Women in Law 2025

Chicago Lawyer is proud to present the 2025 Women in Law — Leaders Leaning In special publication.

6 th Annual Awards Honoring W OMEN IN LAW Leaders Leaning In

Congratulations! Christina Wernick Top Women in Law

Christina Wernick 312.467.9800 cwernick@lanerlaw.com

Laner Muchin proudly congratulates our partner Christina Wernick for being honored by Law Bulletin Media as one of 2025’s “ Top Women in Law .”

As a premier labor and employment law attorney with an exemplary two-decade track record of legal excellence and leadership, Christina stands out as an exceptional legal professional. We are proud of her contributions to our clients, our firm, and the community.

Laner Muchin Ltd. represents employers in labor relations, employment litigation, employee benefits, and business immigration matters, as well as companies in corporate transactions and litigation nationwide.

Laner Muchin | lanermuchin.com

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BERGER SCHATZ CONGRATULATES

2025 TOP WOMEN IN LAW

MARCY KOTT

bergerschatz.com @bergerschatz

6 th Annual Awards Honoring W OMEN IN LAW Leaders Leaning In

A special custom content section produced by

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Congratulations to our 2025 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 6th annual Women in Law – Leaders Leaning In honorees. Each of them have this in common: they are making incredible impact 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 almost 400 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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Peter Mierzwa President & Publisher pmierzwa@lawbulletinmedia.com

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Copyright © 2025 by Law Bulletin Media. This is a product of the Legal Advertising Department. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system. Reproduction available from the publisher.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

CONGRATULATIONS Linsey Cohen TOP WOMAN IN LAW TO OUR MANAGING PARTNER FOR BEING NAMED A

312.236.3003 GOULDRATNER.COM

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR PARTNER Gloria Block TOP WOMEN IN LAW FOR HER SELECTION AS ONE OF LAW BULLETIN MEDIA’S 2025

(312) 853-8000 www.chicagofamilylawyer.com

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

WE CELEBRATE OUR PARTNER ASHA SPENCER AND ALL THE 2025 WOMEN IN LAW: LEADERS LEANING IN HONOREES ON THEIR WELL-DESERVED RECOGNITION Congratulations BartlitBeck.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

2025 TOP W

OMEN

IN LAW Congratulations to our Partner Jayne Bart-Plange on her selection among Law Bulletin Media’s 2025 Top Women in the Law

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

Kogut & Wilson is proud to congratulate Brenda G. Friedman on her recognition

in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 2025 Top Women in Law list .

BRENDA G. FRIEDMAN brenda@kogutwilson.com (312) 565-4100 kogutwilson.com

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

From all of us at Marshall Gerstein, Congratulations to Partner Kate Neville! Law Bulletin Media ’s 2025 “Top Women in Law” Honoree

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

2024 ALUMNI W OMEN IN LAW

Christina Roupas Whitney Siehl Allyson Spacht

Tiffany Gerke Amy Gibson Karen Kavanagh Mack Sapna Lalmalani Brienne Letourneau

Cailee Alderman Kina Arnold Veronica Bonilla-Lopez Heather Boyer Ann Chen Erin Clifford Jillian Cole

Cardelle Spangler Gretchen Sperry Morgan Stogsdill Debra Thomas Sara Tonnies Horton

Marron Mahoney LaKeisha Marsh Erin Maus Elizabeth Meraz Margaret Mullen Shoba Pillay Michelle Ramirez

Kalia Coleman Hanna Conger Joy Cunningham Carolyn Daley Carrie Di Santo

Dina Warner Lee Williams Tina Wills

Willkie Chicago | Est. 2020 | 110+ lawyers

Congratulations to Payal Keshvani for being named one of the 2025 Top Women in Law by Law Bulletin Media.

Payal Keshvani Partner

Taftlaw.com

Leading Real Estate. Inspiring Change. Where vision meets collaboration.

Elizabeth O’Brien guides transformative real estate deals that shape communities and create opportunities. From grocery-anchored shopping centers in food deserts to complex development transactions, her work reflects a commitment to client success and social impact. A champion for collaboration and empowerment, Elizabeth fosters growth and advocates for women in law to thrive together. Her leadership extends beyond the firm, through active involvement in organizations that strengthen our communities. We celebrate Elizabeth for her vision, integrity, and dedication to making a difference, one deal, one conversation, and one community at a time.

