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Caitlin Kovacs

Partner
Chicago
T.
312.624.6392
liamE

Caitlin is an experienced complex commercial litigator who specializes in the most challenging and significant matters her clients face. 

She leads effective teams on bet-the-company cases in both state and federal courts involving disputes of all kinds, including breach of contract, fraud, business torts, defamation, white collar, products liability, restructuring, False Claims Act, antitrust, and tax.  Her clients span a wide range of industries and include Fortune 100 financial institutions, retail institutions, chemical companies, and technology companies.

Caitlin’s advocacy and problem-solving skills have been consistently praised by clients and co-counsel alike, who describe her as a “super smart, dedicated,” and “very, very formidable” attorney. Her “extremely persuasive” writing skills have been described as “terrific” and “really powerful,” and consistently lead to early resolution of her client’s disputes. When disputes proceed to discovery, her “wonderful” legal strategy, “exceptional” handling of witnesses, and “poised, expert and persuasive” oral advocacy put her clients in an excellent position to win.  Jurors have also praised Caitlin as an “excellent” presenter whose style is “confident,” “very knowledgeable and passionate,” “detailed yet simple to understand,” and “just the right amount of everything.”

An engaging speaker, Caitlin is often invited to instruct on a variety of legal issues.  She teaches programs on ethics issues facing in-house counsel, deposition skills, and women in the law.

*Matters completed prior to joining Benesch.

Representative Experience

  • Representing a global election technology firm in a defamation suit seeking over $2 billion against Fox News and others.
  • Counsel for international oil company in putative class action arising out of the storage of its petroleum product. Won motion to dismiss all six claims.*
  • Represented major vehicle manufacturer in DOJ and SEC investigation involving fraud allegations.*
  • Secured summary judgment for global investment management firm in over half a billion-dollar defamation case involving the high yield municipal bond market.*
  • Counsel for major home furnishings retailer in purported class actions involving allegations of product defect, consumer fraud, and warrantability claims. Won motion to compel arbitration following contested evidentiary hearing.*
  • Counsel for multinational recreational vehicle manufacturer in putative class actions and personal injury matters alleging product liability and violations of consumer protection statutes.*
  • Counsel for major power company in case brought by energy services competitor alleging theft of confidential information and unfair business practices. During deposition discovery, sought and won a stay of the preliminary injunction proceeding on behalf of client. Case settled favorably during stay. *
  • Represented major chemical company in SEC investigation into federal reporting issues. *
  • Counsel for major international airline in litigation arising out of spacecraft venture. In 2016, after six years of litigation in four countries, the airline won summary judgment as plaintiff against three companies controlled by the Russian and Ukrainian governments. The total judgment in plaintiff’s favor exceeded $500 million. This victory was recognized by The American Lawyer as a Transatlantic Litigation matter of the year for 2016. *
  • Represented a multinational medical device company in internal investigation involving allegations of potential kickbacks and off-label marketing.*

  • Litigation
  • Defamation Litigation
  • White Collar, Government Investigations & Regulatory Compliance
  • Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 2013, J.D.
    • cum laude
    • Executive Articles Editor, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
    • Bluhm Legal Clinic Center on Wrongful Convictions, Student and PILI Intern
    • Co-President, Latino Law Students Association
    • Mentor, Women’s Leadership Coalition
  • Northwestern University, 2007, B.A. in Economics and English Literature
    • cum laude
    • Sweet Briar College Study Abroad, University of Seville (Spain)
  • Illinois
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • Listed, Crain’s Chicago Notable Women in Law, 2024
  • Listed, Benchmark Litigation, Future Star, 2024-2026
  • Benchmark's 40 & Under Hot List, 2022
  • English
  • Spanish (Conversational)

Highlights

Articles and Presentations
October 28, 2025
Jack Nicklaus’s $50M Redemption and The Limits of The Litigation Privilege
September 12, 2025
Commercial Litigation Panel | Caitlin A. Kovacs
News
October 29, 2025
Benesch Named 2026 Highly Recommended Firm by Benchmark Litigation; 10 Attorneys Recognized, Including Three First-Time Honorees
February 11, 2025
The SERMApod Interviews Caitlin Kovacs on Breaking Down the 'It Ends With Us' Lawsuits
February 5, 2025
Us Weekly Quotes Caitlin Kovacs in Cover Story on Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni Legal Battle

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