Overview
Paula Litt advises clients regarding legal strategies in bringing, defending, or avoiding litigation. She is focused not only on the next motion or deposition, but also on how every decision advances the case and her client’s objectives. Recognizing this, clients—from national retailers to international manufacturers to financial services companies—call upon her when litigation becomes necessary or inevitable.
- Handles full range of disputes involving complex commercial agreements, including purchase and sale agreements, distributorship agreements, commercial leases, loan agreements, employment agreements, executive compensation and non-compete agreements, and joint venture agreements
- Handles business torts, including tortious interference, trade disparagement, misrepresentation and fraud
- Represents corporate policyholders in insurance coverage disputes, including third-party claims for general, professional, management and employment liability, and first-party claims for property damage and business interruption
- Appears in litigation, arbitration and mediation in forums across the country. Member of American Arbitration Association Roster of Neutrals
Services
Experience
Representative Matters
- Won summary judgment for defendants in copyright suit alleging infringement of story about John Dillinger’s death; won Seventh Circuit affirmance on appeal
- Prevailed in AAA arbitration of dispute between majority and minority owners over majority owner's exercise of call option to buy out minority
- Successfully represented plaintiff in first civil RICO case tried to a jury; won Seventh Circuit affirmance of verdict on appeal
- Won bench trial representing insolvent company in action against actuarial firm for negligent misrepresentation
- Successfully arbitrated action for seller's breach of right of first refusal
- Successfully negotiated insurance-funded settlement on behalf of oil well fishing tool manufacturer after insurers denied all coverage for $9 million adverse verdict
- Successfully negotiated insurance-funded settlement in legal malpractice action following coverage denial
- Won summary judgment for employer in action for retaliatory discharge and discrimination
- Won summary judgment for insured manufacturer in action for indemnification for underlying trademark suit
- Won summary judgment for receiver of failed savings and loan in action brought by former chairman seeking millions in compensation and benefits under employment agreement
- Represented industrial gas manufacturer in underlying suit and coverage litigation in Louisiana culminating in insurance-funded settlement of underlying death and injury cases
- Secured arbitration award for manufacturing client’s defense costs and settlement of underlying trade liable case and award of all fees incurred by client in arbitration
Prior Experience
- Schopf & Weiss LLP
- Reuben & Proctor
- Isham, Lincoln & Beale
Credentials
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D.
University of Chicago, M.A.
Ohio State University, B.S.
- summa cum laude
Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
Recognition
Awards
- 2019 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service, U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
- Listed in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business since 2008
- Recognized in Band 1, the top tier, in Insurance: Dispute Resolution in Illinois; Chambers USA states:
- "[Paula] is widely considered a leader in the Chicago market and is regularly retained by both private and corporate clients to handle a variety of complex policyholder-side disputes." One client adds, "She is experienced, never fails to respond promptly and always provides pragmatic, well-reasoned advice."
- "[Paula] is a very knowledgeable attorney in this field and is a wonderful communicator of that knowledge," further adding: "She is an exceptional lawyer and a delightful person."
- "[Paula] enjoys a strong reputation for her 'excellent representation' of policyholder clients in complex insurance coverage disputes. Clients say: 'She is exceptionally professional, very client service-oriented and exceptionally creative in terms of coming up with resolutions.'"
- Recognized in Band 1, the top tier, in Insurance: Dispute Resolution in Illinois; Chambers USA states:
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2013-2022
- Recognized in practice area of Insurance Law
- Honored by The BTI Consulting Group as a Client Service All-Star in 2020 and 2016
- Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005-2021
- Named as one of the:
- Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, 2005-2021
- Top 100 Super Lawyers, 2005-2018, 2020-2021
- Top 10 Super Lawyers, 2010
- Named as one of the:
- Nominated for "Best in insurance and reinsurance" by Women in Business Law in 2018
- Recognized as a 2018 Harvard Law Society of Illinois Role Model
- Leading Lawyers Magazine Illinois, 2004-2017
- Recognized in practice areas of:
- Commercial Litigation
- Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance Law
- Recognized in practice areas of:
Professional & Community Involvement
- The American Law Institute, Member
- American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow
- American Arbitration Association
- Roster of Neutrals, Commercial Arbitration
- Executives’ Club of Chicago
- Executive Women’s Mentorship Initiative, Mentor
- The Chicago Network