in common: they are making incredible im- pact on our profession, have achieved success while mentoring and promoting other women and have been shining examples of leadership. Earlier this year we put the call out for nominations of women lawyers who are leading the way. Once again, we received more than 300 nominations and selecting the honorees was not an easy job. There are so many incredible women in the Chicago legal profession. Congratulations to this year’s honorees! Thanks for all you are doing and your efforts to advance other women in our profession.
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Congratulations to our Partner Karen Kavanagh Mack on her selection among Law Bulletin Media’s 2024 Top Women in the Law
330 N Wabash Ave, Suite 2100 Chicago, IL 60611 burkelaw.com
From all of us at Marshall Gerstein, Congratulations to T iffan y Gehrke! Partner, Law Bulletin ’s 2024 “Women in Law” Honoree, and a truly extraordinary individual. We hold you in the highest regard, and your clients feel the same: “Tiffany’s high quality work and responsiveness has been invaluable to our legal group. [She goes] above and beyond and we can’t thank [her] enough for it!” - Client quote
2020 ALUMNI W OMEN IN LAW
Uma Amuluru Aurora Austriaco Margaret Battersby Black Olivia Bedi Margaret Benson Monique “Nikki” Bhargava Bethany Bisenthal
Patricia Bobb Deane B. Brown Amy Campanelli Kara Cenar Marilee Clausing Tara Devine Marci Einstein Angela Elbert Amy Garrett
Teresa Wilton Harmon Corinne Heggie Margaret Hickey Laura Hoey
Kristen Hudson Precious Jacobs Michele Jochner
Cathy Birkeland Amy Blumenthal
Continued on next page
2020 ALUMNI W OMEN IN LAW
Elizabeth Kaveny Sarah King Erica Kirkwood Andrea Kramer Mary Meg McCarthy Fiona McEntee Shannon McNulty Kim Metrick Julie Miceli
Britt Miller Katherine Minarik Linda Myers Nancy Paridy Jane Parker Rebekah Parker Kristen Prinz Lorna Propes Sammi Renken
Meredith Ritchie Stephanie Scharf Susan Schwartz Eileen Sethna Diane Webster Mary Wilson Nicole Wrigley
Bravo & congratulations White & Case proudly congratulates
Brienne M. Letourneau on her recognition as one of the 2024 Top Women in Law by Law Bulletin Media and The Chicago Daily Law Journal.
White & Case is trusted by the world’s leading companies, governments and financial institutions to solve their most complex legal challenges. The Chicago office was established in 2018, strategically positioning itself as a crucial gateway for Midwestern companies to access a global platform of 44 offices.
whitecase.com
2021 ALUMNI W OMEN IN LAW
Lisa Acevado Kathryn Kovitz Arnold Laura Ashmore Avanti Bakane Kristin Barnette McCarthy Catherine Basque Weller Laurel Bellows Juliet Berger-White
Elizabether Fegan Felicia Frazier Nancy Gerrie Meighan Harmon Stacie Hartman Julianne Hartzell Lindsay Jenkins
Kimberly Blair Leah Bruno Miriam L. Burkland Susan Capra Judy Cates
Kate Conway Rachel Cowen Leslie Davis Aimee Delaney Christina Egan
Continued on next page
Congratulations to Jillian Cole for being named one of the 2024 Top Women in Law by Law Bulletin Media.
Jillian Cole Partner
Taftlaw.com
2021 ALUMNI W OMEN IN LAW
Kenya Jenkins-Wright Paula Ketcham Vivian Khalaf Liv Kiser Michelle Kohut Marcy Kott Jennifer Kraft Anna Krolikowska Eileen Letts
Nicole Lttle Kathy Malamis Beth McComack Desiree Moore Adria. Mossing Sue Myerscough Margo O’Donnell Marcia Owens Megan Poetzel
Trisha Rich Jennifer Ries-Buntain
Cindy Sobel Donna Socol
Malaika Tyson Anna Wermuth Gretchen Wolf
2022 ALUMNI W OMEN IN LAW
Karen Munoz Jennifer Naber Emily Newhouse Dillingham Paulita Pike Jennifer Rosato Perea Cari Silverman Cardelle B. Spangler Jill Webb
Janelle Ibeling Stephanie Jones Debbie Kleban Eva Kogut Frances krasnow Anne Larson
Gemma Allen Laurie Bauer
Kenyatta Beverly Carolyn Blessing Eleanor Cabrere Sara Davis Nancy DePodesta
Jessica Lingertat Yvette C. Loizon Lindsey Paige Markus Courtney Mayster Kathleen McDonough Elizabeth McMeen Kathryn Mickelson
Jill Felkins Ann Ford
Sandra Frantzen Margaret Gisch Patricia Brown Holmes Hon. Cecilia Horan
2023 ALUMNI W OMEN IN LAW
Simone Randolph Vaishali Rao Agelo Reppas Jennifer Romig
Krista Easom Jessica Fairchild Tacy Flint Kara Friedman Laura Ginett Sondra Hemeryck Christine Jagodzinski Lavon M. Johns Kim Kamin Camille Khodadad Candice Kline Catherine McGivney Jeanah Park
Louise Arnott Nicole Auerbach Heather Becker Amy Bilton Debra Bogo-Ernst Leslee M. Cohen Carla Colaianni Leynee Cruz Flores Bryna Dahlin Gina Deboni Lauren Donahue Marissa Downs Lisa Duarte
Dena Singer Leslie Smith Mary Smith Brianne Straka Rebecca Weinstein Bacon Jaya White Nadine Wichern
See pages 56-57 for more photos from the 2024 W OMEN IN LAW awards.