120 S Riverside Plaza | Suite 1800 Chicago, IL 60606 LPLEGAL.COM

DISCOVER HOW LEADERSHIP WITH PURPOSE DRIVES RESULTS.

CONGRATULATIONS MALLORY A. MORENO

TOP WOMEN IN LAW 2025 HONOREE

Mallory A. Moreno is the leader of the Elder Law practice and a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), an exclusive honor bestowed on a select group of attorneys and one of only 13 CELAs in Illinois. Mallory serves as a voice for the voiceless, a steady hand in times of anxiety and uncertainty and an empathetic counselor and advocate who skillfully protects the interests and well-being of seniors, individuals with disabilities and the families who love them.

• Elder law issues and litigation • Estate planning for the future; retirement planning, planning for disability • Fiduciary representation • Elder abuse, financial exploitation, legal capacity counseling

• Planning for health and long-term care, Medicaid, benefits planning • Guardianship • Special needs planning

mmoreno@chuhak.com 312.855.4317 Chicago | chuhak.com

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Much congratulates

for being named to Law Bulletin Media’s 2025 list of Top Women In Law Courtney Mayster

We’re Much. Attorneys who embrace passion and pragmatism in equal parts. Champion big ideas over big law and high-touch service over high cost. Care deeply about people’s quality of work and their quality of life. Remain laser-focused on taking you to the next level. We’re a law firm that gets your business.

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FIRST ("Name" character style) LAST ("Name" character style) JOB TITLE ("Title" character style) Firm ("Firm" character style) 2025 6th Annual Awards Honoring

L to R, Front Row: Monique Howery, Lea Guiterrez, Gloria Block, Linsey Cohen, Elizabeth O'Brien, Molly McGinley, Christina Wernick, Payal Keshvani, Asha Spenser, Lori Deem; L to R Back Row: Lisa DeLeon, Mallory Moreno, Ellen Zabinski,

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Leaders Leaning In

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Megan Church, Katherine L.Neville, Jaime Koziol Delaney, Molly Pankauskas, Janet Bart Plange, Alison Rhoten, Sharon Zaban, Julie Workman, Allison Powers, Heidi Wickstrom, Susan Best, Joan Akalaonu, Courtney Mayster

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

JOAN AKALAONU PARTNER Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

J oan A. Akalaonu is a partner at the law firm Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, where she provides counsel to clients through all steps of complex commercial litigation in both federal and state court. She also advises and represents clients through government enforcement actions, internal investigations, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) compliance matters. Joan is also part of the legal team at her firm representing African American farmers and ranchers who have experienced recent discrimination from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) when applying for loans. Joan has been recognized and included on Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” list for her work in Commercial Litigation from 2021-2026, and for her work in Criminal Defense: White Collar from 2023-2026. Joan also has a thriving pro bono practice including immigration cases, military veteran benefits, and more. Before joining Faegre Drinker, Joan was an associate at Skadden, Arps Slate, Meagher & Flom, where she represented and advised clients in various commercial litigation matters, investigations and enforcement actions brought by government agencies, and internal investigations involving complaints and allegations of employee misconduct. During law school, Joan externed with Judge Sanjay Tailor, associate judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Chancery Division. She also externed at the Loyola Civitas Child Law Clinic, where she served as a child representative for family law cases in

domestic relations court and represented a child victim in a federal criminal restitution case in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Prior to law school, Joan, who has a Master’s in Social Work, worked for several years as a children’s social worker in Chicago and London, safeguarding young children and their families within their homes, through legal care proceedings and through foster care/adoption. Her time as a social worker in London also provided her with ample legal experience, including assisting attorneys throughout cases in legal proceedings, drafting position papers and providing testimony. Joan attended Loyola University Chicago School of Law and graduated magna cum laude. She attended Yale University for undergrad where she graduated cum laude with a B.A. in Psychology. Joan is currently the President of the Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc. (“BWLA”). Her BWLA bar theme is “Enduring Legacy,” in recognition of the lasting power BWLA has built as an organization and the legacy of excellence Black women have built together in the legal profession. Both a reflection and a call to action, the bar theme “Enduring Legacy” is a reminder of the strength, brilliance, and resilience that define BWLA, and a charge to continue building upon this powerful legacy. Joan also serves as the co-chair of her firm’s Diversity Collective group.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

JAYNE BART-PLANGE PARTNER Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C.

