Joelle M. Shabat - Lawrence Kamin, LLC

Joelle M. Shabat is a full-service litigator and trial lawyer whose practice primarily focuses on complex business and commercial disputes. Joelle prioritizes client communication and an ongoing understanding of the client’s objectives to determine what “success” in a particular case looks like so she can create a customized action plan.

With a foundation in general litigation, Joelle’s experience also includes representing clients in heavily regulated industries. Joelle litigates matters involving fiduciary and business tort issues, including fiduciary duty and agency disputes; director, officer, and professional liability claims; fraudulent and preferential conveyances; trust litigation; and professional responsibility matters.

Joelle maintains a strong commitment to providing pro bono legal services throughout Chicagoland. She is President of the Center for Disability and Elder Law’s Young Professionals Board and a member of DePaul University College of Law’s Alumni Diversity Council. Joelle is also on the faculty for Financial Poise, where she is both a panelist and moderator of webinars related to her practice.

Joelle has been named a leading lawyer in commercial litigation (2019), an emerging lawyer (2018-2022), and a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers (2019-2023).

Joelle lives on the north side of Chicago with her husband and two Siberian Huskies.

Bar Admissions

State of Illinois

Court Admissions

Northern District of Illinois
Northern District of Indiana

Professional Affiliations

Chicago Estate Planning Council
Illinois State Bar Association
Vistage Worldwide Key Group

Professional Experience

Sugar Felsenthal Grais & Helsinger LLP: 2019-2022
Swanson Martin & Bell LLP: 2016-2019
Zuber Lawler (formerly Greene and Letts): 2015-2016
The Chicago Trust Company, N.A.: 2014-2015

Education

DePaul University College of Law: JD, 2013
Hebrew University of Jerusalem: MA, 2010
The University of Chicago: BA with general and departmental honors, 2006

Federal agency actions: Served as lead attorney for a $150M antitrust investigation and Federal Trade Commission enforcement action regarding the sale of medical alert devices.
Fiduciary fraud and insider litigation: Represented liquidating trustee to recover on loan defaults by corporate insiders, including diligence on multiple levels of shell corporations and WARN Act litigation. Handled document production on contentious counterclaims against the trustee for alleged breach of fiduciary duties.
Restructuring and insolvency: Represented condominium association in fraud and forcible detainer action against insolvent developers, including a dispute of onboard control and collaboration with the defendant on the sale of a building.
Securities fraud and bankruptcy: Formulated and implemented litigation strategy for civil actions on behalf of the Unsecured Creditors Committee and Liquidating Trustee for 40+ fraudulent and preferential adversary proceedings in a $4M bankruptcy case.
Mediations: Achieved favorable outcomes in wrongful death (7th Circuit); medical device (Northern District of Illinois) cases; and ERISA case (Northern District of Illinois).
Summary judgment motion practice: Obtained summary judgment for disputes regarding intellectual property, employment law, worker’s compensation, and consumer protection.