Aronberg Goldgehn congratulates firm attorney Amy M. Gibson as an honoree in the 5th Annual Women in Law Awards
Amy M. Gibson Partner, Aronberg Goldgehn
225 WEST WASHINGTON STREET SUITE 2800 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606
301 SOUTH COUNTY FARM ROAD SUITE A WHEATON, ILLINOIS 60187
312.828.9600 www.agdglaw.com
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PARTNER LEE WILLIAMS
BEING NAMED 2024 HONOREE TOP WOMEN IN LAW
2024 5th Annual Awards Honoring
L to R, Front Row: Sara Tonnies Horton, Tiffany Gehrke, Karen Kavanagh Mack, Cardelle Spangle, Erin Clifford, Carrie Di Santo, Cailee Alderman, LaKeisha Marsh, Gretchen Sperry ; L to R Back Rows Combined: Erin Maus, Kina Arnold, Michelle Ramirez, Whitney Siehl, Amy Gibson, Marron Mahoney, Debra Thomas, Carolyn Daley,
Leaders Leaning In
Heather Boyer, Hanna Conger, Morgan Stogsdill, Sapna Lalmalani, Allyson Spacht, Christina Roupas, Brienne Letourneau, Tina Wills, Veronica Bonilla-Lopez, Elizabeth Meraz, Jillian Cole, Lee Williams, Justice Maragret Mullen, Kalia Coleman
2024
CAILEE ALDERMAN PARTNER Kogut & Wilson LLC
A s a partner at Kogut & Wilson, Cailee J. Alderman represents clients in all aspects of family and matrimonial law, with a focus on divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, guardianship and special immigrant juvenile status. From the outset of joining the firm in 2021, she has taken on the challenge to expand the firm’s services to adoption, guardianship and special immigrant juvenile practices and, in the process, has influenced the way the rest of the team handles cases through her adept technical understanding and compassionate approach. Cailee’s commitment to her clients stems from her own life experience—having navigated her parents’ divorce as a child, she knows firsthand the importance of advocating for children’s well- being. That personal connection aids her work, uniquely positioning her to connect with clients going through similar struggles and provide guidance on options for children leaving protective services in Illinois. Her ability to advocate effectively for children and families is well recognized in the legal community, as she has been appointed the Guardian ad Litem for adoption cases by the Circuit Court of Cook County since 2021. One of Cailee’s most exemplary qualities is her dedication to lifelong learning. She earned her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law with a focus on Family Law and received the Benjamin Hooks Distinguished Service Award. She went on to be certified in mediation from Northwestern University, refining her ability to excel in complex cases.
What distinguishes Cailee is her passion for fostering meaningful relationships with others. Beyond her work at the firm, Cailee was involved in the Exclusive Professional Women’s Networking Group (EPWNG) in which she built valuable networks and shared her insights with influential women across various industries before it closed its doors in late 2023. She has earned great respect in the legal community. She served as Vice-Chair and then Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee from 2017 to 2019 and stepped into the role of Co- Chair of the Committee’s Legislation subcommittee this year. Cailee continues to make an impact by hosting and speaking at the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Seminars, and her reputation and skill set have been recognized by peers as she has been named to the Best Lawyers list and featured on the Illinois Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers since 2021. In addition to her work with the CBA, Cailee frequently speaks at DePaul University College of Law and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), sharing insights with students regarding SIJS and adoption law. Since 2015, she has been a member of the DCFS Statewide Adoption and Guardianship Attorney panel and speaks at child welfare agencies with foster parents about adoption and guardianship. She has also contributed to the 2020 and 2024 Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Adoption Law Handbooks.
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KINA ARNOLD ASSISTANT PUBLIC GUARDIAN II Office of the Cook County Public Guardian, Juvenille Div.
K ina Nicole Arnold is an attorney with the Cook County Public Guardian for the past 27 years (28 years in practice) advocating for hundreds of children who have been abused and/or neglected by their caretakers. She is highly experienced in the areas of family law, adoption, mentoring at-risk youth, delinquency, criminal law, medically complex litigation, landlord/tenant contracts, and some entertainment law. Kina serves on several executive boards including the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago where she currently serves as Parliamentarian 2024-2025. She is also the Risk Manager Chair for Lambda Mu Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated as well as the Advisory Chair for L.M.O. Foundation. She also serves as a member of the board of directors for Tim Hardway Crossover Foundation and several other boards within the Chicagoland community. Kina is the CEO of three businesses: Yahweh Beaute’ Inc, PURe Beaute’ Inc, and Reigning INside OUT!, LLC. all surrounding helping young ladies and accomplished women live their best lives by finding their voice in various spheres. Kina is an accomplished author: The Priesthood of the Dance (both English and Spanish translations), HIS Bride: I am His and He is Mine, SEE ME, and VERME (Spanish translation of See Me) all available for purchase at www.kinArnold.com and Amazon.com. In her spare time, she enjoys visiting care centers for young children to read SEE ME while encouraging our young children to dream big!
