Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres Adds Litigation, Appellate Depth With Former IL Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Kilbride and Appellate Lawyer Adam Vaught
July 17, 2024
Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres LLC (CFDB), the entrepreneurial law firm founded by big law alumni and recognized as one of the fastest-growing certified women-owned law firms in the nation, welcomes partners Thomas Kilbride and Adam Vaught to the firm.
Former Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court Tom Kilbride served on the Court for 20 years, from 2000 to 2020, overseeing numerous landmark cases and leading efforts to modernize the state judiciary and expand Illinoisans’ access to justice. Noted appellate lawyer Adam Vaught began his career as a law clerk and Counselor to Justice Kilbride before moving into private practice at Hinshaw & Culbertson, where he spent 10 years handling complex and high-stakes litigation for a host of leading business and public sector clients.
At CFDB, the two join an already robust litigation group led by partner Michael Layden. They will develop a dedicated appellate court practice, focusing their work on expanding the firm’s leadership in addressing clients’ most complex and novel legal issues.
“We are thrilled to be bringing Tom and Adam onto our team,” said CFDB founding partner and management committee co-chair Lisa Duarte. “Their unparalleled knowledge and experience in the Illinois state court system and beyond will be of tremendous benefit to clients and colleagues alike. And, as important, they share our ethos of public service and civic engagement.”
Kilbride and Vaught represent a third wave of strategic and high-profile growth for CFDB this year. Former Chicago Planning Commissioner David Reifman joined the firm to lead its Real Estate group in January and former top Illinois Republican lawmaker Jim Durkin came aboard in April to work with the firm’s Public Finance and Government Affairs & Regulatory Law practice groups.
The firm has is nearing 100 attorneys on its roster as it continues to expand its capacity to serve client needs.
“Adding Tom and Adam to our Litigation team is a demonstration of our commitment to growing along with our clients and to offer them best-in-class service to meet their most pressing challenges,” said Layden.