J ayne E. Bart-Plange is a Partner at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. As a civil litigation and trial attorney, Jayne has tried high-value, complex cases and successfully argued dispositive motions in both State and Federal courts. Jayne represents clients in Illinois and throughout the Midwest with a primary focus in the logistics and transportation industry. Clients look to Jayne for practical business counsel coupled with her fierce litigation skills, and they appreciate her strategic and methodical approach to reaching favorable resolutions on their behalf. Jayne’s logistics and transportation practice is full service, from reviewing shipper, broker, carrier contracts for balanced and protective terms and compliance with FMCSA, to assessment of independent contractor agreements, bills of lading, and UCC-related issues. Her

clients include domestic and international freight brokers, third- and fourth-party logistics corporations, trucking and transportation companies and industry professionals, commercial property owners, and global hotel management chains. She is recognized among her peers as an adept negotiator, and has successfully defended clients in disputes involving FMCSA violations and administrative remedies, breach of contract, civil conspiracy/in-concert liability, U.S.C. Section 1983, strict liability, manufacturing and design defects. Prior to joining Burke Warren, Jayne was a trucking and transportation litigation partner at a well-known litigation defense firm. In addition to her legal work, Jayne served as Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee where she created and led the firm’s year-long Internship Program for 3L students.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

SUSAN BEST PARTNER Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP

G ordon Rees Scully Mansukhani Partner Susan Best is an accomplished trial lawyer with extensive experience representing public and private entities in complex litigation. She regularly handles matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, constitutional claims, breach of contract, the enforcement of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, and a broad range of commercial disputes. Susan is Co-Chair of the firm's Education practice group and part of the firm’s Employment and Commercial practice groups. In addition to her litigation practice, Susan counsels clients on critical workplace and compliance issues, including Title IX, anti-discrimination policies, discipline and leave management, accommodations, payroll compliance, and best practices for creating inclusive and compliant workplaces. She also conducts training for employers, HR professionals, and educational institutions on navigating sensitive employment and compliance issues. Susan has successfully litigated cases in state and federal courts, earning a reputation for strategic advocacy, practical problem- solving, and trusted counsel. Her work reflects a commitment to helping clients balance legal requirements with organizational goals, enabling them to foster equitable and legally compliant environments. Throughout her distinguished career, Susan has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing women in the legal profession and creating opportunities for others to succeed. She values the importance of female representation in leadership roles and women empowering women. Her leadership fosters a culture

of collaboration, professional development, and mutual support, ensuring that women attorneys are both visible and valued within the firm. Susan’s influence extends well beyond her firm. As Co-Chair of the Outreach Committee for the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, she leads efforts to recognize and elevate the achievements of women across the profession. Through this role, she has been instrumental in nominating successful female attorneys for awards and spotlighting their accomplishments, amplifying the voices of others and ensuring that women receive the recognition they deserve. Her peers have long recognized her as both a leader and a champion for others. When Susan was named to Law Bulletin’s 40 Under 40 , her colleagues highlighted not only her legal skill but also her generosity, noting, “Susan is also a great friend and supporter of other lawyers. She makes space for others in all settings. She is generous with her time, her contacts, and her mentorship.” These words reflect the essence of her leadership: one rooted in lifting others up. In addition to her professional achievements, Susan contributes to the future of the profession as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois College of Law. There, she teaches legal writing and oral advocacy, instilling in her students not only technical excellence but also the confidence and professionalism required to thrive in their careers. Susan’s career is defined by her leadership, generosity, and tireless commitment to advancing women in law. She leads by example, continually creating pathways for others to succeed and ensuring that women’s contributions are recognized and celebrated.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

