Lauren Jaffe

Clerkships

Hon. Algenon L. Marbley, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio (2016-2017)
Legal Intern, United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia (2012)

Representative Engagements

• Representing public and private companies in mass tort litigations related to radioactive materials originating with the Manhattan Project, resulting in favorable decisions in federal district and appellate courts, including removal from state court, federal preemption, dismissal, exclusion of experts, summary judgment, and reversal.
• Representing public company in multi-jurisdiction contract and intellectual property litigation.
• Defending a foreign citizen in an alleged international money-laundering scheme.
• Obtained a multimillion-dollar jury verdict for the owner of a commercial office building in a dispute with the developer and contractor related to various construction defect claims, including structural defects in the exterior walls, basement, garage, and elevator shaft of the building.
• Obtained a multimillion-dollar bench verdict in breach of contract action for public utility company.
• Defended manufacturer in multimillion-dollar product liability lawsuit resulting in favorable settlement during trial.
• Obtained a nonmonetary settlement for individual accused of contributing to a highly publicized wrongful death.
• Represented exonerated individual who spent decades in prison as a result of police misconduct, resulting in favorable settlement.
• Obtained probationary sentence for individual charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and wire fraud in connection with a scheme involving bribes paid to political officials in exchange for lucrative contracts.
• Obtained favorable settlement for client accused in shareholder action of breaching fiduciary duties to two companies he co-owned and managed.
• Conducted Title IX compliance investigation for public university regarding gender equity in its athletic programs.
• Conducted internal investigations in response to government and whistleblower allegations.
• Conducted compliance investigations for publicly traded pharmaceutical company, investigating and resolving allegations of employee misconduct.

Education

University of Chicago Law School, J.D., 2014, with honors
Three-Year Andrew D. and Eleanor C. Collins Merit Scholarship Recipient
Federal Criminal Justice Clinic, Student Member
Research Assistant, Criminal Law
Law Student Association, Vice President, Secretary
Women's Mentoring Program, Co-Chair
Chicago Inn of Court, Student Member
Washington University, B.A., French and Political Science, 2009, with honors
CALI Award from the Law School
Pi Sigma Alpha
Dean's List
Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Toulouse, France, Spring 2008

Bar Admissions

Illinois
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association
Chicago Bar Association

Honors & Awards

Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025; Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions-Defendants, 2020-2025; and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants, 2025), Best Lawyers®
Illinois Emerging Lawyer in Class Action/Mass Tort Defense Law and Commercial Litigation, Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyers (2020-2025)
Illinois Super Lawyer in Business Litigation, Class Action & Mass Tort, and Products Liability, Thomson Reuters (2025)
U.S. Department of Justice Tax Division Award for Outstanding Service as Trial Paralegal (2010)

Languages Spoken & Fluency

French, Proficient

Illinois Supreme Court
Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program, Mentor
University of Chicago Law School
Women's Mentoring Program, Mentor
Chicago Bar Foundation Investing in Justice Campaign
Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, Co-Chair (2019)
Just the Beginning Foundation – A Pipeline Organization 
Summer Judicial Legal Internship Diversity Project, Volunteer

Lauren also maintains an active pro bono practice. She has obtained a non-custodial sentence for an individual charged with a crime, an order of protection for a victim of domestic violence, an order vacating a wrongful conviction, renewed status for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, and a jury verdict for a nonprofit organization that was defrauded into purchasing an uninhabitable building.  Lauren has also assisted individuals with expungement of criminal records and drafting wills and powers of attorney.