2026 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
Ken is one of the best thinkers and best writers I have met. ” “
KEN NOTTER AGE: 32 FIRM : MoloLamken LLP LAW SCHOOL : Harvard Law School
AREA(S) OF PRACTICE: White collar defense and investigations
K enneth Notter combines two strengths that few law- yers balance successfully: a command of complex legal doctrine and an ability to master the facts of even the most challenging cases. Notter’s peers say that combination has made Notter a standout in both white-collar criminal defense and high-stakes appellate litigation. Whether researching centuries-old consti- tutional questions for a case before the U.S. Supreme Court or defending clients facing federal criminal charges, they describe Notter as an attorney who consistently finds creative legal argu- ments to give his clients the best chances of victory. “I have practiced federal criminal law for over 50 years,” said Martin Weinberg, a Boston-based attorney. “Ken is one of the best thinkers and best writers I have met. His ability to navigate through complex criminal law issues and provide compelling ad- vocacy is exceptional.” One example is when Notter secured the dismissal with prej- udice of all charges against a client in a federal criminal case in Massachusetts after persuading the court that the declaration of a mistrial violated his client's constitutional rights. Prosecu- tors ultimately declined to appeal, leaving his client free without a conviction. Notter personally drafted and argued an extensive motion challenging both venue and the government's legal theory.
Although the motion was initially denied, Notter’s arguments were persuasive enough to prompt prosecutors to offer favor- able plea agreements. When the judge rejected the agreement for Notter's client, he successfully sought the judge's recusal be- fore ultimately prevailing after the case was reassigned. “Litigators tend to excel in dealing with the facts of the case or dealing with the law, but all too rarely both. Ken is outstanding at both,” said Jordan Rice, counsel with Google. “He was the rare associate you’d want staffed on a Supreme Court brief requiring research into the history of the dormant Commerce Clause and on a white-collar investigation involving technical issues.” Notter also played a key role in the U.S. Supreme Court's deci- sion in National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, conducting his- torical research that his peers say proved essential to the case. Outside the courtroom, Notter is an active supporter of his profession. He regularly writes on white-collar defense and ap- pellate issues for publications including Law360, the National Law Journal and Bloomberg Law. Notter also volunteers his time judging moot court and mock trial competitions, helping prepare the next generation of liti- gators while continuing to build his own reputation as one of Chicago's rising legal talents.
56 40 Under Forty 2026 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
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