GLORIA BLOCK FOUNDING PARTNER Hoffenberg & Block, LLC

G loria E. Block, co-founder and principal of Hoffenberg & Block, LLC, leads by example, working tirelessly for her family law clients and zealously advocating for children as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem or Child's Representative. Hard work, creative problem solving, and a strong will to succeed gave rise to a well-regarded boutique law practice providing high-quality representation in all areas of domestic relations law. After graduating from Northwestern University in 1977 with a B.A. in economics and political science, Gloria attended the Loyola University School of Law, graduating and being sworn into the Illinois Bar in 1980. She then joined her father, Arnold F. Block, a distinguished member of the Illinois Bar himself, and formed the law firm of Block & Block. Gloria quickly established her trial skills under the tutelage of her father, and gravitated towards family law, after significant early successes. For nearly thirty years, Gloria and her father practiced together, with her focus being on family law matters, especially those involving contested child custody issues. Gloria is admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. She is an approved Child’s Representative, Guardian ad Litem, and Attorney for Children in Cook County, Illinois. Gloria is a regular family law lecturer for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the Northwest Suburban Bar Association, and the Illinois State Bar

Association, and is known for her concise, informative, and enjoyable annual family law updates. In 2013, Gloria merged Block & Block with the Law Offices of Alan D. Hoffenberg (1942 – 2025) and formed Hoffenberg & Block, LLC, continuing her legacy of providing clients with the highest quality legal services in all manner of domestic relations matters. Gloria has been peer selected as a “Leading Lawyer” by Law Bulletin Media since 2015, a Super Lawyer, and one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers by SuperLawyers.com. Judges in the Cook County Domestic Relations Division know they can rely on Gloria to work extremely hard to safeguard the best interests of children, so she is regularly appointed to act as Guardian ad Litem or Child’s Representative for children whose parents are involved in litigation against each other. Gloria works tirelessly to protect her young “clients” in what can be highly contentious matters that may involve mental health issues, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other complicating factors. Judges know that when they appoint Gloria, she will always put the children first and do everything in her power to shield them from the effects of their parents’ litigation. Gloria was married to Harold for forty years, and she loves spending time with their two grown children, Rachel and Ross, and her daughter-in-law Suzanne, and most importantly being “bubbie” to Samuel.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

DEBRA BOGO-ERNST

PARTNER, CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL CLASS ACTION LITIGATION PRACTICE Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

D ebra Bogo-Ernst is a partner in Willkie's Litigation Department and Chair of the National Class Action Litigation Practice. She is based in Willkie's Chicago office. With over 25 years of experience, Debra represents a broad range of national and international organizations in class actions and other high-stakes, complex litigation in the areas of autos, financial services, insurance, privacy, products liability, and telecommunications. These cases involve the alphabet soup of statutory claims, privacy, unfair and deceptive trade practices, false advertising, safety and efficacy issues, false claims, government programs, fair housing and discrimination, civil conspiracy, and fraud-related claims. She also handles a variety of government investigations, regulatory matters, and enforcement actions involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Justice, and other state agencies. Debra often assists clients in navigating Consent Orders and other government settlements, including through the use of independent consultants. She also defends companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company risks and business-to-business disputes, and she has significant bench and jury trial experience.

At Willkie, Debra is a recognized firm leader and powerful advocate for the advancement of women and diverse individuals. As Chair of Willkie’s national Class Action Litigation practice, Debra leads a 60+ attorney team advocating for clients in bet-the-company matters. As hiring partner, she interviews and engages with Willkie’s next generation of lawyers, helping to nurture talent and further the firm’s collaborative culture. Debra is also a powerful advocate within the Chicago community. She serves on the Board of Directors of Metropolitan Family Services, providing strategic guidance to the large nonprofit providing social services, legal aid and advocacy for Chicago families. She also serves on the board of Chicago’s Civic Consulting Alliance, and further supports Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Compass Chicago and Lurie’s Children’s Hospital. She is a member and active participant of the ABA’s Class Actions & Derivative Suits Committee. In the legal community, Debra has been recognized for her work and as a leading female lawyer by Crain's Chicago Business and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Debra’s work is also recognized by Chambers USA, Legal500, Lawdragon, Best Lawyers, Benchmark Litigation, and Euromoney's Legal Media Group , among others.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

