Illinois Civil Litigation Lawyers

Civil Litigation

10 W State St, STE 200, Geneva, IL 60134

Ms. Chavez earned her Juris Doctor degree in 1998 from Northwestern University School of Law and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Northern Illinois University in 1995. She was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1998 and is admitted in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, the Federal Trial Bar and the Federal Court of Claims. Ms. Chavez has also been admitted pro hac vice in numerous cases nationwide. She has extensive litigation experience in multi-district litigation (“MDL”), federal and state civil litigation, class action litigation, arbitrations (including class and multi-plaintiff) and litigation before administrative tribunals, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ms. Chavez is an accomplished trial attorney who has extensive experience in all aspects of complex civil litigation including such tasks as: case investigation, pleadings, discovery, e-discovery, document review, motion practice, trial (including class action), appeals and mediation/settlements. Her practice is focused on complex civil cases (including class, multi-plaintiff, mass tort and individual) involving competition, consumer fraud, unfair trade practices, environmental, technology, trademark, qui tam, civil rights, breach of contract, Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), employment, wage and hour, insurance and other state and federal statutory and common law claims.

Civil Litigation

111 East Wacker Drive, 2800, Chicago, IL 60601

Kim concentrates her practice in commercial litigation, including breach of contract, business torts, shareholder disputes, class action defense, construction litigation, zoning litigation, commercial lease disputes, enforcement of restrictive covenants, trust litigation and Section 1983 civil rights litigation. Kim has defended the City of Chicago and the Chicago Police Department in multiple class actions alleging due process violations based on the purported deprivation of money and other personal property. She has achieved successful resolutions of these cases at the district court level, involving issues which have been appealed and affirmed by the United States Supreme Court. Kim has also represented the Chicago Park District against opponents of the relocation of the Chicago Children’s Museum from Navy Pier to Grant Park. She successfully defended the Park District’s position at both the circuit court and appellate court levels, taking on legal precedent from the 1800’s concerning Chicago’s Lakefront. Kim is a pioneer in Illinois video gaming litigation, setting the industry precedent in the area of the enforceability of pre-licensure contracts between video terminal operators and establishments. She also represents Chicago’s premier financial institutions in various litigation matters relating to bank practices and owned real estate.

Civil Litigation

200 W Monroe St #2025, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

I’m Kristi Browne, a Partner at Patterson Law in Chicago. I focus my practice on business litigation, legal and financial professional malpractice, fraud, class actions and employment law, including representing medical residents being unfairly treated by their programs. I really enjoy digging into a complex case, especially when someone else couldn’t figure it out before the client came to us. In one case another attorney had represented the client through a jury trial and lost. I successfully moved for a new trial and won a jury verdict for the full amount claimed. In another case, I tackled the problem of avoiding nationwide discovery in a legal malpractice case regarding patent proceedings. That case also presented some significant hurdles in calculating damages for lost opportunities. In the end, I achieved a $32.2m jury verdict that was upheld by the state appellate and supreme courts. The law plays an important role in protecting the rights of minorities, LGBTQ individuals and people with disabilities, including kids. As both a parent and a minority, these causes are important to me, so I support them with my time and expertise. I’m responsible for Operations and Diversity and Inclusion at Patterson. Because I’m also passionate about helping young lawyers become great attorneys, I act as a mentor both at our firm and around Chicago. Driven by a strong undercurrent of justice, I aspire to deliver the best possible result for clients based on their situation. A “win” often means more than simply winning a judgement. A master of creative thinking, I can weave a successful resolution from even the most complex cases. I have been named an Illinois Leading Lawyer in commercial litigation and one of Chicago’s Notable Women Lawyer’s by Crain’s Chicago Business for 2018.

Civil Litigation

161 N Clark St suite 4300, Chicago, IL 60601, USA

Maria Vathis is a seasoned commercial litigator with a broad range of experience with defending corporate clients in complex business litigation matters and class actions involving alleged statutory violations. She manages a national portfolio of complex business litigation matters for Fortune 150 companies, and she regularly represents clients from the United States and Europe in complex business litigation lawsuits alleging breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and other business torts throughout the United States. Maria also represents fashion houses, financial institutions and loan servicers. She represents retail and fashion industry clients from the United States and Europe. Maria litigates matters nationwide in federal and state courts. She also advises businesses on statutory compliance, including the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. Maria also has deep and well-rounded experience with the insurance industry, including representing both insurers and insureds throughout her career, drafting coverage opinions, and drafting insurance policies. She monitored worldwide litigation for international insurers, which includes claims and litigation assessment and management of securities class actions and other complex civil litigation. In 2011, Maria was seconded to a leading broker in the London insurance market where she advised on policy language and legal issues. Maria is a frequent speaker at conferences in Chicago, New York, Paris, France and online. She is past national president of the Federal Bar Association (2018-2019), past president of the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois (2018-2019), and past president of the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (2010-2011). Maria was selected for inclusion in America’s High Stakes Litigators for Illinois in 2019-2021, recognized for outstanding leadership along with Judge Loretta Preska for Fordham University School of Law/Southern District of New York Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in 2018, and selected as the Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois’ “Lawyer of the Year” for 2017. Maria has appeared on podcasts, radio and local television. She is a board member of the Apparel Industry Board, Inc. and an advisory board member of the Creative Center for Entrepreneurship.

Civil Litigation

7707 Knoxville Ave suite 201 a, Peoria, IL 61614, USA

Matthew Hefflefinger is a partner in Chartwell Law’s Peoria office. He is an accomplished trial lawyer who focuses on the transportation and construction industries. He represents businesses, large self-insured organizations, insurance carriers, and employers in state and federal courts throughout the midwestern United States. Matt’s effectiveness in dealing with catastrophic losses is well-known throughout the trucking industry, as he is frequently contacted immediately after catastrophic losses to visit accident scenes and develop strategies with an eye toward successful resolutions in potential litigations. Matt ha been named to the Illinois Super Lawyers list and is an AV rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell AV. He is a frequent speaker on cutting edge trucking-related litigation topics around the country. In 2000, InterBusiness Issues, a leading publication in Central Illinois, named Matt one of its "40 Leaders Under 40." Before joining Chartwell Law, Matt was a partner in the Peoria office of a regional law firm.