Photo of Molly E. Thompson

Molly E. Thompson Senior Counsel

Areas of Practice

Industries

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois, 2007

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, 2007

Education

Northwestern University, J.D.

  • Dean's List

Columbia University, B.A.

  • with honors

Molly, a member of the firm’s Business Litigation Group, has broad litigation experience in state and federal courts. Molly advocates on behalf of a variety of clients, including schools, municipalities, public officials, financial institutions, product manufacturers, individuals and corporations through retention by insurer, and other professional individuals and entities. Molly concentrates her practice in school liability (including Title IX and Section 1983 claims), consumer financial services, complex commercial and contract disputes, and personal injury.

Molly has tried jury cases in federal court and is an experienced appellate attorney, having prosecuted and defended many appeals in state and federal courts.

Prior to law school, Molly worked for the Manhattan District Attorney's office in the Investigations Division, where she assisted in the prosecution of money laundering, securities fraud, and corporate crime.

Experience

Molly has successfully represented clients in many areas, including the following:

  • Defending school districts and higher education institutions, and their professional staff, against liability claims ranging from sexual abuse, discrimination, and premises liability.
  • Defending corporations and individuals, directly or through retention by an insurance carrier, in tort and wrongful death litigation. These include, for example, defamation cases and cases wherein Molly successfully defended insureds against claims arising out of alcohol or drug-related deaths at their home.
  • Defending municipal corporations against policy and practice claims and individual municipal officials against Section 1983 claims.
  • Representing mortgage servicers in actions alleging TCPA, FDCPA and FCRA claims and violations of bankruptcy discharge injunctions.
  • Representing financial institutions in litigation related to REO property.
  • Representing a retail fashion company in a series of copyright enforcement actions against online competitors.
  • Defending professional entities and individuals in privacy tort litigation.
  • Defending and prosecuting other types of commercial claims, including breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and other business torts.
  • Representing numerous pro bono clients, including clients successfully receiving asylum in the United States, a client subject to removal proceedings in a Seventh Circuit appeal (resulting in a reversal of the Board of Immigration Appeals judgment on an issue of first impression), and a client asserting claims for denial of adequate medical care in prison, including a policy and practice Monell claim, for which Molly defeated a summary judgment motion.
  • "Relocating from the Distress of Chicago Public Housing to the Difficulties of the Private Market: How the Move Threatens to Push Families Away from Opportunity"
    2006
    1 NW. J. L. & Soc. Pol. 267

Community/Civic Activities

  • Northwestern Journal of Law and Social Policy, Executive Editor