TRACY BRAMMEIER PARTNER Clifford Law Offices

T racy A. Brammeier is a partner at Clifford Law Offices, where she handles complex litigation involving transportation, aviation, and catastrophic injury matters. Her work reflects a deep command of intricate legal issues and an unwavering commitment to securing justice for victims and their families. With experience across nearly all areas of the firm’s practice, Tracy represents clients affected by major transportation disasters and severe personal injury incidents. With extensive litigation experience, she has played a leading role in some of Clifford Law Offices’ most notable results, including a record $35 million recovery for a pedestrian struck by a semi- truck, a $21.5 million verdict for the drowning of a six-year-old boy, and a record $4.3 million settlement for a woman attacked by a pit bull. Tracy’s aviation work has earned her national recognition as a trusted advocate in high-stakes, multi-jurisdictional, and international litigation. She currently serves as court-appointed Liaison Counsel for plaintiffs in the ongoing federal litigation stemming from the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 disaster that claimed 157 lives. In this leadership role, she coordinates efforts among several law firms and serves as the principal liaison between plaintiffs’ counsel, defense counsel, and the court. Tracy has also handled cases related to the crashes of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and Colgan Air Flight 3407, as well as numerous private and helicopter aviation incidents. Most recently, she is part of the firm’s team representing families impacted by the January 2025 crash of American Eagle Flight

5342 in Washington, D.C., demonstrating her continued commitment to aviation safety accountability. Beyond the courtroom, Tracy makes significant contributions to the legal profession and her community. She serves on the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, is a former Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section—one of the largest in the country—and actively participates in the International Aviation Women's Association and the American Association for Justice. Her service on the Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee underscores her dedication to upholding fairness and integrity in the judicial process. Her accomplishments have been recognized by numerous organizations. From 2021 to 2025, Tracy has been included in Best Lawyers® in the categories of Aviation Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs. She has also been named to Leading Lawyers and Illinois Super Lawyers every year since 2017, and was honored as one of the “Top 100 Emerging Women Lawyers in Illinois” in 2020. In 2024, she was named to the Best Lawyers® Women in the Law list. Earlier in her career, Law Bulletin Media recognized her among the “40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch.” Tracy earned her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she externed for the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Her career reflects exceptional legal ability, leadership, and integrity, qualities that define her as a role model in the legal profession.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

RACHEL CANTOR PARTNER Kirkland & Ellis LLP

R achel Cantor is a partner in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis. Her practice focuses on the tax aspects of complex business transactions including domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, and leveraged buyouts, as well as joint ventures, recapitalizations and debt and equity restructurings. Rachel has played a crucial role in numerous high-impact transactions ranging from several million dollars to several billion dollars for industry-leading private equity clients including Chicago- based Madison Dearborn Partners, Wind Point Partners and Pritzker Private Capital, and Levine Leichtman, AE Industrial Partners, Parthenon and Accel KKR. Beyond her thriving practice, Rachel is deeply committed to mentoring young female attorneys at Kirkland. She provides meaningful responsibilities to early career attorneys on her most complex deals and thoughtfully guides them through both their successes and their setbacks, thereby providing the tools that they need to become first-in-class practitioners. Rachel notes that, “knowing that many women (including me) suffer from a crisis of confidence, I think it’s important to build women up in their own minds so they can see how great and capable they are – to show them what I see in them.” Rachel is dedicated to facilitating connections between professional women and has informally developed women’s networks connecting attorneys with clients, and clients with each other. In a profession where success can be measured by the number of hours an attorney spends in the office, Rachel understands the

