Elizabeth C. Chavez

  • Associate

Elizabeth C. Chavez

  • Associate

Contact Me:

Practice Areas:

  • Employment Litigation
  • Discrimination
  • Sexual Harassment
  • Retaliation
  • Wage & Hour
  • Wrongful Termination
  • Biometric Data Privacy
  • Complex Civil Litigation
  • Business Disputes
  • Antitrust
  • Consumer Fraud

Biography

Elizabeth Chavez is a nationally recognized champion of justice, dedicated to protecting the rights of individuals in the realm of employment law and consumer class actions. With an unwavering commitment to advocating for those who have been wronged, Elizabeth has rapidly risen to prominence in the legal community since her graduation from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 2015.

A Passion for Justice

Elizabeth is more than just an attorney; she's a passionate advocate for fairness and equality. Her journey in the legal field began with a fierce determination to make a difference in the lives of individuals who faced injustices in the workplace and marketplace. Over the years, her dedication to this mission has earned her a reputation as a relentless fighter for justice.

Education and Expertise

After earning her law degree from Loyola Chicago, Elizabeth wasted no time in immersing herself in the complexities of employment law and consumer class actions. Her education laid the foundation for a deep understanding of the intricacies of these areas, and she continues to expand her knowledge to stay at the forefront of legal developments.

Elizabeth has dedicated a majority of her practice to protecting workers’ rights. She has notable experience prosecuting claims in front of administrative agencies and in state and federal courts. In addition to employment litigation, Elizabeth represents Plaintiffs in complex civil litigation ranging from business disputes to antitrust, consumer fraud and injury cases. She has impressive experience litigating multi-district litigation (“MDL”) cases on behalf of individuals who have been harmed or injured.

National Recognition

Elizabeth’s exceptional talent and dedication have not gone unnoticed. She has received national recognition for her outstanding work in employment law, consumer class actions and MDLs. Her innovative legal strategies, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to her clients have led to numerous victories, setting precedents in the legal landscape. 

Elizabeth has been recognized as a SuperLawyers “Rising Star” from 2019 through 2024, an honor only adorned by 2.5% of attorneys in Illinois. In September of 2020, Elizabeth was selected as a “Civil Plaintiff—Top 40 under 40” Trial Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers. Elizabeth has maintained her selection through 2024. Elizabeth has been named an Emerging Lawyer by Leading Lawyers℠. In 2023, Elizabeth was recognized as Best Lawyer’s “One’s to Watch” and was reselected for 2024. 

Client-Centric Approach

At the heart of Elizabeth's practice is a client-centric approach. She understands that her clients are often facing challenging and emotionally charged situations. With empathy and compassion, she guides them through the legal process, ensuring they are informed and empowered every step of the way. Elizabeth takes pride in her ability to turn her clients' concerns into legal solutions, seeking justice on their behalf.

Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom

Elizabeth is not only a formidable presence in the courtroom but also an advocate for positive change in her community and beyond. She is actively involved in various initiatives and organizations dedicated to promoting social justice and equality. Her commitment to making a difference extends far beyond her legal practice.

Elizabeth also currently serves on Public Justice’s Board of Directors, where she is also active in several sub-committees. Elizabeth currently serves as a Co-Chair for the Kane County Bar Association’s (“KCBA”) Labor and Employment Committee. Elizabeth is a member of AAJ, Public Justice, the Chicago Bar Association (“CBA”), the Federal Bar Association (“FBA”), the National Employment Lawyer Association (“NELA”), National Trial Lawyers (“NTL”) and the American Bar Association (“ABA”). She is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.

Education

  • Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Chicago, Illinois
    • Juris Doctor
  • Duke University School of Law, Durham, North Carolina
    • Honors: Advanced Certification in Mass Tort and Multidistrict Litigation
  • University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
    • B.A.

Bar Admission

  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois

Published Works

  • Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine, An In-Depth Review, LawPractice CLE (September 2023);
  • Biometric Data and Privacy Overview, LawPracticeCLE (June 2023), Biometric Data and Privacy Overview (On-Demand) – LPCLE – LAWPRACTICECLE
  • Advanced Employee Handbook Drafting, LawPracticeCLE (June 2023)
  • Mass Torts Made Perfect Speaker: Class Actions in Insurance Claims, Las Vegas, NV (Class Action Law Track) (October, 2022)
  • Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine, LawPracticeCLE (January 2021)
  • Advanced Employee Handbook Drafting, LawPracticeCLE (September 2020)
  • Social Media & the Law: Intellectual Property, Employment and the Duty of Professionals, LawPracticeCLE (January 2020)
  • Understand and Effectively Maximize Job-Protected Leave Entitlement Under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended (“FMLA”); LawPracticeCLE (January 2020)
  • Workplace Changes and Challenges: Hot Topics and Emerging Employment Law Issues; LawPracticeCLE (March 2019)
  • Hasta La Vista v. I’ll Be Back: empowering employees to Understand and Effectively Maximize Job-Protected Leave Entitlement Under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended (“FMLA”); LawPracticeCLE (March 2019)
  • Drafting Employee Handbooks: Navigating the Complicated Practicality of the Employee Handbook; LawPracticeCLE (December 2018)
  • Keep This Between Us: The Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine; LawPracticeCLE (December 2018)
  • A Lawyer’s Guide to the Employee Handbooks; mylawCLE and Wolters Kluwer CLE Broadcast (October 2017)
  • HIPAA Law for Lawyers: A Must-Know Guide to New Compliance Requirements; mylawCLE and Wolters Kluwer CLE Broadcast (September 2017)
  • Understanding the Basics and Not-So-Basics of the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine; mylawCLE and Wolters Kluwer CLE Broadcast (September 2017)
  • International Trademark Registration: Advantages and Disadvantages of International Registration (IR) Through the Madrid Protocol; mylawCLE and Wolters Kluwer CLE Broadcast (September 2017)
  • Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environments; Kane County Bar Association CLE Presentation (May 2017)

