Partner Shelly A. DeRousse Named To ‘Chicago’s Notable Women Lawyers’ List

CHICAGO – Freeborn & Peters LLP is pleased to announce that Shelly A. DeRousse, a Partner in the firm’s Chicago office and Co-Leader of Freeborn’s Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Practice Group, has been named by Crain’s Custom Media as one of “Chicago’s Notable Women Lawyers” for 2018.

Previously known as the “Most Influential Women Lawyers in Chicago” and now in its second year, the list recognizes women lawyers from across the Chicago area who have demonstrated professional distinction, involvement in their community and a commitment to mentoring other women lawyers. The list is published in the July 30 edition of Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago’s weekly business newspaper, as well as online at ChicagoBusiness.com. Crain’s Custom Media is a division of Crain’s Chicago Business.

“We congratulate Shelly on her selection to this year’s ‘Chicago Notable Women Lawyers’ list,” said Michael J. Kelly, Freeborn’s Co-Managing Partner. “Shelly is a leader in bankruptcy and restructuring law and a committed advocate for the advancement of women in the legal profession.”

As a successful and accomplished corporate restructuring attorney, Ms. DeRousse has extensive experience in the areas of bankruptcy, reorganization, litigation and asset sales. As lead counsel, Ms. DeRousse represents official creditors’ committees throughout the country in chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. She also represents companies and high earning individuals in their restructurings, bankruptcies or workout negotiations with their lenders and other creditors. Additionally, she is known among banks and other financial institutions as a leading attorney for lenders in bankruptcy cases, out-of-court workouts of borrowers’ loans, and assignments for the benefit of creditors, using creative solutions to maximize the lenders’ recovery from collateral and other assets.

Ms. DeRousse is the President of the Women's Bar Foundation of Illinois and the Co-Chair of the Turnaround Management Association's Committee for Networking of Women for the Midwest Region. In 2018, Ms. DeRousse was elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and was one of six women in the nation named as finalist for the distinguished Chambers award for “Inspiring Role Model in Promoting Gender Diversity in the Legal Profession.” In 2010, Ms. DeRousse was named as one of the most Influential Women in Business by the Business Ledger and the National Association of Women Business Owners of Chicago.

At Freeborn, Ms. DeRousse is the Partner Chair of the firm’s Women’s Leadership Council and supervises and mentors the women attorneys who belong to the Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Practice Group. She also advocates for women at the firm as a whole and for policies that support women.

Ms. DeRousse received her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and her Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University.

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