Michelle M. Kohut

Michelle M. Kohut, a Chicago personal injury trial lawyer, joined the law firm of Corboy & Demetrio in 2004 and became partner in 2019. She practices in all areas of personal injury law, including cases arising from automobile collisions, medical malpractice, construction negligence, premises liability, product liability and railroad negligence, as well as in the area of workers' compensation. Michelle has tried many personal injury cases to verdict and has obtained numerous multi-million dollar settlements on behalf of her clients. In 2013, Michelle obtained a $1.6 million settlement for a school crossing guard who was struck and injured by a day care bus. In 2012, Michelle obtained a $2 million settlement on behalf of a Chicago pedestrian who was struck and injured by a garbage truck. In another case, she secured a $2 million settlement on behalf of a roofing foreman who fell through a hole in a roof, fracturing his heel. Michelle is very active in local and national bar associations, including the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, where she served as President for 2013-2014 and currently serves as Past President. In 2014, the National Law Journal honored Michelle for her accomplishments in law by recognizing her in "Two Steps Forward: Leading Women in Law." Since 2014, she has been selected to Illinois Super Lawyers and Illinois Leading Lawyers. Since 2020, Michelle has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America in the area of personal injury litigation - plaintiffs. Michelle was honored with the Chicago Bar Association's Alliance For Women Alta May Hulett Award in 2013 for her work in helping women in the legal profession. In 2007, in recognition of her success, hard work and community involvement, she was named one of "40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch" by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company. Michelle has served as President of Women Everywhere - Partners in Service Project, Inc., a community service project that helps women and children in need and introduces teenage girls to the legal profession. She has also served on the Board of Directors of Heartland International Health Center, which is dedicated to improving the health of persons in Chicago-area communities by providing affordable, quality and multilingual health services. A graduate of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Michelle was a Judicial Law Clerk to William D. Maddux, Presiding Judge of the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, prior to joining Corboy & Demetrio. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees Michelle M. Kohut included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors “40 Under Forty Illinois Attorneys to Watch," Law Bulletin Publishing, 2007 Chicago Bar Association: Alliance For Women Alta May Hulett Award, 2013 Illinois Leading Lawyer, 2014 - present Illinois Super Lawyer, 2014-present; Rising Star, 2008-2013 Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers, 2019 National Law Journal, Two Steps Forward: Leading Women in Law - 2014 Women's Bar Association of Illinois: President, 2013-2014 Other Sources of Feedback About Michelle M. Kohut Included on the 2026Illinois Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2020 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2019 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2018 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2017 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2016 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2014 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2013 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2012 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2011 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2010 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2009 Illinois Super Lawyers list 2008 Illinois Super Lawyers list

• Partner

• William D. Maddux, Presiding Judge of the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Judicial Law Clerk, 2002 - 2004
• Cooney & Conway, Managing Paralegal, 1997 - 2002

• Speaker, Minority Judicial Internship, American Bar Association, 2003 - 2004
• "Liens and Subrogation," Personal Injury from A to Z, New Business Institute, 2019
• "Diversity in the Legal Profession and the Impact of Statutory Amendments in the Advancement of Women," Women's Bar Association of Illinois & Saint Louis University Law School, 2014
• "Women in the Profession: Where We Are Now" - Women in Litigation Conference, Loyola University Chicago Law School, 2012
• "Civil Practice Update - Discovery," Illinois State Bar Association, 2011
• Judge, Chicago Regional Student Trial Advocacy Competition, Chicago Bar Association, 2007
• "Judicial Internships," Judicial Internship Opportunity Program, American Bar Association, 2004
• Judge, Student Trial Advocacy Competition, American Association for Justice, 2005

• Women Everywhere - Partners in Service, Inc., President, 2009-2010; Board of Directors, 2007-Present; Planning Committee, 2005-Present
• Heartland International Health Center, Board of Directors, 2008-2009
• Loyola Chicago Women's Law Society, Panel Member 2010

• Illinois, 2002
• U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 2002
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2002

• American Bar Association (ABA)
• American Association for Justice, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA)
• Chicago Bar Association (CBA), Hearing Officer 2011-Present; Judicial Evaluation Committee, Investigator, 2005-Present; Student Trial Advocacy Competition 2007, Chicago Regional, Scoring Judge
• Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), Tort Law Section Council, 2016-Present
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA)
• WilPower, Political Action Committee of WBAI, Chair, 2008-2010
• Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), President, 2013-2014; First Vice President, 2012-2013; Second Vice President, 2011-2012; Financial Secretary, 2010-2011; Treasurer, 2009-2010, Board of Directors, 2007-Present; Civil Litigation Committee, Co-Chair, 2005-2007; Nominating Committee, 2007, 2012