2026 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH
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STERLING WILLIAMS AGE: 39 FIRM : Much Shelist LAW SCHOOL : Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law AREA(S) OF PRACTICE: Corporate law, private equity, mergers & acquisitions Sterling does not run away from high-stakes, high-pressure challenges. He runs toward them. ”
S terling Williams possesses a skill that can't be taught: a drive to do excellent work and to do it with integrity. That said, Williams has never shied away from the tough mat- ters or deals. He welcomes challenges and works hard to pro- vide winning results even in the most difficult of legal matters. It's this commitment to his clients that has led Williams to become one of the top young stars in the corporate law and private equity fields. “Sterling does not run away from high-stakes, high-pressure challenges. He runs toward them,” said Lindsey Dates, attorney with Chicago law firm Henderson Parks LLC. “Sterling has shined as a transactional lawyer who uses common sense paired with extraordinary technical skills to help his clients navigate complex legal terrain.” His peers say that Williams' clients return to him again and again because they trust his judgment, respect his legal knowl- edge and appreciate his tireless work ethic. Shikha Jain, a medical oncologist with UIC Health, first met Williams when the nonprofit Women in Medicine needed legal counsel. Jain said that Williams has since become Women in Medicine's primary source of legal guidance. Why? The quality of his work. “He has earned our trust by repeatedly demonstrating that
he is not simply a transactional attorney, but a strategic partner who approaches his work with integrity, precision and genuine investment in his clients' success,” Jain said. Jain said that Williams combines top-notch legal skills with a deep professionalism and humanity. As Jain says, Williams un- derstands that providing legal counsel for a mission-driven non- profit is not only about documents, contracts and risk mitiga- tion. It is also about protecting the integrity of the organization and strengthening its infrastructure. “Sterling represents the very best of the next generation of Illinois attorneys,” Jain said. "He is brilliant, ethical, strategic, service-oriented and deeply committed to using his skills to ad- vance both his clients and the broader community.” Williams has also made an impact on his profession through his volunteer work, particularly as a director on the Associate Board of the Chicago Committee on Minorities in Large Law Firms. Sumaya Noush, partner with Chicago law firm McDer- mott Will & Schulte, said that Williams has never hesitated to give his time. “What sets Sterling apart is the arc of his professional development,” Noush said. “His drive, intellect and character position him for sustained leadership and influence within the legal profession.”
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40 Under Forty 2026
CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN
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