Michael R. Cedillos

Michael Cedillos is a skilled litigator who primarily represents financial services industry clients, including national banks, credit card companies, mortgage lenders, and broker-dealers in a wide range of claims brought against them. She also handles business dispute litigation for different types of nationwide businesses as well as represents developers and lenders in real estate and real estate financing litigation. Michael has deep experience in class and individual matters in both federal court and arbitration, including over 60 days of arbitration trial experience.

Having worked for a bank prior to becoming a lawyer, Michael’s firsthand experience in financial services allows her to better understand and relate to her financial institutional clients. She regularly defends both class action and individual claims involving checks, wires, electronic funds transfers, negotiable instruments, consumer credit cards, and loan participations and responds to regulatory investigations and inquiries. Her background also allows her to more efficiently work with damages experts and understand their methods of calculation and analysis, including the tracing of assets.

Michael also has prior real estate finance experience that she leverages while representing developers and lenders nationwide in real estate and real estate financing litigation.

Active in the community and committed to promoting diversity as a Hispanic female attorney, Michael has been involved in various legal and community organizations, including by holding leadership positions in diversity-focused organizations.

Concentrations

•Financial services litigation and arbitration
•Broker-dealer arbitrations and securities litigation
•Banking, negotiable instruments and bank collection
•Real estate financing litigation

Judicial Clerkships

•Hon. Noel Anketell Kramer, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, 2008-2009

Recognition & Leadership

Awards & Accolades

•Team Member, a Law360 'Real Estate Practice Group of the Year,' 2023
•Listed, Leading Lawyers Network, 2023-2026
•Listed, 'Emerging Lawyer,' 2019-2022
•Listed, 'Top 100 Emerging Women Lawyers in Illinois,' 2020
•Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Illinois Super Lawyers, 'Rising Star,' 2017-2018
•Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms Edition, 'Law Firm of the Year,' Banking & Finance - Litigation, 2017
•Team Member, U.S. News - Best Lawyers, Best Law Firms Edition, 'Law Firm of the Year,' Real Estate - Litigation, 2017
•Recipient, 'Corporate Advocate Award,' Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Young Professionals Board, December 2015
•Recipient, 'YPB Corporate Ambassador Award,' Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, Young Professionals Board, December 2014
•Member, Winning Team, Global M&A Network’s Turnaround Atlas Award, 'Insolvency Deal of the Year - Middle Markets,' for the Chapter 11 restructuring of ShengdaTech, Inc., 2013
•Appointed, Associate Judge, American Bar Association's Awards and Subgrants Team, 2010-2011
•Appointed, Touch 10,000 Ambassador, American Bar Association, 2010