Representative Cases

  • Annoereno, et al., v. Claire’s Stores, Inc., 14-cv-07744
  • Baranowska v. Intertek Testing Services NA, Inc., 19-cv-6844
  • Garner v. National Railroad Passenger Corporation, 18-cv-03789
  • Gomez v. River Trails Condominium Association, 19-cv-06157
  • In Re Androgel Related Cases
  • In Re Blue Cross Blue Shield Antitrust Litigation, MDL 2406
  • In re Deere & Company Repair Services Antitrust Litigation, MDL 3030
  • In Re Jimmy John’s Overtime Litigation, 14-cv-05509
  • In Re Testosterone Replacement Therapy Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2545
  • In Re: TikTok, Inc., Consumer Privacy Litigation
  • In Re Wholesale Grocery Products Antitrust Litigation, MDL 2090
  • Jones v. TSG Staffing, LLC., 18-cv-10321
  • Kukovec v. The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., 22-cv-01988
  • Kukovec v. L’Oreal USA, Inc., 22-cv-03829
  • Macklin v. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, 23-cv-00959
  • Nuger v. Tomy International, 17-cv-01993
  • Robinson v. Tyson Foods, Inc., 23-cv-05501
  • Rodriguez v. Unilock Chicago, Inc., 23-cv-05109
  • Sheldon, Hunsberger v. State Farm, et al., 19-cv-01080
  • Sliga, et. al., v. Combe Inc., 2022LA000004
  • Wallace-Howell v. Ultra Foods, 16-cv-07578
  • Watt, et al. v. Fox Restaurant Venture, et al., 17-cv-02104
  • Wittorp v. Battaglia Food Service Distributors, 19-cv-06555

Honors

  • “Civil Plaintiff—Top 40 under 40” Trial Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers
  • Rising Star, SuperLawyers
  • Chicago Magazine Outstanding Young Lawyers in Illinois
  • 2017 Top 20 Jury Verdict, Illinois
  • Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) certified mediator

Classes & Seminars

  • Mass Torts Made Perfect Speaker: Class Actions in Insurance Claims, Las Vegas, NV, Class Action Law Track, October, 2022
  • Attorney-Client Privilege and the Work Product Doctrine, LawPracticeCLE, January 2021
  • Advanced Employee Handbook Drafting, LawPracticeCLE, September 2020
  • Social Media & the Law: Intellectual Property, Employment and the Duty of Professionals, LawPracticeCLE, January 2020
  • Understand and Effectively Maximize Job-Protected Leave Entitlement Under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended (“FMLA”); LawPracticeCLE, January 2020
  • Workplace Changes and Challenges: Hot Topics and Emerging Employment Law Issues; LawPracticeCLE, March 2019
  • Hasta La Vista v. I’ll Be Back: empowering employees to Understand and Effectively Maximize Job-Protected Leave Entitlement Under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended (“FMLA”); LawPracticeCLE, March 2019
  • A Lawyer’s Guide to the Employee Handbooks; mylawCLE and Wolters Kluwer CLE Broadcast, October 2017
  • HIPAA Law for Lawyers: A Must-Know Guide to New Compliance Requirements; mylawCLE and Wolters Kluwer CLE Broadcast, September 2017
  • Understanding the Basics and Not-So-Basics of the Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product Doctrine; mylawCLE and Wolters Kluwer CLE Broadcast, September 2017
  • International Trademark Registration: Advantages and Disadvantages of International Registration (IR) Through the Madrid Protocol; mylawCLE and Wolters Kluwer CLE Broadcast, September 2017
  • Sexual Harassment and Hostile Work Environments; Kane County Bar Association CLE Presentation, May 2017
  • What’s New in 2022: An Employment Lawyer’s Guide to trending topics in 2022, LawPracticeCLE, November 2021

Professional Associations

  • Board of Directors Member, Public Justice, 2020-Present
  • Board Development and Nominating Committee Member, Public Justice, 2020-Present
  • Case Development/Special Projects Committee Member, Public Justice, 2020-Present
  • Membership, Outreach & Diversity Committee Member, Public Justice, 2020-Present
  • Executive Vice-Chair to Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyer Society’s Labor and Employment Committee, 2020-Present
  • AAJ New Lawyer Division Public Justice Liaison, 2020-Present
  • Kane County Bar Association Labor and Employment Committee Co-Chair, 2023-2024
  • Best Lawyers “One’s to Watch,” 2023-2024
  • Emerging Lawyer, Leading Lawyers, 2022-2024
  • “Civil Plaintiff—Top 40 under 40” Trial Attorney by the National Trial Lawyers, 2020-2024
  • Rising Star, SuperLawyers, 2019-2024
  • Chicago Magazine Outstanding Young Lawyers in Illinois, 2019-2024
  • Advanced Certificate in Mass-Tort MDL, Bolch Judicial Institute, Duke University School of Law (2020)
  • Certificate in Mass-Tort MDL, Bolch Judicial Institute, Duke University School of Law (2019)
  • Administer Justice volunteer attorney, 2018-Present
  • 2017 Top 20 Jury Verdict (Illinois)
  • Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR) certified mediator
  • Member of Kane County Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Women Antitrust Plaintiffs’ Attorneys (“WAPA”), Public Justice, American Association for Justice (“AAJ”) and National Employment Lawyers Association (“NELA”)
  • What’s New in 2022: An Employment Lawyer’s Guide to trending topics in 2022, LawPracticeCLE (November 2021)

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified Mediator, Center for Conflict Resolution in Chicago, 2014