importance of empowering female attorneys to thrive in both their careers and their personal lives. As a highly successful practitioner and a dedicated mother, Rachel leads by example, demonstrating that it is possible to maintain a meaningful career while also devoting time and energy to family and friends. Rachel also dedicates her time to numerous Chicago-based community and charitable endeavors. She is a board member of the Chicago chapter of the American Jewish Committee, a member of Chicago Public Media’s Business Leadership Council and a member of the College Parents Council of the University of Chicago. Rachel actively supports Cradles to Crayons and the Chicago Food Depository, where she volunteers with her family. She is an active supporter of Girl Forward, a community of support dedicated to creating and enhancing opportunities for girls who have been displaced globally by conflict and persecution, and One Family Illinois, which unites siblings in foster care and provides a safe space to heal for at-risk youth. She is also a board member of the U.S.A. Cycling Foundation. Rachel has been recognized in Chambers USA for over a decade as a Band 1, leading tax attorney in Illinois. She has also been recommended by The Legal 500 U.S. and The Best Lawyers in America, and named as a "Notable Gen X Leader in Accounting, Consulting and Law" and a “Chicago’s Notable Woman in Law” by Crain's Chicago Business . Rachel is a frequent writer and speaker on tax topics. She holds a J.D. with honors from the University of Chicago Law School and a B.S. cum laude from Yale University.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

MEGAN CUNNIFF CHURCH PARTNER MoloLamken LLP

M egan Cunniff Church is a nationally recognized trial lawyer and former federal prosecutor. As a partner at MoloLamken LLP, she represents companies and individuals in complex civil litigation, criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions, and corporate internal investigations across the United States and abroad. Megan’s passion for courtroom advocacy began early, inspired by her father, who taught trial practice and coached law school trial teams in Chicago. Accompanying him to his classes and practices, she learned the craft of persuasion and the discipline of trial preparation firsthand. Those experiences inspired her to pursue her career as a trial lawyer. Megan earned her Bachelor of Arts from Georgetown University and her law degree from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. Following law school, she clerked for the Honorable William J. Bauer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and the Honorable Joan H. Lefkow of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. For nearly a decade, Megan served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois, where she investigated and prosecuted a wide range of criminal matters, including corporate and financial crimes, public corruption, cybercrime, health care fraud, narcotics, and tax fraud. She held leadership roles as Deputy Chief of the Financial Crimes Section and Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section. While assigned to the Public Corruption section, Megan prosecuted and convicted numerous public officials and law enforcement officers for fraud, bribery, extortion, and tax offenses, including the former Chief

Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools. Megan joined MoloLamken LLP as a partner in 2017. Her practice focuses on high-stakes criminal and regulatory matters and complex civil litigation. She has represented Fortune 500 companies, executives, public officials, and boards of directors facing significant litigation and enforcement exposure, and she has conducted internal investigations for publicly traded companies, public agencies, and not-for-profit entities. Alongside her colleagues at MoloLamken, Megan secured an acquittal in a federal campaign finance prosecution following a jury trial in Washington, D.C. Megan is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier professional organizations recognizing exceptional skill, professionalism, and integrity in trial practice. She has also been recognized among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America and Crain’s Chicago Business “40 Under 40.” Her public service earned her the Mitch Mars Prosecutorial Excellence Award from the Chicago Crime Commission and the Excellence in Law Enforcement Award from the Cook County Crime Commission. Continuing the tradition she learned from her father, Megan teaches trial advocacy at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and the University of Chicago Law School. She is deeply committed to mentoring young lawyers, especially women entering litigation and trial work. She currently serves on the Illinois Supreme Court’s Committee on Character and Fitness. Megan lives in Chicago with her husband, Todd Church, an attorney with Littler Mendelson P.C., and their four children, Rory, Maeve, Patrick, and Declan.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

STACEY CISCHKE SHAREHOLDER Johnson & Bell

S tacey A. Cischke is an experienced trial attorney who focuses her practice in the defense of healthcare organizations, individual healthcare professionals, and medical practice groups. Her experience includes defending clients in lawsuits involving medical negligence, breach of privacy and general liability claims. Stacey has successfully tried multiple high-exposure cases to verdict for a wide variety of medical specialties. Ms. Cischke is frequently invited to speak to healthcare providers on a variety of litigation topics as well as counseling clients to identify opportunities and strategies to mitigate risk. She has also served as President of the Chicago Healthcare Risk Management Society (CHRMS) and is a member of ASHRM. Ms. Cischke has been an Adjunct Professor of Law in the Beazley

