Call for a Free Consultation

312.877.5790

Principal Attorney

Jill has more than 20 years of record-breaking results fighting for her clients’ best interests. She represents her clients with an unmatched combination of tenacity and empathy.

Clients appreciate Jill’s unique perspective as a female trial lawyer. As a wife and mother she can empathize with many of the issues her clients face in tragic circumstances. She can relate to obstetrical complications during pregnancy and delivery, because she had her own complications during pregnancy, resulting in a difficult delivery, an emergency c-section, and medical complications for her son.

Honors And Awards:

  • More than $150 million in verdicts and settlements
  • Top 100 – Illinois Super Lawyers 2019-2024*
  • Top 50 – Women Illinois Super Lawyers 2018-2024*
  • Leading Lawyers, Personal Injury Law,General, 2018-2023*​
  • 3rd Annual Salute! Top Women in law Award honoree: Law Bulletin Media, 2022
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, National Board Representative, 2021-2022
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Executive Committee, Illinois, 2019-2021
  • Distinguished Service Alumni Award: Chicago-Kent College of Law, November, 2018
  • Top Women Lawyers in Leadership: Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, 2017
  • Ranked #15 Firm: Chicago Lawyer Magazine, October 2017 – JVR Annual Settlements
  • Top 100 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyer by The National Trial Lawyers, 2016, 2017
  • 2015 Top 50 Verdicts in the U.S., National Law Journal, October 2015
  • Recipient of a Trial Lawyer Excellence Award, 2015
  • Board of Managers, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
  • 40 under Forty to Watch, Law Bulletin Publishing company, 2008
  • American Board of Trial Advocates, Invitation Only Membership
  • The Society of Trial Lawyers, Invitation Only Membership
  • AVVO rating 10.0 – 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

*Top 5% of Attorneys in Illinois

Admissions To Practice:

  • United States Supreme Court, October, 2005
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 2014
  • United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1996
  • United States District Court, North District of Illinois TRIAL BAR, 2013
  • State of Illinois, 1996

Professional Activities and Memberships:

  • American Board of Trial Advocates (Invitation Only):
    • NATIONAL OFFICE
    • Secretary, 2024
    • ABOTA Foundation, Elected Trustee, 2023-2026
    • Co-Chair, Civics Education Committee, ABOTA Foundation
    • Co-Chair, Civility, Professionalism, and Ethics Committee, ABOTA
      • ILLINOIS CHAPTER
      • President, 2023-2024
      • President-Elect, 2021 – 2022
      • Executive Committee, 2019 – present
      • James Otis Lecture, Host and Organizer, 2022, 2023
      • National Board Representative, 2021-2023
      • Membership Chair, 2019-2021
      • Helped organize one hour presentation at NCSS annual convention, November 2018
      • Masters In Trial – Medical Negligence, Presenter, 2017
      • Member, 2015 – present
    • International Society of Barristers
      • Fellow 2019-2023
    • The Society of Trial Lawyers (Invitation Only):
      • Secretary, 2023 – 2024
      • Treasurer, 2022 – 2023
      • Board of Directors, elected, 2018-2020
      • Member, invitation only, 2014 to present
    • Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
      • Board of Managers, elected 2015 to present
      • Co-chair, Seminar Planning Committee, 2008-2009
    • Womens’ Bar Association of Illinois
      • Platinum Sponsor, WBAI Judicial Reception, March 2019
      • Gold Sponsor, WBAI Judicial Reception, March 2018
      • Platinum Sponsor, WBAI Judicial Reception, March 2017
      • Diamond Sponsor, Annual Installation Dinner, June 2016
      • Co-chair, Judicial Reception Committee, 2017
      • Annual Installation Dinner Committee, 2016
      • Member, 2001 to present
    • American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America):
      • Member, 1999-Present
      • Vice-chair, Membership Oversight Committee, 2004 – 2006
      • Member, Membership Oversight Committee, 2002 – 2009
      • Chair-elect, New Lawyers Division, 2005-2006
      • Treasurer, New Lawyers Division, 2004-2005
      • Secretary, New Lawyers Division, 2003-2004
      • State Liaison, Women’s Caucus, 2001-present
      • Host, Student Trial Advocacy Competition, Chicago Region 2005
      • Member, Law Schools Committee, 2003-2006
      • Member, Exchange Advisory Committee, 2002-2006
      • Chair, Publications Committee, New Lawyers Division 2005-2006
      • Mentor, Association Of Trial Lawyers of America, 2003-2010

Education:

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL
    • Juris Doctor, with honors
    • Trial Team, Midwest Region Champion
  • Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
    • Bachelor of Arts, Double Major: English and International Studies
    • Hardy Scholar, Debate Team

Mentorships:

  • Women in Law Mentor, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2015-2018
  • Lawyer to Lawyer Mentor, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2016-2017

Presentations And Publications:

  • “Best Practices in Mediation”
    • Trial and Practice Tips Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, May 2023
  • “Pandemic Verdicts”
    • Damages Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, March 2022.
  • “Fee Arrangements / Co-counsel Arrangements”
    • Ethics & Professionalism Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, April 2021.
  • “Discovery Abuse & Sanctions”
    • Ethics & Professionalism Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, March 2019.
  • “It’s More Than Trying Cases: Practical Suggestions for Advancing Your Career”
    • Panel Discussion, Trial & Practice Tips Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, May 2018.
  • “Treaters versus Experts”
    • Damages Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, March 2017
  • “Direct Examination of Representative of Decedent’s Estate,” Plaintiff’s Team
    • Masters in Trial, American Board of Trial Advocates, Illinois Chapter, March, 2017
  • “Handling Conflicts”
    • Ethics & Professionalism Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, May, 2016
  • “Presentation of Evidence at Trial”
  • Update & Review Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, October, 2015
  • “Responding to an ARDC Complaint and ARDC Statistics”
    • Ethics & Professionalism Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, May, 2014
  • “Federal Tort Claims Act”
    • Update & Review Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, October, 2013
  • “Client Relationship Issues”
    • Ethics & Professionalism Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, 2013
  • “Managing Stress – The Impaired Lawyer”
    • Ethics & Professionalism Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, April, 2012
  • “Pretrial Preparation In Civil Practice”, Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education
    • Moderator, March 2012
  • Liens and Settlements Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
    • Moderator, March 2009
  • “Researching Medical Literature”
    • Medical Malpractice Seminar, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, December, 2008
  • “How To Argue And Win A 2-615 Motion To Dismiss”
    • Mastering A Section 2-615 Motion To Dismiss Seminar, Chicago Bar Association, October, 2007
  • “Taking The Deposition Of The Defense Liability Witness”
    • Speaker, AAJ Annual Convention, Chicago, Illinois, July 2007
  • “Finding Expert Witnesses”
    • Expert Witnesses: Everything You Wanted To Know From A To Z, Chicago Bar Association, June, 2007
  • “Failure To Perform A Cesarean Section”
    • Moderator, ATLA Teleseminar, October, 2006
  • “Deposition Strategies”
    • Speaker, ATLA Annual Convention, Seattle, Washington, July 2006
  • “Deposition Techniques”
    • Speaker, Chicago Bar Association Pre-trial Litigation Seminar, March, 2006
  • “New Lawyer Marketing Strategies”, Sidebar,
    • ATLA Newsletter, July 2003
  • “You Can’t Handle The Truth: Cross-examination Of The Defense Expert”
    • Speaker, ITLA Seminar, St. Louis, Missouri April 2003
  • “Overcoming The Wilful Hurdle In Municipal Cases”
    • Speaker, ATLA Annual Convention, Montreal Canada, July 2001