Kina is a licensed minister of the Gospel, a licensed minister of dance and an international online teacher for the Eagles International Training Institute. Kina earned a Doctorate in Biblical Teaching with an emphasis on ministering to children with trauma in June 2021 from Rapha Deliverance University. Kina has modeled internationally for Soft Sheen Products as well as Ford Modeling Agency. She continuously sings with several groups including the Soul Children of Chicago as well as Return of the Command. Utilizing all her practical and legal knowledge, she pours into her passion for eradicating sex and human trafficking by being a certified crisis counselor for the Stop It Hotline that serves survivors of human and sex trafficking where she volunteers by answering calls of girls and women in crisis. This past summer 2024, Kina co-led the Office of the Public Guardian Teen Scholars Program where 10 youth in care were hired to complete a robust employment program. She did so while simultaneously handling all legal matters for her 100+ clients. Kina has been lovingly married for 14 years to her greatest supporter, Eugene. They have a 3 year old Cane Corso named Lady Zoe Arnold who keeps them on their toes. They share more than 10 Godchildren who range in ages from 5 years to adulthood. Her mantra is to die empty by using everything that she has learned or empowered to do for the greater good of her local and global communities.
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VERONICA BONILLA-LOPEZ CHAIR, SCHOOL LAW PRACTICE GROUP Del Galdo Law Group, LLC
V eronica Bonilla-Lopez is the Chair of the school law practice group at Del Galdo Law Group, LLC, which primarily provides legal representation to governmental entities. She has been with Del Galdo Law Group, LLC since 2007. In her role as Chair, Veronica manages the counseling of a variety of matters related to employment and education law for several school districts. Veronica is also an effective litigator, representing clients in the defense of state and federal litigation. She has obtained summary judgment for her clients on various federal and state claims, helped secure a verdict in favor of her client on a three-week jury trial for a federal employment discrimination case, and successfully argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Her work includes representation of public sector clients before administrative and quasi-judicial bodies as well. She is also a certified hearing officer who acts as an adjudicator presiding over ordinance violations for one of the firm’s municipal clients. Veronica graduated from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2003 where she was a member of the Hispanic Bar Association Moot Court team. She began her legal career as an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office. Starting in the Appellate Division, she wrote and filed appellate briefs on trial issues. After transferring out of the Appellate Division, she subsequently prosecuted in the criminal division of the Fourth Municipal District of the Circuit Court of
Cook County where she conducted countless trials, presented preliminary hearings and indictments on various felonies, and first chaired a jury trial. Veronica has been previously highlighted in a display for Hispanic heritage month at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and spotlighted in an alumni newsletter of the Loyola University Chicago School of Law Latinx Law Students Association (“LLSA”). She also previously served as a panelist for an LLSA sponsored event entitled Lawtina Forum. In years past, Veronica has provided mentorship to law students as part of a program with Loyola’s Law School and most recently with the Diversity Scholarship Foundation First Generation Mentorship Program. The foundation, according to their website, is an entity dedicated to providing financial assistance to underprivileged and underrepresented minorities to attend law school in an effort to diversify the legal community. Veronica is fluent in Spanish and prides herself in giving back to her community. She spent 13 years, from February 2011 to July 2024, as a Board Member on the Board of Education for Maywood- Melrose Park-Broadview School District 89, an elementary school district, multiple years of which she presided as the President or Vice President of the Board. She also formerly served some years as a Trustee for the Village of Melrose Park Public Library. She has been married to Simon Lopez, a business analyst, for 22 years and has a son, Max and daughter, Alyson.
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HEATHER BOYER SHAREHOLDER Nyhan Bambrick Kinzie & Lowry PC
H eather Boyer has been with Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie, & Lowry for over 10 years of her 21 years practicing law and has inspired many with her commitment to bringing clients desirable results. As a shareholder at Nyhan, Heather focuses her practice on workers’ compensation, concentrating on trial and appellate matters and utilizing a keen legal acumen and the ability to think critically under pressure. She has conducted hundreds of hearings throughout Illinois and brings a strategic approach to complex cases resulting in favorable outcomes for her insurance clients, and in turn, setting a high standard of excellence within her firm and the broader legal community. Heather often visits insureds’ places of business to speak with witnesses and supervisors to create a better picture of the claim to the court, a practice that showcases her effort to go above and beyond. Beyond her legal prowess, Heather exemplifies what it means to be a leader. At Nyhan, she guides her colleagues with vision and compassion. She fosters a culture of collaboration and respect and is particularly passionate about mentoring young female attorneys, understanding the unique challenges they face in a traditionally male-dominated field. Through on-the-job mentorship programs and informal guidance including oftentimes taking associates with her to pre-trials to help them learn more about the industry first-hand, she has inspired countless women
to pursue their legal careers with confidence and resilience. She shares this show-the-ropes mentality with many young attorneys in the office to help them get their footing as they start their careers, boosting her firm’s junior attorneys’ abilities from the onset. She extends this leadership into many aspects of the law, frequently joining leading industry organizations such as the Illinois Self-Insurer’s Association as a speaker and sharing insights in annual seminars. She also regularly invites others from the firm to join her at Workers’ Compensation Lawyers Association events, of which she is a member, and helping to push the organization throughout the legal community to reach new joiners. Heather is also a member of the Illinois State and American Bar Associations to keep apprised of updates within the legal industry. Locally, she is a member and former Board Member of the Jackson Chance Foundation – an organization that pays for the parking of families with a baby in the NICU of Chicago hospitals. She saw firsthand how the cost of parking affected families and dedicated herself to the belief that no one should have to choose between visiting their child and paying monthly bills. In addition to her professional achievements, Heather is a devoted mother and wife, balancing her demanding career with her family life. Her ability to manage these responsibilities with grace and commitment serves as a powerful example to others.