Institute for Health Law and Policy, Loyola University Chicago School of Law and she co-authored a book chapter in “Principles of Risk Management and Patient Safety.” In 2022, she was honored to be selected as a member of The Society of Trial Lawyers, an invitation only organization for litigators with proven results as lead trial counsel. In 2014, Stacey was selected as a “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” and is consistently recognized by Leading Lawyers. Ms. Cischke attended James Madison College at Michigan State University where she graduated with honors and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She was also a member of the Thomas Tang National Moot Court team at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she earned a J.D. and was awarded the honor of Best Brief.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

LINSEY COHEN MANAGING PARTNER Gould Ratner

L insey Cohen is a managing partner at Gould & Ratner and a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Practice. With more than 27 years of experience in the real estate industry, she has guided clients through transactions involving nearly every asset class. Known for her sharp business acumen and pragmatic approach, Linsey is a trusted advisor to investors, developers, corporations and entrepreneurs with property interests across the United States. Linsey brings a steady hand and creative problem-solving to complex, high-stakes transactions. She counsels clients through every stage of real estate deals—acquisitions, dispositions, financings, and leases—ensuring that each advances her clients’ business goals. Her representative work includes advising one of the nation’s largest drugstore retailers on strategic store development through leasing, acquisition and asset repurposing. She also represents a rapidly expanding discount supermarket chain as outside real estate counsel, negotiating leases nationwide, managing lease administration, overseeing the real estate aspects of acquisitions and securing long- term distribution center leases. Her practice also includes serving as counsel to one of the country’s largest radio network and media companies, managing office and tower leases, acquisitions, dispositions, and vendor agreements. She represents a national institutional investor in multifamily housing on acquisitions and dispositions exceeding $1 billion, as well as the purchase of multi-property portfolios across the country. In the distressed property arena, she assists court-appointed receivers and borrowers with asset restructurings. Linsey also advises innovative consumer brands, including a neighborhood-focused coffee

company and a Bay Area ghost kitchen firm, on strategic nationwide expansions. More recently, she has represented healthcare companies Ro and Sollis Health. Before joining Gould & Ratner, Linsey served as in-house counsel, an experience that continues to shape her “business-first” mindset. She understands that the best legal solutions are those that align with business realities, and she frequently collaborates across practice areas such as litigation, tax and construction to deliver holistic, value-driven counsel. Clients appreciate her tireless focus on results and her ability to keep even the most complex transactions on track. Beyond her client work, Linsey is active in the real estate community as a member of Commercial Real Estate Executive Women (CREW) Chicago and the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC). She also serves on the Chicago Regional Board of the Israel Tennis & Education Centers, the board of the Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center and as a Board Observer for S.I. Container Builds, Inc., a woman- owned business promoting sustainable and affordable housing. Linsey’s leadership and professional excellence have earned her numerous accolades, including recognition by Crain’s Chicago Business as a “Notable Woman in Law” and “Notable GenX Leader in Law,” “Real Estate Lawyer of the Year” by Illinois Real Estate Journals, and repeated inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America ®. She is also an inductee of Midwest Real Estate News’ Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame and a recipient of Bisnow’s “Chicago Power Woman in Commercial Real Estate” and Connect CRE’s “Lawyers in Real Estate” awards.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

LORI DEEM SHAREHOLDER Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym Ltd

L ori L. Deem is a Shareholder with Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. (HSPRD), a multi-practice Chicago firm with a 40- year track record of providing first-rate client service, and a sophisticated approach to complex cases. Lori received her law degree from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law in 1998, where she was an Editor of the law review and received the Loyola Law Distinguished Service award upon graduation. After working for a solo-practitioner and then a five- attorney employment law boutique, in 2014, Lori founded the Chicago office of Outten & Golden, LLP, a prestigious employee-side employment law firm based in New York, NY. She joined HSPRD in March 2020. During her 27 years as an employment attorney, Lori has represented executives and individuals in a wide variety of employment law matters, including severance and employment agreement negotiations, employment discrimination claims and retaliatory discharge cases. Lori has extensive experience representing C-Suite and senior executives in job transition and change-of-control situations with drafting and negotiating severance and employment agreements, as well as restrictive covenant agreements, and other executive matters such as shareholder and partnership agreements. She advises executive clients on equity and compensation issues involving long-term and short-term incentive plans, stock options, restricted stock unit agreements and other complex equity arrangements. Clients have frequently praised Lori for her passionate advocacy, strategic counseling and pragmatic problem solving.

