Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd.

05/26/2026

HSPRD is proud to share a unanimous victory in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals on behalf of our client, C.T., a student receiving special education services for ADHD.

The court upheld C.T.’s right to remain in his home school with the supports he needs, reinforcing students’ rights to learn in the least restrictive environment possible.

Congratulations to HSPRD shareholders Caryn Lederer and Charlie Wysong on this important victory.

Read the full report:

HSPRD recently secured a unanimous victory for their client in a special education appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

05/06/2026

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the history and culture of AANHPI communities across the country. The 2026 theme, “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together,” underscores the collective resilience, advocacy, and storytelling that continue to shape stronger, more inclusive communities. This month commemorates the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the Completion of the First Trans continental Railroad on May 10, 1869, a project built in large part by Chinese laborers.

Chicago’s legal landscape has been shaped by AANHP attorneys, judges, and bar leaders who advance justice and advocate for greater representation within the profession. Organizations such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice have been at the forefront of civil rights litigation, immigration advocacy, and fighting to lower language access barriers. The Chinese American Service League provides immigration legal services, citizenship support, and family stabilization programs.

AANHPI Chicagoans continue to demonstrate that community is built through coalition work, legal advocacy, entrepreneurship, and leadership. This month is an opportunity to celebrate those contributions and reaffirm that when communities stand together, the entire city moves forward together.

05/01/2026

The Illinois Accountability Commission has released its final report on Operation Midway Blitz, following a months-long review of federal immigration enforcement activity across the Chicago area.

Established in October 2025 by executive order from Governor J. B. Pritzker, the Commission examined allegations of misconduct and the broader impact of enforcement actions on Illinois communities.

HSPRD is proud to have contributed to this effort. Matthew Piers served as Special Counsel to the Commission and its Chair, Rubén Castillo, and Susan Gzesh served as a Commission member.

As noted in recent reporting by the Chicago Tribune, the Commission’s findings have been referred to law enforcement for review. The Commission does not have prosecutorial authority, and any next steps would depend on independent investigation.

The report outlines significant findings related to use of force, enforcement practices, and community impact.

Read the full report:

The Illinois Accountability Commission has issued its final report following an extensive review of Operation Midway Blitz, a federal immigration enforcement initiative conducted across the Chicago metropolitan region.

04/14/2026

This past Sunday, CBS’s 60 Minutes ran a story about Super Ego Holding LLC, an Elmhurst-based motor carrier that has been on HSPRD’s radar for quite some time. Since 2022, HSPRD has represented hundreds of drivers who worked for Super Ego affiliated motor carriers in a class action lawsuit alleging that Defendants paid them less than their contracts required, made unlawful deductions from their wages, and paid them less than the federal minimum wage.

In the lawsuit filed by HSPRD, drivers allege that Defendants promised to pay them 88% of the price of each load but secretly paid them less than their contracts required by misrepresenting the price of the loads. Some drivers allege that they received negative paychecks during certain pay periods despite working long hours. The lawsuit further alleges that Defendants often kept drivers’ final paychecks if they quit and made unlawful deductions from drivers’ pay.

HSPRD Shareholder Christopher Wilmes was featured on FOX 32 Chicago discussing the impact these issues have on drivers and the broader trucking industry. HSPRD Partner Emily Rees Brown Brown also works on the Super Ego lawsuit.

Read more here:

This past Sunday, CBS’s 60 Minutes ran a story about Super Ego Holding LLC, an Elmhurst-based motor carrier that has been on HSPRD’s radar for quite some time. Since 2022, HSPRD has represented hundreds of drivers who worked for Super Ego affiliated motor carriers in a class action lawsuit alleg...

04/02/2026

On March 31, 2026, a federal court granted class certification in Dunn et al. v. Cuyahoga County, a case alleging that pretrial detainees were unlawfully held in jail beyond their release time in violation of the 14th Amendment. The certified class includes individuals who were not released within 18 hours after the legal basis for their detention ended.

