Partner Michelle Kohut Selected to Crain's 2022 Notable Women in Law
Corboy & Demetrio Partner Michelle Kohut was selected to 2022 Notable Women in Law by Crain’s Chicago Business. She represents plaintiffs in personal injury cases and claimants in workers’ compensation cases.
Michelle singlehandedly launched the firm’s workers’ compensation practice in 2014 after noticing that clients, who hired Corboy & Demetrio to represent them in serious personal injury lawsuits, would become anxious about having to hire another law firm to represent them in workers’ compensation matters when injured at work or as a result of their employment. It was an area in which Corboy & Demetrio did not practice for 65 years.
During the pandemic, Michelle successfully managed the firm’s clients who became ill with COVID-19 as a result of their employment, litigating a new area during a landscape of newly passed legislation.
She now also manages our workers’ compensation team and finds that clients, who are already under much stress due to their injury and in many cases lost income, find comfort in knowing the firm can also represent them in that aspect of their legal action.
In leadership roles outside the firm, Michelle has served as President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and as Board Chair of the service project, Women Everywhere.
When she served as WBAI President, Michelle dedicated the year to helping women lawyers grow business by hosting various networking events statewide.
When she served as Women Everywhere Board Chair, Michelle helped introduce teenage girls to members of the legal profession by hosting court tours and introducing them to the various professionals who spoke about how they achieved their positions.
In 2013, Michelle received the Alta May Hulett Award from the Chicago Bar Association for mentoring and for her leadership. A year later, Loyola University Chicago honored Michelle with the St. Robert Bellarmine Award. Also in 2014, the National Law Journal honored Michelle for her accomplishments in law by recognizing her in “Two Steps Forward: Leading Women in Law.”
In 2021, Michelle was selected to “Women in Law” by Chicago Lawyer magazine and the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, which was limited to 50 honorees.
According to Crain’s, honorees comprise the top 140 Chicago female attorneys who serve in a senior-level role, have practiced at least 10 years; and have made a significant impact via their work. Nominees must also serve as role models or mentors to other female attorneys and show leadership in professional organizations and civic and community initiatives.