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ANN CHEN SENIOR DIRECTOR AND ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL OF LITIGATION TransUnion LLC
A nn Chen is Senior Director and Assistant General Counsel of Litigation, Enforcement, and Strategy at TransUnion, a global information and insights company. In this role, she oversees the legal areas of commercial litigation, employment law, intellectual property, and real estate. Ann is dedicated to counseling her business clients, ensuring that legal strategies align with business objectives, and managing complex, high-profile litigation. She also serves as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) legal advisor, reflecting her passion for DEI initiatives. Ann received her undergraduate degree in political science from Yale University and her law degree from the University of Michigan Law School. She began her career clerking for the Honorable Adalberto Jordan in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida (now on the Eleventh Circuit). Before joining TransUnion, Ann held various in-house legal positions at Abbott Laboratories and Mars Food. She started her legal career in private practice at the law firms of Kirkland & Ellis and Goldberg Kohn in Chicago. Ann was honored to be named as a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellow in 2019 and currently serves as the Chicago
Co-Chair of the LCLD alumni network. She is also a long-standing advisory board member of the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (AABA) and serves on the board of directors of the AABA Law Foundation. Additionally, she enjoys serving on the advisory board for the Institute for Inclusion in the Legal Profession (IILP) and the executive board of the Greater Chicago Legal Clinic. Ann regularly volunteers her time for speaking or working on DEI initiatives in the legal profession and on professional development for junior lawyers. This year, Ann partnered with other attorney leaders to launch a women’s mentoring program for Asian-American women lawyers in Chicago. Her accolades include being named to National Law Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40 - Chicago’s Rising Stars,” Chicago’s 40 Under 40 list, the 2007 National Public Interest Trial Lawyer of the Year award by the Public Justice Foundation, Profiles in Diversity Journal’s Asian Leaders Worth Watching (2022), and the Chicago Bar Association Vanguard Award as the honoree for the Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago. In her spare time, Ann enjoys spending time with her nephews and nieces, traveling, volunteering, and playing tennis.
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ERIN CLIFFORD PARTNER Clifford Law Offices
E rin Clifford is a corporate wellness consultant passionate about helping professionals establish and maintain healthy, happy, and harmonious lifestyles. As a partner at Clifford Law Offices, Erin personally understands the stressors that accompany a high-demanding job and brings this sensitivity and awareness to her programs. Her holistic approach includes nutrition, exercise, healthy lifestyle
management, education, business, law, and mental health, on which she frequently speaks. Erin holds a JD from DePaul College of Law, a Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University, is a certified holistic wellness coach through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Illinois.
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JILLIAN COLE PARTNER Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
J illian Cole is an accomplished litigator with a multi-faceted practice. With a focus on banking litigation, she has significant experience representing local and national commercial lenders in commercial foreclosures and other special asset litigation. Jillian also represents secured creditors in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy actions. She has years of experience representing court-appointed receivers in commercial foreclosure, eviction, and building/zoning litigation. In addition, Jillian assists clients victimized by failed digital
transformations and software implementations. She has successfully litigated cases and resolved disputes involving many of the world’s largest software and technology vendors. Outside of her legal practice, Jillian serves on The Joffrey Ballet’s Women’s Board, where members support the institution through advocacy and support and advance mission-driven fundraising efforts. Jillian has been recognized in Leading Lawyers 2024 and Best Lawyers in America 2025 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law.
