Kelly M. Warner

Partner

Kelly M. Warner concentrates her practice in complex civil litigation, conducting internal investigations, and white collar criminal defense.

In her civil litigation experience, Ms. Warner has represented corporations and individuals in futures and derivatives, defamation, fraud, breach of contract, bankruptcy, and trade secret matters. Ms. Warner has significant experience representing clients in the futures and derivatives industry, including defending a futures commission merchant in multiple jurisdictions against customer complaints and representation of an options exchange. Her commercial cases include a multimillion-dollar insurance coverage dispute, which was resolved in favor of Schiff Hardin's policyholder client on the eve of trial. She has also represented clients on appeal.

Ms. Warner has represented management, boards of directors, and special litigation committees of public and private corporations, governmental entities, and non-profit organizations in conducting internal investigations into allegations of wrongdoing, typically at the highest levels of management. Ms. Warner has conducted investigations into allegations of financial fraud, including channel stuffing, improper revenue recognition, and improper reserves for liabilities. She has also investigated possible violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), as well as allegations of excessive compensation, insider trading, unfair competition, misappropriation of corporate opportunities, sexual harassment, and fraudulent expense reporting.

Ms. Warner's white collar criminal defense work includes representation of individuals, governmental entities and corporations in responding to Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigations and defending against criminal charges from prior to indictment through trial.

Ms. Warner also has authored articles and presentations on the FCPA, and has an interest in electronic discovery issues.

Ms. Warner is a co-chair of the firm's Parenting Group, is a member of the firm's eDiscovery Committee, and co-chaired the firm's Summer Associate Program in 2009.

Publications

"Friends, Tweets and Posts: The Potential Pitfalls Every Litigator Should Know About the Internet's Social Networking Tools," Bloomberg Law Reports (Apr. 20, 2009)

American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Corporate Counsel Committee Newsletter (Editor) (Fall 2005, 2006)

American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Corporate Counsel Committee Winter Survey (Editor) (2005)

Pro Bono Activities

Ms. Warner is the former co-chair of the firm's legal clinic run in connection with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS) and she remains an active volunteer providing legal services to indigent Chicago residents. Ms. Warner also serves as an Executive Member of the Board of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.

Education

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association

Chicago Bar Association

Civic and Charitable Memberships

Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
Board Member and Secretary

Lincoln Park Zoo
Auxiliary Board Member
Executive Committee Member