Melinda S. Kollross

Partner

Melinda S. Kollross is a senior partner and Co-Chair of Clausen's Appellate Practice Group, specializing in post-trial and appellate litigation nationwide. She has litigated more than 100 appeals in state and federal reviewing courts, including participation in two appeals before the United States Supreme Court, and has been named a 2005 and 2006 Illinois Super Lawyer in appellate practice. Her work spans all areas of firm practice, including commercial, first-party property, liability insurance coverage and liability defense.

Melinda also regularly assists in trial preparation and trial monitoring of high profile/high exposure cases across the nation.  Her work on such cases has saved clients more than $100 million at the trial court level and helps ensure success on appeal by making a strong appellate record and preserving issues for review.

Melinda is editor-in-chief of Clausen Miller's quarterly CM Report of Recent Decisions and frequently writes and lectures on appellate practice and other litigation topics.  Her notable works include a chapter on post-trial motions in DRI's A Defense Lawyer's Guide to Appellate Practice (2004).

Melinda is a member of the Order of the Coif, the premier national legal honor society, and earned the Class Award in Law and Economics during law school.      

Education

  • J.D. (with High Honors) Illinois Institute of Technology - Chicago/Kent College of Law, 1992
  • B.A. Communications (with Highest Honors) DePaul University, 1989

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 1992
  • United States Supreme Court, 2000
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana, 2000
  • U.S. Courts of Appeal, Sixth and Seventh Circuits, 1994, Tenth Circuit, 2001, Eleventh Circuit 2004, Third Circuit, 2004, Ninth Circuit,  2005

Organization Affiliations

  • Chicago Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Appellate Lawyers Association
  • Defense Research Institute

View this attorney's Reported Decisions, Verdicts and Judgments.