Schuyler, Roche & Crisham, P.C. Large enough to to the job right, small enough to listen
 

Jean M. Prendergast
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For Jean Prendergast, good lawyering means telling a client's story well and developing legally sound solutions. Perhaps it is the ability to keep things simple that has enabled her to establish a stellar track record as an appellate advocate and trial lawyer. Named an Illinois Super Lawyer for three consecutive years and one of 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch, Jean is a vigorous advocate for her clients, known for her in-depth analysis and persuasive arguments.

As a law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Jean earned numerous honors. She served as a writer and editor for two law school publications. She also represented Loyola both as a member of a moot court team and as a member of the National Trial Team. The art of persuasive presentation fostered at Loyola would set the tone for Jean's career.

Prior to entering private practice, Jean served as a judicial law clerk for Justice Mary Ann McMorrow of the Illinois Supreme Court and Justice Mary Jane Theis of the Illinois Appellate Court. These experiences gave her insight into trial practice as well as the appellate decision-making process.

In 1997, Jean entered private practice and for more than a decade has handled cases in both the trial court and courts of review, including numerous matters before the Illinois Supreme Court. She successfully has tried cases to verdict in commercial litigation matters and has overseen a broad range of litigation involving class action claims, corporate oppression, fraud, breach of contract and business torts. Jean also represents clients in professional malpractice, insurance coverage and personal injury matters. Jean lectures frequently on the subject of appellate practice.

Recent cases of note include a successful two-week jury trial in a commercial case in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Molenhouse v. Hanjin Shipping, et al., Case No. 03 L 5835; and a winning argument before the Illinois Supreme Court in Buenz v. Frontline Transportation Co., 227 Ill.2d 302, 882 N.E.2d 525 (2008).

Author, lecturer and passionate client advocate, Jean is widely recognized as a leader in appellate practice and is an active participant in professional associations. Presently, she is President of the Appellate Lawyers Association, Chairperson of the Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness in the First District, and co-author of Illinois Supreme Court Cases Pending, which is published five times each year by the Appellate Lawyers Association. Her published work, Making the Most of Your Oral Argument, 90 No. 4 Ill. B.J. 207 (April 2002), is treated as a must-read for young lawyers.

Publications
"Power at the Podium", TRIAL: Journal of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, at 49 (July 2002)

"Making the Most of Your Oral Argument", 90 No. 4 Ill. B.J. 207 (April 2002)

"Foreign Legal Consultation Rules: Effective or Expendable?" 63 The Bar Examiner No. 1 (Feb. 1994)

"Health Care Contracts May Not Unfairly Limit Uninsured Motorist Compensation", 5 Loy. Consumer L. Rep. 130-131 (1993)

"Attorneys Must Disclose Potential Conflict of Interest in Multi-Party Representation", 5 Loy. Consumer L. Rep. 58060 (1993)