Kathleen McDonough

Shareholder

312.645.7905
312.645.7711 (fax)
kmcdonough@smsm.com
233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 5500
Chicago, IL 60606
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Kathleen McDonough, Managing Shareholder, is a trial attorney who concentrates her practice in general liability matters including products liability, commercial litigation, class action, employment, premises and transportation matters. Ms. McDonough also has extensive experience in the areas of toxic tort defense. She regularly provides business consulting services to a variety of corporations and acts as defense counsel for corporations and municipal entities sued in consumer class action matters. Ms. McDonough practices in state and federal courts across the country and was recently admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court.

Prior to being named Managing Shareholder, Ms. McDonough chaired Segal McCambridge's general litigation practice group. She also established and chaired the firm's summer associate program as well as the firm's diversity and associate committees. Ms. McDonough is actively involved in numerous professional and civic organizations including the Society of Women in Law Mentorship Program, and she volunteers for the Chicago Volunteer Legal Society to represent disabled children in the reinstatement of Supplemental Social Security Income benefits. Ms. McDonough also serves on the Board of the Friends of the St. Columbanus Food Pantry.

Chicago Lawyer Magazine profiled Ms. McDonough in the 2012 edition of Women in Law, which honors 15 women attorneys in Chicago who have made and continue to make a unique impact on the legal profession. Read Ms. McDonough's Women in Law 2012 profile. She is also the recipient of the 2012 Chicago-Kent College of Law Professional Achievement Award in recognition of her achievements and contributions to the school and legal community.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

  • Won an appeal in which the court found that a prima facie showing of fraud was made against a plaintiffs' firm, for its conduct during settlement negotiations, voiding the settlement.
  • Obtained defense verdict for transportation company in a serious personal injury case where damages sought totaled more than $1 million.
  • Defense counsel for corporations and municipal entities sued in consumer class action matters.
  • National counsel for Ephedra defendant sued in matters pending in state court and the Federal Ephedra MDL in the Southern District of New York.

EDUCATION

Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana, B.A., 1991, cum laude
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 1994
University of Miami School of Law, visiting student, (1993-1994)

BAR ADMISSIONS

Florida, 1994
Illinois, 1996
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Trial Bar
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida


PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC INVOLVEMENT

Women's Bar Association of Illinois
Trucking Industry Defense Association
Transportation Lawyers Association
Defense Research Institute
The Executives' Club of Chicago
Board Member, Friends of St. Columbanus Food Pantry
Volunteer mentor, Society of Women in Law Mentorship Program, Chicago-Kent College of Law Alumni Association (2009-2013) 
Pro bono attorney for the Chicago Volunteer Legal Society, representing disabled children in the reinstatement of Supplemental Social Security Income benefits
Tutored underprivileged children in the Cabrini Green and Christopher House volunteer programs in Chicago

SPEECHES AND PUBLICATIONS

Author

  • "The Horwin SV40 Ruling and Its Impact on the Asbestos Litigation," HarrisMartin Columns (July 2003).
  • "The Monkey Virus and Mesothelioma," Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney's Toxic Tort Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 1 (Winter 2003).
  • "Recent Developments in Toxic Tort Law," Tort and Insurance Law Journal, Volume 32, Number 2 (Winter 1997). 

Co-Author

  • "Final Hours of Service Rule Ends a Decade of Controversy," TIDA's A Driving Force newsletter (Winter 2012).
  • "A Bright Idea? Mercury Exposure Due To Energy Efficient Light Bulbs," Segal McCambridge's Toxic Tort Newsletter (Fall 2009).
  • "Cargo Security: Container Security Initiative: is it working and at what cost?," DRI's In Transit, Volume 1, Issue 11 (February 5, 2008).
  • "An Insurer's Guide to Vacating Default Judgments," Insurance Insight, The Journal of the Professional Independent Insurance Agents of Illinois (PIIAI), Volume XV, Number 2 (November 2006).
  • "Recent Developments and Medical Issues In Ephedra Litigation," HarrisMartin Columns Drugs & Supplements (August 2005).
  • "Attacking Breach of Implied Warranty Claims in Magnuson-Moss Actions Brought in Privity States" (with P. Wojcicki).
  • "State Privity-Requirements Survey" (with P. Wojcicki and D. Brad).

Speaker
  • Law Bulletin Seminars' 2012 Jury Management Conference, Chicago, IL, "The Jury's Deliberation, Part 2," panelist (June 28, 2012).
  • Chicago-Kent Society of Women in Law Panel Event, Chicago, IL, "Successful Women in Law: A Day in the Life!," panelist (November 2, 2011).
  • Law Bulletin Seminars' Sixth Annual Employment Law Conference, Chicago, IL, "Wal-Mart v. Dukes: The Impact on Class Claims" (September 14, 2011).  
  • Trucking Litigation and DOT Regulations Seminar, Downers Grove, IL, "Early Accident Investigation And Response Measures" (August 2006).
  • "Insurance Claims Summit," Boston, Massachusetts (May 2003).

OTHER HONORS

Recipient of the 2012 Chicago-Kent College of Law Professional Achievement Award

Recognized as an Illinois Leading Lawyer (a designation limited to less than 5% of all lawyers licensed to practice law in Illinois), nominated and selected by peers in the legal community

Selected for inclusion in the Illinois Super Lawyers list (no more than 5% of lawyers in the state are selected), nominated and selected by peers in the legal community (2006, 2009, 2010, 2013)

Finalist, Charles Evan Hughes Moot Court Competition

Practice Areas

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