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KALIA COLEMAN PARTNER Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP
K alia Coleman is a partner at Riley Safer Holmes and Cancila LLP (RSHC), where she focuses her practice on commercial litigation, white collar defense, and corporate investigations. Clients depend on her analytical prowess, deep insight into complex state and federal statutes, and sophisticated approach to navigating high-stakes and highly sensitive investigations. Prior to her current position, Kalia spent six years as Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, most recently as Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Division. She led trial teams through multiple federal jury trials, briefed and argued — and won — multiple appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and supervised other AUSAs in investigations and prosecutions involving extortion, fraud, identity theft, money laundering, and RICO Act violations. Kalia is a natural leader with a passion for mentorship. She was promoted to the Deputy Chief position within a short five years of beginning her job in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, a position that came with significant management responsibilities. Kalia prioritized the training of all new AUSAs, creating opportunities for them to attend hearings and sit in on other key aspects of investigations and prosecutions so that they could build their skills in the practice of criminal law. As a Black female attorney, Kalia is dedicated to progress toward greater equity and inclusion in the legal profession. At RSHC, she
serves on the Recruiting and Associate Development Committee. In her position as AUSA, Kalia served on the diversity committee and guided the process of recommending candidates to the office. Kalia’s commitment to these values extends to the broader community. She is a member of the board of directors, and delivered the 2023 commencement speech, for Legal Prep Charter Academy, a public high school in West Garfield Park that uses a unique legal- themed curriculum to prepare underserved students for college success. Kalia is also on the board and organizes the career day for Youth Guidance (YG), a nonprofit that implements evidence-based programs in schools, including BAM (Becoming A Man) and WOW (Working on Womanhood), which have been praised nationally by Barack and Michelle Obama. Kalia also is on the executive committee of the Business Leadership Council, Chicago’s premier Black entrepreneurial group, and is past president of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. Kalia has been named a Chicago Urban League IMPACT Fellow, one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators, one of Law Bulletin Media’s 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty, and one of the Top 100 African American Attorneys in Illinois. In recognition of her federal government service, she recently received the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association’s Milton Gordon Award. Kalia lives in Chicago’s Beverly neighborhood. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
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HANNA CONGER PARTNER
Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP
E nergy-sector clients rely on Hanna Conger to navigate the regulatory environment. She represents those clients before energy-regulatory commissions and in court and offers sage advice about building grid infrastructure, setting utility rates and engaging in important transactions. With clients ranging from major investor-owned utilities to new ventures, Hanna devises innovative regulatory solutions for integrating electric vehicles, distributed energy resources, battery storage systems, microgrids and other new and emerging technologies into the grid. She helps clients evaluate how these technologies fit into the existing regulatory structure and secure necessary regulatory approvals. In addition, Hanna serves as lead
outside counsel on rate-related matters for utility clients, including formula rate cases, performance-based ratemaking and multiyear rate plans. Hanna is especially effective because she clearly understands the technological, financial and accounting details that drive her clients’ decision-making. Working closely with in-house legal teams, subject-matter experts and business-side decision-makers, she has the necessary 360-degree perspective and client-specific knowledge to create compelling arguments in litigation. Before joining Benesch, Hanna worked at Jenner & Block LLP and two boutique law firms focused on serving energy and utility clients.
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JOY CUNNINGHAM JUSTICE Illinois Supreme Court 1st District
J oy V. Cunningham received her law degree from the University of Illinois Chicago. She has had a very diverse legal career, including serving as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for the Northwestern Memorial Healthcare System; Cook County Associate Judge; Assistant Illinois Attorney General; Civil Litigator; Associate General Counsel of Loyola University; and first black woman President of the Chicago Bar Association. She was elected to the Illinois Appellate Court in 2006 and has served as chair of the Executive Committee, co-chair of the Diversity Committee, and Presiding Justice. Justice Cunningham is a member of the well-respected American Law Institute. Justice Cunningham is active in judicial education and mentorship. She serves on a variety of not-for-profit boards and has been involved with organizations which educate and foster civic
knowledge within the community at large. Justice Cunningham has been the recipient of numerous civic and legal awards. This includes the prestigious John Paul Stevens Award and Dickerson Award given by the Chicago Bar Association, and the Torchbearer Award given by the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. In December 2022, the Illinois Supreme Court selected Justice Cunningham to succeed retiring Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke. Justice Cunningham won the Democratic primary election in March 2024 to retain her seat on the Illinois Supreme Court. She has served at all levels of the judiciary in the State of Illinois and has consistently received high marks from bar associations in performing her duties as a judge. Justice Cunningham is a prolific, sought-after speaker on judicial ethics and educating the public on the role of the judiciary.
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CAROLYN DALEY PARTNER Power Rogers LLP
C arolyn S. Daley is a Partner with Power Rogers LLP, where she has practiced since 2006. She concentrates her practice in all areas of personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and sexual abuse and assault. Ms. Daley has obtained numerous multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts. This year alone she obtained a $10.4M jury verdict on behalf of a woman who was injured by a doctor’s negligent placement of a mesh sling causing permanent nerve injuries and a $5.9M settlement for a woman who suffered burns in an apartment fire. Throughout her career, Ms. Daley has negotiated numerous multi-million dollar settlements for her clients, including a $10M settlement for the death of a City of Chicago Fire Fighter killed as a result of a building collapse when responding to a fire and multiple multi-million medical negligence settlements. She has also been an advocate for victims of sexual abuse and assault, resulting in obtaining numerous settlements for her clients, including million dollar settlements for two clients who were sexually assaulted by a massage therapist at the Langham Hotel. Regardless of the type of case or venue, Ms. Daley cares deeply and vigorously advocates for her clients, seeking justice for them or their loved ones when they have been harmed by the action of others. Ms. Daley has been recognized for her advocacy and skills throughout her career. She has been named a Leading Lawyer in Illinois every year since 2018, and an Emerging Lawyer prior to that in 2016 and 2017. This year, she was selected as one of the “Best Lawyers in America in 2024.” She has also been recognized as an Illinois Super Lawyer yearly since 2021 and prior to that a Rising Star yearly since 2016. She has been selected as one of Lawdragon’s 500
Leading Lawyers since 2019, and she was honored as one of the Top 40 Attorneys Under 40 in Illinois in 2016. Outside of the courtroom, Ms. Daley dedicates time to various charitable organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, the city’s only not-for-profit organization that coordinates the efforts of child protection staff, law enforcement professionals, family advocates, medical experts, and mental health clinicians. ChicagoCAC is uniquely positioned to respond to reports of child sexual abuse, physical abuse, witness to violence, and other serious maltreatment and trauma. Given her work representing victims of physical and sexual abuse and assault, Ms. Daley’s observes firsthand the importance of ChicagoCAC’s efforts. Ms. Daley is also a previous President and longtime member of the Board of Directors of Special Children’s Charities, which develops and funds a wide range of recreational, educational, and social activities that encourage physical and mental health for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Chicago. Ms. Daley also serves on the Advisory Board of Achilles International, a global organization working to transform the lives of people with disabilities through athletic programs and social connection. In addition to the Advisory Board, she is honored to be a guide/support runner for fellow Achilles Board Member and Achilles Freedom Team Athlete, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Cedric King, who had both of his legs amputated as a result of an IED explosion while serving in Afghanistan, and they recently completed the Chicago Marathon. Ms. Daley is a lifelong Chicagoan who enjoys spending time with her two sons and their two dogs.
