ATLANTA (May 5, 2023) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Partner Erin McAdams Franzblau and Associate Katlyn DeBoer Krysan have been honored with the 2023 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono and Public Interest Service from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. Presented by the Hon. Beth W. Jantz during the Court’s 23rd annual award ceremony held on May 1, the award honors lawyers who have served in the court and the community by providing pro bono representation and advocacy.
Ms. McAdams Franzblau and Ms. Krysan were recognized for their work representing a client in a race discrimination case through the Northern District of Illinois’ Settlement Assistance Program, achieving a favorable result for their client.
Erin McAdams Franzblau is a Partner in SGR’s Chicago Litigation Practice. She litigates employment matters, counsels employers on nearly every sub-specialty of employment law, and acts as employment counsel for M&A transactions. In her counseling practice, Ms. McAdams Franzblau assists organizations with a wide range of day-to-day employment issues, including personnel policies and procedures, executive employment and independent contractor arrangements, accommodations, restrictive covenants, employee misclassification risks, and internal investigations. She is also experienced in all stages of litigation, from inception through trial and post-trial appeals, and she has won summary judgment for her clients in a range of employment matters.
Katie DeBoer Krysan is an Associate in SGR’s Chicago Litigation Practice. She litigates a wide variety of complex commercial disputes involving subjects such as misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, securities fraud, insurance coverage, copyright infringement, sexual harassment, and defamation. Ms. Krysan has experience in every stage of litigation, from developing case strategy, drafting pleadings, writing and arguing substantive motions and engaging in large scale discovery all the way through serving as lead trial counsel and arguing appeals. She also counsels and assists organizations with a range of employment issues and has a robust pro bono practice.
About The Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA)
The Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA) represents and supports federal practitioners and judges throughout the Chicagoland area. It consists of more than 600 members, and offers a wide variety of programs and events for judges and attorneys engaged in federal practice. The Chapter’s many committees organize seminars and presentations, facilitate networking and advocacy opportunities, and assist students and the less fortunate. The Chicago Chapter represents the Eastern Division of the Northern District of Illinois. For more information, please visit www.fedbarchicago.org.
About Smith Gambrell Russell
SGR is a full-service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The Firm’s nearly 400 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 50 specialized practice areas, including corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, aviation, banking, real estate, insurance/reinsurance, construction, employment law, international, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has 14 domestic and international offices, including Atlanta; Austin; Charlotte; Chicago; Jacksonville, FL; London; Los Angeles; Miami; Munich; New York; Southampton; Springfield, IL; Tampa, FL; and Washington, D.C.