Elizabeth Winkowski

Elizabeth is an experienced litigator in Chicago’s Commercial Litigation practice group, focusing her practice on complex civil litigation. She has successfully represented a wide range of clients—from private companies to municipal corporations and other public entities—at all stages of litigation in both state and federal court. Elizabeth also advocates for her clients on appeal and has argued before the Seventh Circuit.

Elizabeth has prosecuted and defended business matters, including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and violations of the Illinois Biometric Privacy Information Act (BIPA). Her insurance recovery practice focuses on litigating insurance coverage disputes on behalf of corporate policyholders and providing clients with advice regarding their coverage.

Through federal clerkships at the appellate and trial court level, Elizabeth brings substantial research and writing experience to her practice. Prior to joining Taft, Elizabeth served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Susan H. Black in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, a staff attorney for the Eleventh Circuit, and a law clerk to the Honorable Harry D. Leinenweber in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Elizabeth received her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, where she graduated as valedictorian of her class. While in law school, Elizabeth served on the John Marshall Review of Intellectual Property Law editorial board and as a teaching assistant for legal research and writing.

• “Threading the Needle of Corporate Privilege: When Legal and Business Advice Intertwine,” Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Chicago program, December 14, 2023.
• “Supply Chain Woes: Effectively Using Your Contract’s Terms and the UCC to Navigate Through Them,” Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Chicago program, July 13 and July 20, 2022.
• “The Force of Force Majeure and Other Contract Performance Excuses in Supply Chain Transactions,” Agency Sales Magazine, March 2022.
• “The Force of Force Majeure in Supply-Chain Agreements,” Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) Chicago webinar, Nov. 10, 2021.