HSPRD Partner Kate Schwartz serves as lead counsel alongside Justice Catalyst Law. “Liberty is a fundamental constitutional right, and people should not be forced to remain in jail after they are entitled to release,” she said. “We are pleased with the court’s decision and look forward to pursuing justice for those impacted.”

Read more below:

On March 31, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Bridget Meehan Brennan granted plaintiffs’ motion for class certification in Dunn et al. v. Cuyahoga County.

02/04/2026

HSPRD is pleased to share that Shareholders Deane Brown, Lori L. Deem, and Caryn C. Lederer have been honored by their peers as three of the Top 50 Illinois Women Super Lawyers. This annual distinction honors the state’s most accomplished female attorneys, highlighting exceptional skill, leadership, and professional achievement.

In addition to this honor, HSPRD is proud to announce that Shareholders Deane Brown, Lori L. Deem, Caryn C. Lederer, and Christopher Wilmes have been named to the list of the Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers.

Super Lawyers is a respected attorney rating service that recognizes outstanding lawyers across more than 70 practice areas who have demonstrated exceptional peer recognition and professional accomplishment. Honorees are chosen through a rigorous, patented multiphase selection process that includes a statewide peer survey, independent research evaluations, and practice-area–specific peer reviews.

02/03/2026

Black History Month is a time to reflect, particularly as our country faces uncertainty and renewed attacks on equity, accountability, and access to justice. The 2026 theme, A Century of Black History Commemorations, marks 100 years since our country first formally recognized Black history, following years of Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s advocacy. It underscores the importance of remembering the past and understanding how history is preserved.

Black history is woven deeply into Chicago’s identity. Black history is Chicago history. During the Great Migration, Black families shaped the city’s neighborhoods, culture, and civic life, with areas like Bronzeville emerging as centers of art, entrepreneurship, journalism, and political organizing. Leaders such as Ida B. Wells advanced national conversations on civil rights and accountability from Chicago, demanding change through truth, advocacy, and the law.

The legal system has served as both an instrument of exclusion and a mechanism for progress for Black communities in Chicago, who have long utilized legal advocacy to challenge discriminatory housing practices, advance labor rights, and protect civil liberties. These efforts reinforce a lesson that remains critical today: civil rights are not self-sustaining. They require vigilance, informed advocacy, and institutions willing to act when equity and access are at risk.

This Black History Month, HSPRD honors this legacy and reaffirms our responsibility within the legal system. Chicago’s Black history shows that meaningful progress begins locally, is strengthened through collective effort, and endures when the law is used to serve people with fairness and integrity. As we mark a century of Black History Month commemorations, we do so with an understanding that honoring history requires carrying its lessons forward.

Black History Month is a time to reflect, particularly as our country faces uncertainty and renewed attacks on equity, accountability, and access to justice. The 2026 theme, A Century of Black History Commemorations, marks 100 years since our country first formally recognized Black history, followin...

01/22/2026

We are proud to announce that twenty-five of our attorneys made this year’s Illinois Super Lawyers list. This recognition is awarded to lawyers by their peers and makes the legal process accessible by confidently connecting clients with top lawyers. https://www.hsplegal.com/post/25-hsprd-attorneys-recognized-as-2026-illinois-super-lawyers-r

01/15/2026

Last month, Civil Rights Associate William Greenlaw accepted an invitation to join the Board of Directors of the Harvard Law Society of Illinois as a newly elected member. The Harvard Law Society of Illinois ranks among the most active alumni chapters of the Harvard Law School Association and serves more than 1,500 alumni across Illinois. The Society promotes fellowship among Harvard Law School alumni through educational programming, engaging speakers, networking opportunities, social events, and pro bono initiatives. William(fifth from the right)recently attended the Society’s annual meeting and joined the Board as a newly elected member.

01/12/2026

We are excited to welcome the new year with the launch of our newly redesigned firm website. Built with clarity and accessibility in mind, the updated site reflects who we are today and the clients we serve. Visitors can easily explore our practice areas, learn about our attorneys, and stay informed with news and updates on cases and firm developments. Click the link below to check it out: www.hsplegal.com