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CARRIE DI SANTO
GLOBAL CHIEF ENTERPRISE RISK & COMPLIANCE OFFICER CME Group
C arrie Di Santo is the Global Chief Enterprise Risk & Compliance Officer for CME Group, the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. She has more than 25 years of experience working directly with private, public and charitable boards and board committees (risk, audit, compliance) as a risk and compliance leader and as an attorney. She serves as a trusted advisor on risk, compliance, governance, and investigatory issues, including data privacy/cyber security, operational risk, and financial crime matters. In her role, Carrie has successfully led the development and operation of the company’s robust compliance and risk program, and is responsible for supporting the board-level risk and audit committees to ensure they meet their oversight obligations on risk management and compliance. She also conducts regular interactions with U.S. and international regulators on risk, compliance and cyber matters. Carrie’s role has grown substantially to include governance, data privacy, and operational risks. Carrie has built diverse, high-performing teams that contribute to risk-based and compliant business growth and trusted regulatory relationships. She is a licensed attorney with additional expertise in risk and compliance due diligence and integrations, vendor risk management, internal audit, anti-corruption, anti-money
laundering, sanctions, internal investigations, AI/data privacy, ESG, corporate communications, and crisis response. Carrie has benefitted from strong mentors to guide her career, and she gives back as an executive sponsor of CME Group’s mentoring circle for employee resource groups, encouraging colleagues to develop their networks and knowledge. She is also passionate about humanitarian causes and is highly involved with the Chicago Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the Chicago Bar Association, serving as the Board President and as a member of the executive and finance committees. Carrie is also involved with the National Immigrant Justice Center, co-chairing their major fundraiser to support asylum seekers, immigrants and migrants in need. Carrie is a frequent guest speaker in the U.S. and globally on issues of governance and fiduciary obligations, international risk, compliance and regulatory matters. She has been recognized by Compliance Week as one of “the best and brightest thought leaders” in the governance, risk, compliance and ethics areas with a “Top Mind” award. She was also named to the “Attorneys Who Matter” list by Ethisphere magazine. Carrie holds a B.A. from Augustana College and a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
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TIFFANY GEHRKE PARTNER AND CHAIR, TRADEMARKS & COPYRIGHTS
PRACTICE GROUP Marshall Gerstein & Borun LLP
P artner and chair of Marshall Gerstein’s Trademarks & Copyrights practice group Tiffany D. Gehrke helps people protect their most important assets – their ideas and their reputation. Whether a business is a multi-national corporation or a startup, Tiffany partners with clients to strategically protect their products, their services, and their brand identity. She has extensive experience representing retailers, manufacturers, publishers, consulting companies, non-profits, and organizations across a wide variety of industries. Tiffany also frequently counsels biotech and pharmaceutical clients regarding trademark matters for ground-breaking innovations, clinical trials, drug names, and anything in between. She develops strategic plans and manages worldwide trademark portfolios. Tiffany has many years of experience enforcing and defending her clients’ intellectual property rights through litigation in state and federal courts, through proceedings before the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office, and through other dispute resolution forums. Tiffany also counsels clients for a variety of transactions, including licenses and assignments. She has also guided clients through acquisitions and divestitures of IP assets. Before becoming a lawyer, Tiffany was a software engineer developing solutions to help companies innovate efficient, thoughtful measures to guide their business. Tiffany continues this logical, thoughtful, and practical approach to helping clients with their legal needs. Tiffany is a member of Marshall Gerstein’s Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion Committee. She routinely serves as a formal and informal mentor to younger associates in the firm and in the legal community. Tiffany earned her J.D., with a Certificate in Trial Advocacy, from Loyola University Chicago School of Law where she was on the Dean’s List, a two-time regional finalist, and a national quarter- finalist and semi-finalist as a member of the Giles S. Rich Intellectual Property Moot Court team, an Intellectual Property Fellow, and a Chicago IP Colloquium Fellow. She was also awarded Loyola’s Laura Terlizzi Scholarship, given to a female student intending to practice intellectual property law. She also served as a senior editor of the Annals of Health Law journal. She completed a B.S.E. in computer science engineering from The University of Michigan. Tiffany is licensed to practice in the state of Illinois, before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and before the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, Tiffany is admitted pro hac vice in numerous district courts and is licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Through Marshall Gerstein’s pro bono initiative, Tiffany provides legal services to individuals who have had their constitutional rights violated while pursuing equity, justice, and equality for all. She also provides pro bono legal services to incarcerated and indigent individuals and non-profit organizations. Outside of work, Tiffany has mentored youth in foster care and, for many years, served on the Associate Board of Children’s Home & Aid. Previously, she volunteered as a tutor to help at risk Chicago Public School students prepare for the ACT.
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2024
AMY GIBSON
PARTNER AND CO-CHAIR, COMMERCIAL LITIGATION & EMPLOYMENT PRACTICE Aronberg Goldgehn Davis & Garmisa
A my M. Gibson is a partner at Aronberg Goldgehn with a focus on employment counseling and litigation and complex business disputes. She is a co-chair of Aronberg Goldgehn’s Commercial Litigation and Employment Practice Groups and DEI Committee, as well as a member of the firm’s Executive Management Committee. In 2006, Amy joined Aronberg Goldgehn as a law clerk. She became an associate in 2007 after graduation from law school. In 2015, Amy was promoted to a member of the firm and Co-Chair of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Employment Practice Groups. Since 2022, Amy has been a valued member of Aronberg Goldgehn’s five-person Executive Management Committee. Since the start of her legal career, Amy has successfully guided her clients through litigation and non-litigation matters, such as defending and protecting organizations from discrimination claims, managing compliance with ever-changing employment laws, conducting sensitive employee investigations, providing trainings on several employment-related topics, and managing complex commercial litigation through trial and appeal. Amy serves business clients across many industries including, without limitation, retail, restaurants and hospitality, medical groups, non- profits, manufacturing, insurance, professional services, marketing and advertising, and real estate. Amy has edited and written a number of articles for Aronberg Goldgehn’s newsletter Employment Law Trending Now on many
topics relating to new and emerging employment laws. She has also presented at several symposiums, training seminars, and webinars. Amy has received numerous awards and accolades for her outstanding efforts as an attorney throughout her career. Since 2023, she has been included in the list of The Best Lawyers in America. Amy was also included in The National Law Journal’s 2022 Employment Law Trailblazers list, she was named one of Forty Under 40 Illinois Attorneys to Watch in 2021, and in 2017, she was listed in Crain’s edition of The Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago. Since 2015, Amy has consistently been recognized as a Leading and Emerging Lawyer in Commercial Litigation and Employment Law by Illinois Leading Lawyers. Amy has been included on Illinois Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list in Business Litigation since 2010. As the co-chair of Aronberg Goldgehn’s DEI Committee, Amy is invested in the inclusivity and diversity of attorneys both within and outside of the firm. With Amy’s assistance, Aronberg Goldgehn has achieved the Mansfield Certification for Mid-Sized Firms for three years in a row. Working closely with the HR team, Amy has helped the firm maintain compliance with employment laws, updated and implemented employment policies, provided employee training, and guided the firm through sensitive internal investigations. Amy has consistently proven to be a valuable asset and leader in her field of work. Clients have praised Amy for listening to and prioritizing their needs, providing clear and timely communication, and helping them navigate challenging situations.
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2024
KAREN KAVANAGH MACK PARTNER Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C.
K aren Kavanagh Mack is a Partner at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. She is a member of the Firm’s Real Estate, State & Local Government, Eminent Domain, Real Estate Tax, Environmental and Litigation practice groups, serving as Chair of the Firm’s Environmental Practice Group. Karen focuses her practice in the areas of environmental law, eminent domain and other real estate related litigation, including taxation. She assists her clients on environmental matters by navigating local, state, and federal regulations that impact the day-to-day operations of their businesses. She assists clients in permit applications, conducting environmental assessments and site cleanups, as well as defending against enforcement actions by governmental authorities. In the area of eminent domain, Karen advises both public and private entities on proper valuation of real estate, including considerations in assessing damage to the remainder property. She also litigates disputes over just compensation between condemning authorities and property owners. Karen has been appointed a Special Assistant Attorney General to represent various state agencies on environmental and eminent domain issues. Karen’s practice also involves assisting clients in ensuring that their property is fairly assessed for local property tax purposes, including appeals of assessed valuation at the local assessor, county Boards of Review, the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board and the
Cook County Circuit Court. Karen is a longtime member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s (ISBA) Environmental Law Section Council and has spoken and moderated at its Annual Environmental Law Conference. In 2021- 2022, she served on the Executive Board of the Environmental Law Section Council as its Chair, having previously served as its Vice-Chair (2020-2021) and Secretary (2019-2020). She has also served as the Co- Chair of the Standing Committee for the Judicial Evaluation in Cook County, having previously served as a member on the Committee for six years. She now serves as a member of the appellate panel for the Committee. Prior to joining the Firm in 2018, she was a partner at Deutsch, Levy & Engel in Chicago. Before entering private practice in 2000, Karen was a staff attorney and hearing officer for the Illinois Pollution Control Board where she drafted opinions and administrative rules related to the enforcement and implementation of the Environmental Protection Act, as well as federally mandated regulations established by the EPA. Karen received her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her B.A. in political science, cum laude, from Loyola University Chicago. Karen has also served as an instructor of Appellate Advocacy at Loyola University Chicago Law School.