In 2025, Lori was inducted as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, a non-profit professional association honoring distinguished labor and employment lawyers nationwide. Since 2012, she has been recognized each year as a top employment attorney by Illinois Super Lawyers and Leading Lawyers , including being named to the list of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Illinois (among all practice areas) each year since 2022, and the Top 100 Lawyers in Illinois (among all practice areas) in 2025. Lori has also been recognized multiple years by The Best Lawyers in America and LawDragon as one of the top 500 plaintiff’s employment attorneys in the U.S. Lori currently serves as an Employee Council member for the American Bar Association (ABA) Labor & Employment Law (LEL) Section, and as the Employee Co-Chair Emeritas of the ABA LEL 19th Annual Section Conference. She also serves on the Advisory Board of the International Forum of Senior Executive Advisors (IFSEA), an international employment law forum held each year in London, UK. Lori is a past Employee Co-Chair and member of the Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee (ERR) of the ABA LEL Section, and a current member of the National Employment Lawyer’s Association (NELA), and the Chicago Bar Association (CBA). Lori is a frequent speaker and writer on a variety of employment law topics, including most recently: multi-generational workforce challenges and best practices; AI developments in workplace investigations; neurodiversity awareness and solutions; and managing executive health in times of trauma. Lori lives in Old Town and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

2025

JAIME KOZIOL DELANEY PARTNER Levin Perconti

J aime Koziol Delaney is a Partner at Levin & Perconti, where she has played an instrumental role in hundreds of personal injury cases since joining the firm in 2012. A skilled and compassionate trial attorney, Jaime has built her career on advocating for individuals and families whose lives have been upended by neglect. Throughout her career, Jaime has obtained verdicts and settlements totaling more than $100 million, achieving justice for clients in cases involving nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, and birth injuries. Her results include a $14 million recovery for a baby girl who suffered brain damage when an emergency C-section was delayed, a $9.975 million settlement for a woman whose cervical cancer went undiagnosed, and a $9 million birth injury settlement. This past year, Jaime settled two record-breaking stillbirth cases for $4 million and $7 million. These landmark results are helping to open the door for future claims on behalf of mothers and children, pushing the boundaries of justice in a positive direction for families who have suffered devastating losses. As a mother of three children, Jaime is especially passionate about representing families affected by injuries during childbirth. She explains, “Too often our clients trust their care to strangers assuming they are in a safe and protective environment, and sadly they are too often neglected or taken advantage of. It is my duty to fight for justice for our clients who have been wronged and injured, and make sure their families know that I am an advocate for their loved ones.” Jaime was named one of the 40 Lawyers Under 40 in Illinois in

2016 and has been selected as an Illinois Rising Star each year since 2014. In addition to her litigation success, Jaime is deeply engaged in leadership and mentorship within the legal community. As Co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA), she helps foster connections among women in the trial bar through events and initiatives that strengthen collaboration and build a supportive professional network. As part of her ITLA leadership, Jaime participates in Lobbying Days, leading teams of lawyers advocating for new laws and changes that further protect clients, many of whom are women and children. She is also the founder and chair of the annual Women’s Professional Dress Fundraising Event, which raises thousands of dollars for causes benefiting women and children by rallying women lawyers and professionals to “shop for a cause.” Promoted to Partner in 2020, Jaime mentors young women lawyers at Levin & Perconti, providing associates with guidance and supporting their professional development. As head of the firm’s Law Clerk Program, she helps clerks strengthen their legal research, writing, and advocacy skills while encouraging them to envision long- term careers in litigation. Jaime earned her law degree from DePaul University College of Law in 2011 and her bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and Journalism from Miami University in 2008. She lives in Chicago’s northwest suburbs with her husband, Tom, and their three children, Burke, Reese, and Hugh.

WOMEN IN LAW 2025

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