Kathleen M. Klein

Shareholder

Primary Location: Chicago, IL

Secondary Location: Michigan City, IN

Phone: 312.606.7724

Biography

Kathleen M. Klein is a partner in the Chicago office, specializing in litigation. She defends medical and healthcare malpractice, premises liability, professional liability, broker/dealer/investment advisor malpractice, and personal injury and property damage matters.  Her clients are predominantly in the healthcare and mental health services, hospitality and retail, and financial industries.

For healthcare clients, Kathleen has defended doctors, residential facilities, and hospitals across a variety of specialties, including surgery, orthopedics, psychiatry, family practice, immunology, and chiropractic care. In addition to doctors and nurses, Kathleen has specific experience defending psychiatrists, social workers, addiction counselors, and other mental health care providers, and the behavioral health facilities that employ them, including in cases with sensitive and sensationalized allegations. She represents nursing home and long term care facilities in statutory and negligence actions arising out of facility care. She also defends clinical laboratories, and has deep experience in delayed diagnosis of cancer cases. Her med mal trial experience allows her to effectively counsel healthcare professionals through the process, and advise claims professionals on the merits of any individual case and options for resolution.  Kathleen can also guide healthcare professionals through regulatory reporting and responses to investigations by state licensing boards following adverse outcomes or resolution of claims.

Kathleen has also served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Illinois Department of Public Health, where she presided over residents’ involuntary termination and discharge hearings from residential facilities.

For hospitality clients, including restaurants, Kathleen handles litigation arising out of guest slip and falls, allegations of foodborne illness, and any other lawsuits that arise.  Her jury trial wins include a premises liability case for a restaurant client, in which she proved to the jury the restaurant’s high level of care for its space and its customers, and obtained a full defense verdict that was affirmed on appeal.  She can also consult with clients to improve their processes, secure privilege over reports prepared for litigation, consult on procedures, and advise on ways clients can reduce the risk of litigation, or increase the chances of success when it does arise.

For financial industry clients, Kathleen defends FINRA arbitrations by customers unhappy with their investments.  The investment products and securities that are the target of these suits change over time and with global financial conditions, but often involve annuities, REITs, and other alternative investments, as well as discretionary accounts and other financial advice. Responses to regulatory investigations by FINRA are laden with traps for the unwary, in the form of statutory disqualifications that follow from minor sanctions, so her advice is often necessary when a registered representative considers settlement of a disciplinary action through FINRA.

Kathleen also has defended a variety of businesses, including restaurants and subcontractors, in property damage cases, including fire and flood, and is practiced in guiding experts and clients through the investigation, valuation, and, if necessary, the litigation process.

Kathleen’s jury trial wins communicate to adversaries that she is ready and willing to defend cases to trial, while giving her leverage to resolve cases when resolution is in the client’s best interest.  Kathleen’s litigation experience allows her to effectively and accurately advise clients as to risks, benefits, and potential outcomes of pending matters.  She arms clients with information and analysis, and her advice helps them make decisions and achieve resolutions that serve their best interests.

Kathleen graduated cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she won a Philip H. Corboy Fellowship in Trial Advocacy, served on the editorial board for the Loyola Law Journal, and represented felony criminal defendants at trial with the Cook County Public Defender.

Kathleen earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, and is (obviously) a devoted ND football fan.  Go Irish!

  • Chicago

    Illinois 60603

    10 South LaSalle Street

    Chicago, Illinois 60603

    T: 312.855.1010 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick

  • New York

    New York 10005

    28 Liberty Street 39th Floor

    New York, New York 10005

    T: 212.805.3900 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 212.805.3939 Office Managing Partner: Carl M. Perri

  • Mission Viejo

    California 92691

    27285 Las Ramblas

    Suite 200

    Mission Viejo, California 92691

    T: 949.260.3100 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 949.260.3190 Office Managing Partner: Ian R. Feldman

  • Florham Park

    New Jersey 07932

    100 Campus Drive

    Florham Park, New Jersey 07932

    T: 973.410.4130 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 973.410.4169 Office Managing Partner: Carl M. Perri

  • Michigan City

    Indiana 46360

    200 Commerce Square

    Michigan City, Indiana 46360

    T: 219.262.6106 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partners: Paige M. Neel, Kimbley A. Kearney

  • Milwaukee

    Wisconsin 53202

    250 E. Wisconsin Avenue

    Suite 1800

    Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202

    T: 414.279.5525 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: James M. Weck

  • Stamford

    Connecticut 06902

    68 Southfield Avenue

    2 Stamford Landing Suite 100

    Stamford, Connecticut 06902

    T: 203.921.0303 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 212.805.3939 Office Managing Partner: Matthew J. Van Dusen

  • Tampa

    Florida 33609

    4830 West Kennedy Boulevard, One Urban Center

    Suite 600

    Tampa, Florida 33609

    T: 813.509.2578 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick Co-Managing Partner: Kelly M. Vogt

  • San Francisco

    California 94111

    100 Pine Street

    Suite 1250

    San Francisco, California 94111

    T: 415.287.2744 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 949.260.3190 Office Managing Partner: Ian R. Feldman

  • Houston

    Texas 77019

    2929 Allen Parkway

    American General Center, Suite 200

    Houston, Texas 77019

    T: 346.229.4612 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Ramy P. Elmasri

  • Dallas

    Texas 75201

    325 N. Saint Paul Street

    Suite 3100

    Dallas, Texas 75201

    T: 469.942.8635 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Ramy P. Elmasri

  • Boca Raton

    Florida 33434

    7777 Glades Road

    Suite 405

    Boca Raton, Florida 33434

    T: 561.765.5305 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick Co-Managing Partner: Kelly M. Vogt