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Melanie J. Chico

Member

Melanie Chico is the co-lead of the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) practice team and also serves as Dykema’s Chicago Office Managing Member. She litigates complicated, high-stakes business disputes with the least disruption to the client while finding workable solutions both in and out of court. Every new matter is an opportunity to learn the facts, assess the law, and deploy her skills to successfully resolve disputes.

Although Melanie prefers to bring common sense and creative problem-solving to the fight rather than a scorched-earth approach, she is always prepared to go toe-to-toe with the other side to pursue the client’s best interests. Her experience spans various industries with a client roster that includes automotive, real estate developers, trading companies, retailers, insurance carriers, financial institutions, and local governmental units.

The scope of Melanie’s practice is broad and deep. She has appeared in state and federal courts, arbitrations, and mediations in cases with claims involving breach of contract, business torts, the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act, workplace disputes, restrictive covenants, constitutional challenges, antitrust, construction defects, intellectual property, and class action defense.

Melanie has also represented players in the auto industry in matters involving product liability, breach of warranty, consumer fraud, subrogation, premises liability, technology and intellectual property, and dealer claims. 

General counsel and C-suite executives count on Melanie to assess and manage risk outside the courtroom, too. She advises clients on regulatory and statutory compliance, keeping watch for costly pitfalls and obstacles, especially at the state level, where local laws governing privacy, employee data, COVID directives, and other consumer and worker protections differ substantially from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

An ardent proponent for developing the next generation of Dykema attorneys and giving back to the community, Melanie serves on the firm’s Litigation Training Committee, mentors up-and-coming lawyers and colleagues, regularly handles pro bono matters, and was the Hiring Member for the Chicago office for six years.

“My greatest advantage is perspective—the foresight, hindsight, and insight from my broad range of commercial litigation experience on both sides of the courtroom.”
    • University of Chicago, J.D.
    • Duke University, B.A.

  • Bar Admissions

    • Illinois, 2007

  • Court Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
    • U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois

    • Named to the Crain's Chicago Business "Notable Women in Law" list, 2022

    • Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and the Federal Bar Association
    • Margaret A. Costello Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service
    • Edwin F. Mandel Award for Exceptional Contributions to the University of Chicago Law School's Clinical Program
    • Chicago Bar Association

    • Dykema Women’s Business Initiative, Chicago Leader

Contact

Chicago312-627-2558

Latest News and Insights

Blog Posts3.13.25

Interpretation of BIPA Amendment Splits the Courts: Implications for Businesses

Takeaways While enacted in 2008, the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (“BIPA”) did not…

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One Minute Matters Video Series8.16.24

One Minute Matters [Video]: Can Illinois Businesses Finally Relax on Their Biometric Data Policies? (with Melanie Chico)

Will Illinois businesses finally be able to relax on their biometric data policies? In response to…

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One Minute Matters Video Series2.5.24

One Minute Matters [Video]: What is the Biometric Information Policy Act? (with Melanie Chico)

Understanding the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and how to responsibly safeguard…

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