Every year, Chicago Lawyer and Jury Verdict Reporter — a sister publication of Law Bulletin Media — analyze the top reported settlements. The 2019 JVR Settlements Report includes 634 Illinois cases that were submitted to Jury Verdict Reporter between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019. The total value of these settlements was more than $1.7 billion, including four business cases that settled for $330 million.
Maria Vathis is currently of counsel at the Chicago office of Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, where her practice primarily consists of class-action defense involving statutory violations and complex business litigation. She’s also been involved with several bar associations throughout her career — chief among them as the immediate past president of the Federal Bar Association.
As a member of Latham & Watkins’ real estate practice, associate Sarah Barr’s daily work is mostly transactional. In her pro bono work for guardian ad litem cases, she gets to work on personal cases involving children and families.
Starting in January 2016 with two partners, Benesch's Chicago office has swelled to more than 60 lawyers, their paralegals and the office support staff. The firm’s growth also meant a short stay at its initial home at 333 W. Wacker Drive. In early September, Cleveland-based Benesch celebrated the move to its new Chicago office in Suite 1600 at 71 S. Wacker Drive.
At age 44, Christopher Hennessy decided to run his first marathon. After doing some research, the Cozen O’Connor partner discovered the Chicago Area Runners Association, a nonprofit running group that helps educate and train runners.
On April 9, 40 cases were dropped on Miriam “Mimi” Stein’s desk. One case stood out above the rest — the Johnson Publishing Co. Chapter 7 case. Stein, a principal with Chuhak & Tecson’s banking group, helped secure and successfully auction Johnson Publishing’s more than 75-year catalog of historical photographs and media archives.
Women in Law July 2019Chicago Lawyer is proud to present the July 2019 Women in Law special section.