Tucker Ellis LLP is pleased to announce the opening of an office in Chicago, IL, expanding its national litigation practice with the addition of new partners Sherry A. Knutson and James W. Mizgala. Through this initiative the firm’s footprint grows to seven offices and 200 attorneys.

“The Chicago office provides existing and potential clients an option for more focused and more efficient high-quality legal services in that region,” said Tucker Ellis Managing Partner Joe Morford. “Sherry and James are pretty typical Tucker Ellis lawyers: A+ lawyers and A+ people who are exceptional at creating and maintaining internal and external relationships. We’ve worked with both of them on large litigations and at trials for years, so it was a natural fit for them to help us expand into Chicago.”

Ms. Knutson brings 20 years of experience in product liability and toxic tort cases, with an emphasis on defense of pharmaceutical and medical device companies. She tried the first Actos bellwether case in Illinois, which resulted in a defense verdict. She also has tried cases to verdict in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and West Virginia. She has served as national coordinating counsel in one of the largest pharmaceutical mass torts, and Lead Counsel in multiple coordinated proceedings in Chicago involving pharmaceuticals. Ms. Knutson received her Juris Doctor degree with high honors from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law and clerked for the Honorable N. Patrick Crooks of the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Mr. Mizgala has over 20 years of experience defending pharmaceutical products liability, consumer fraud, toxic tort and mass tort cases on national and local trial teams. As lead trial counsel, he obtained a defense verdict in a Cook County, IL, case where the plaintiff claimed that her son’s birth defects were caused by an occupational exposure to chemicals. His experience is enhanced by his graduate-level training as a neurobiologist, as well as his work in research labs. This background in science provides him an edge in identifying, interviewing, retaining, deposing and presenting experts for trial and during class certification proceedings. Mr. Mizgala received his Juris Doctor degree from University of North Carolina School of Law.

“We are thrilled to join the Tucker Ellis team of dynamic, ambitious, entrepreneurial, hard-working attorneys,” added Ms. Knutson and Mr. Mizgala. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring this highly respected up-and-coming law firm to the Chicago market, where together we can make a difference for our clients.”

Both attorneys join Tucker Ellis from Sidley.

The Chicago office is located on the 69th Floor of the Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive.