CBA Record September-October 2025

insurance companies, and giant corporations, Bobb is equally passionate about defending the justice system itself. Perhaps her most memorable case was when she represented two Chicago firefighters who were injured and the family of a firefighter who died in a Chicago high-rise fire. They were trapped in the building after building workers locked the eleva tor escape hatches, and they were unable to communicate with the outside world because phones were inoperative. The case made new law that broadened building owners and landlords’ legal responsibilities in similar circumstances, and it resulted in the city providing radios to more firefighters and strengthening their safety equipment. “She doesn’t just present the facts,” says fellow trial lawyer and longtime friend Robert Clifford, founder and senior part ner of Clifford Law Offices. “She tells the human story behind them. She comes prepared and her trial skills are outstanding. From the courtroom to the community, her integrity has never wavered. She has used her voice to speak for those who so often go unheard, and she has shown the rest of us what it means to practice law, not as a profession, but as a calling.” Clifford continued, “She listens with empathy, fights with purpose, and leads with quiet strength. In a time when public trust in our legal system is more essential than ever, Patti’s work reminds us that justice isn’t just an ideal, it’s a daily responsibility. She has inspired a generation of lawyers to be better, bolder, and more courageous in the pursuit of justice. I can’t think of anyone more deserving.” Timothy S. Tomasik, former CBA President and cofounder and shareholder of Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, said, “Patti Bobb has been a titan in the Chicagoland legal community for decades. Her countless successes in and out of the courtroom are unpar alleled. She is a formidable and skilled advocate who is fiercely committed to civility in the courtroom. She is a naturally gifted leader, a wonderful mother, and a loyal friend and colleague to so many of our peers. She is truly a Champion of Justice.” Shaping the Profession beyond the Courtroom Over the years, Bobb has secured millions in verdicts and settle ments for clients who have suffered devastating injuries or losses due to negligence. But her influence extends well beyond the courtroom. As a mentor, teacher, and bar leader, she has helped shape the profession from the inside out. Bobb was the third woman president (1998) of the CBA, an event in her professional life that she considers one of her “proud est moments.” She served as a member of the Board of Governors of the Illinois State Bar Association; was elected to the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; and was a fellow of the International Society of Barris ters. She’s a long-standing member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and the American Association for Justice. She has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to many committees. She is involved in training other lawyers as a member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy’s board, having previously

Robert A. Clifford and Patti Bobb

served as its chair. She is a former adjunct professor of Trial Advo cacy for the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, and for over 30 years, she has taught, spoken, and written for state and national bar associations and advocacy programs. Among her many awards is a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jury Verdict Reporter Awards for Trial Lawyer Excel lence in 2014. For hundreds of young lawyers in Chicago, Bobb has been a powerful force—offering advice, encouragement, and sometimes a push to take risks and stand tall. Blending Prowess and Integrity She continues to litigate complex cases, advise young lawyers, and push the profession toward higher standards. In a city known for its tough lawyers and tougher cases, Bobb stands out for her skills and values. She is, in many ways, the conscience of the courtroom—a lawyer whose reputation is built on winning and fighting with pur pose. She cares about doing right by her clients and making sure the legal system works for everyone simultaneously making space for young lawyers to grow. Her advice to young lawyers: “Find a mentor as early as you can in your practice. It is important to pick someone who has demonstrated the highest ethics and practice standards possible. Remember that your integrity and trustworthiness will follow you always. A good reputation as an honest and ethical lawyer is the key to success in whatever area you choose to practice in.” In the heart of Chicago’s legal community, where courtroom giants rise and reputations are earned through grit, intelligence, and fearless advocacy, one name has come to symbolize that blend of legal prowess and unwavering integrity: Patti Bobb.

Pamela Sakowicz Menaker is a Communications Partner at Clifford Law Offices, a CBA Record Editorial Board member, and a former member of the CBA Board of Managers.

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