2026 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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You can rely on Julie to nail down every detail and turn over every single stone in defense of her clients. ”
JULIE BUSCH
AGE: 39 FIRM : Johnson & Bell LAW SCHOOL : University of Illinois Chicago School of Law/ John Marshall Law School
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE: Transportation, general liability, personal injury
J ulie Busch has quickly built a career as a top personal injury and general liability specialist in the Chicago area, serving as second chair in multiple trials for Fortune 500 companies in the technology, transportation and hospitality sectors. And those who have litigated cases against Busch? They say that she is a fierce advocate for her clients who boasts a com- manding courtroom presence and a deep knowledge of the law, making her a formidable opponent. “I have the utmost respect for Julie Busch,” said Michael Mead, attorney with Chicago's Faklis, Tallis & Mead. “She is a highly skilled litigator who handles cases with top-tier profes- sionalism. I know this firsthand from having litigated against her.” Busch has already earned several impressive victories for her clients. Recently, she secured a summary judgment win for a large trucking company in a wrongful death case, something that her peers say is a rarity in the jurisdiction in which the trial was held. While defending her client, Busch noticed a tree that could obscure a driver’s view at the scene of the accident. Her dog- gedness led to obtaining settlement funds from the municipality responsible for maintaining the foliage in the area and resolving the matter favorably for her client.
“You can rely on Julie to nail down every detail and turn over every single stone in defense of her clients,” said Jaynee Tyler, general counsel with K&B Transportation. Busch also suspected that a claimant might have been com- mitting fraud in a collision. She tracked down the records for every insurance policy and claim he had submitted, a number close to 50, and completely undermined his credibility during the deposition. “Her clients trust her and count on her,” said Kehl Friesen, an attorney with the Kansas City office of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC. “She continues to deliver great results. Julie has a unique ability to anticipate opposing party's tactics at trial and put on the best case for her client.” Chris Lawler, a retired judge with the Circuit Court of Cook County, first met Busch when she and her partner tried a case in front of him. Busch led the medical testimony and presented all motions in limine for the trial. “Her presentation was excellent,” Lawler said. “She handled herself as if she was a veteran trial attorney.” In addition to defending Fortune 500 companies in high- stakes trials, Busch has handled catastrophic excess matters for large insurance carriers.
22 40 Under Forty 2026 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
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