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2024
SAPNA LALMALANI PARTNER Hall Prangle & Schoonveld LLC
S apna Lalmalani concentrates her practice in the area of healthcare litigation and professional liability, where she defends lawsuits alleging medical negligence, premises liability, and product liability. Sapna represents hospitals, physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and other healthcare providers in complex litigation matters that often involve catastrophic injuries. She also has experience in long-term care litigation, commercial litigation matters, and transportation defense. Sapna handles all aspects of litigation, starting with pre-suit investigations and continuing through trial. She has first and second- chaired multiple trials to verdict and has extensive experience conducting discovery, alternative dispute resolution, and assessing clients’ potential liability and exposure in complicated cases. Sapna also understands the value of motion practice and has secured favorable results for her clients in multiple cases, including summary judgment. With her attention to detail, diligent work ethic, and thorough knowledge of the law, Sapna is a strong advocate for her clients and is focused on serving their best interests during the course of each matter she handles.
Recognizing her accomplishments and legal abilities as a lawyer, Sapna has been recognized every year since 2015 as a Leading Lawyer. The distinction of being a “Leading Lawyer” has been earned by fewer than 5% of all lawyers licensed to practice in Illinois. She was also named an Illinois Super Lawyer “Rising Star” for five consecutive years (2012-2016). Additionally, she was recognized as a Super Lawyers “Rising Star” 2012-2017 and as a Super Lawyer in 2023 and 2024. In 2019, Sapna was recognized as one of the “Forty Under 40” Illinois Attorneys to Watch by Law Bulletin Publishing Company, publishers of Chicago Lawyer magazine and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin (CDLB). The list is the result of an annual survey conducted to determine who are the “most talented young attorneys practicing in Illinois.” Additionally, in 2020, Diversity MBA Magazine named Sapna one of the “Top 100 Under 50 Executive and Emerging Leaders,” a recognition awarded based on nomination and based on Diversity MBA’s determination of those individuals who have made outstanding achievements in community, leadership, and education.
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2024
BRIENNE LETOURNEAU PARTNER White & Case LLP
B rienne Letourneau, a partner in White & Case’s Global Commercial Litigation Practice, strategically collaborates with businesses and institutions to help them achieve favorable outcomes in their most complex and high-stakes matters. Brienne defends clients in litigation involving wide-ranging issues, including class actions, fiduciary disputes, and contract claims and business torts. She’s a strategic partner to her clients, focused on legal solutions that advance their business goals. Brienne has represented a wide array of public and private companies, including prominent global consumer brands, leading wealth management and financial services companies, and major higher education institutions, as well as directors, officers, trustees, and other individual and corporate fiduciaries. Brienne has broad experience representing clients as plaintiffs and defendants before state and federal courts and arbitral tribunals throughout the country. She has succeeded for her clients in every phase of litigation, from pre-litigation dispute resolution and early dispositive motion practice to trial and appeal and has a track record of prevailing for her clients in high-stakes class actions, business-to-business disputes, and other “bet-the-company” matters. Additionally, Brienne has successfully advised and defended clients in connection with government subpoenas and investigative demands. Brienne’s stellar litigation record and commitment to client service has led to recognitions in Chicago and nationwide. She was identified by The Legal 500 as a “Key Lawyer” for General Commercial Disputes (2024), where she is noted as an “effective and zealous advocate” who “take[s] the time to learn about [her] clients and
provide them all with the highest level of client service.” The Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer named Brienne among the “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” in 2022. She also has been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business among the “Notable Women in Law” (2024) and as a “Rising Star in Law” (2021). Brienne was named to The American Lawyer’s list of Midwest Trailblazers (2021) and Benchmark Litigation’s “40 and Under” list recognizing the “top emerging talent in litigation” (2024, 2023). Passionate about the development and retention of women lawyers, Brienne has driven initiatives focused on that goal throughout her career. She has led multiple affinity groups aimed at providing support attorneys with children in their professional and business development, and at White & Case, she actively engages in mentoring women associates through cross-office mentoring circles and one-on-one mentoring programs. In her robust pro bono practice, Brienne represents indigent clients and non-profit organizations in civil actions, and advising and counseling non-profit organizations on legal issues that impact their institutional missions. Her work has included representing civil rights plaintiffs and counseling gender equity organizations, including the National Women’s Law Center and the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund. She recently co-authored an amicus brief for the Chicago Board of Rabbis, supporting Cook County’s defense of the Blair Holt Assault Weapon Ban. An avid supporter of the arts, Brienne serves on the Goodman Theater Business Council and is active in the Chicago Bar Association, performing with a diverse group of lawyers in its annual musical revue.
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