March 6, 2023
CHICAGO, March 6, 2023 – Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced today that leading class action litigator Debra Bogo-Ernst joined its litigation practice group as a partner and chair of the firm’s nationwide class action litigation practice. Bogo-Ernst represents a broad range of national and international organizations, including financial institutions and insurance companies, in commercial and consumer-based litigation matters. She also advises clients regarding regulatory and enforcement matters before state and federal government agencies. Bogo-Ernst comes to Willkie from Mayer Brown where she was the Chicago office managing partner and co-lead of that firm’s consumer & class action practice. Bogo-Ernst is based in Willkie’s Chicago office.
“Deb has proven herself to be a law firm leader and a first-rate trial lawyer of the highest caliber. There is a flight to quality in the legal marketplace, and the addition of Deb aligns with our strategic imperative to invite only the highest quality lawyers to join our diverse and growing team. We are thrilled to have her with us,” said Craig C. Martin, Willkie's Chairman, Midwest. “Since launching Willkie Chicago almost three years ago, we’ve been laser-focused on building the strongest, deepest and most diverse litigation team, making us a destination practice for strategic, reputational and economically significant matters.”
Bogo-Ernst has been honored with numerous distinctions, including being named to Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2023 “Who’s Who” in the Law and its “Notable Women in Law” in 2022; being listed among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America in 2023, and being listed as an Illinois/Local Litigation Star for Health Care & Securities from 2016 through 2023 by Benchmark.
“The Willkie Chicago team shares the same values as I do – excellent client service provided at the highest levels of our profession – in a diverse, inclusive environment committed not only to our clients, but also to our community” Bogo-Ernst said. “Joining Willkie provides my clients a litigation center of excellence in Chicago and throughout the country as well as a full spectrum of elite legal services across a broad range of practices. I am thrilled to be joining the firm.”
Bogo-Ernst is a Board Member for Metropolitan Family Services. She earned her undergraduate degree at University of Illinois and her J.D. at University of Illinois College of Law.
With the addition of Bogo-Ernst, Willkie Chicago has grown into a 75-attorney team nearly half of whom are women lawyers and approximately a third are diverse lawyers. The office has cemented its reputation as a destination for board governance counseling, investigations and high-stakes trial work in areas such as antitrust, commercial contracts, ERISA, patents, trade secrets, and more. In addition to its litigation prowess, Willkie Chicago is home to one of the premier private client practices in the country, providing counsel to ultra-high-net worth individuals and their families. Willkie Chicago also has a growing transactional practice that is focused on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, asset management, finance and restructuring. Willkie Chicago’s demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, to pro bono work, and to the Chicago civic community make Willkie Chicago a destination for talent and clients.
About Willkie Farr & Gallagher
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP provides leading-edge legal solutions on complex, business critical issues spanning markets and industries. Our approximately 1,200 attorneys across 13 offices worldwide deliver innovative, pragmatic and sophisticated legal services across approximately 40 practice areas. Learn more at www.willkie.com.
