Gretchen Harris Sperry is a Co-Chair of the Appellate practice group and a Partner in the firm's Chicago office. She has represented clients in numerous state and federal courts of review, including the United States Supreme Court. As a former appellate court clerk, Gretchen is highly skilled in drafting and arguing critical motions and appeals. She has also developed particular expertise as embedded appellate counsel at trial, preparing pre-trial motions, monitoring trial proceedings, and developing appellate strategy in complex commercial litigation, high-exposure catastrophic injury cases, mass torts, constitutional litigation, and labor and employment matters.
Gretchen is highly skilled at handling the sensitive and unique legal issues that arise at the intersection of law, politics, and government. She is experienced in white collar criminal matters, having represented individuals and entities in federal criminal prosecutions and investigations, as well as conducting internal investigations in anticipation of government involvement. Gretchen frequently represents government agencies and elected officials in constitutional litigation as a court-appointed Special Assistant State's Attorney. She also represents private sector clients before various governmental, legislative, and regulatory agencies, counseling them on pending legislation and regulatory compliance matters.
Gretchen is an active member of the legal community. She was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve as a member of the Character and Fitness Committee of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at two Chicago law schools teaching Appellate Advocacy. She also serves as the Secretary of the ABA Council of Appellate Lawyers and is a Past President of the Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association.
Prior to joining GRSM, Gretchen was partner at a national law firm where she served as chair of the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, which was nationally recognized. Previously, Gretchen was a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable Mary Jane Theis and the Honorable Maureen E. Connors in the Illinois Appellate Court. During her time in the Court, Gretchen assisted in researching and drafting judicial opinions and dispositional orders in all areas of the law, including insurance coverage, contract disputes, corporate and partnership formation, fiduciary duty, personal injury, professional liability, declaratory judgment actions, appellate jurisdiction, evidentiary issues, and criminal matters. In law school, she also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Michael T. Mason, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and was a Senior Research Fellow for Dean Michael J. Kaufman.
Admissions
- Illinois
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Memberships
- Illinois Supreme Court
- Appointed to Character and Fitness Committee of Illinois Board of Admission to the Bar, 2014 – 2024
- Appellate Lawyers Association
- Elected as President, 2019 – 2020
- Elected as Vice President, 2018 – 2019
- Elected as Secretary, 2017 – 2018
- Elected as Treasurer, 2016 – 2017
- Member of the Board of Directors, 2013 – 2015
- Cases Pending Committee, Co-Chair
- Seminars Committee
- Loyola University Chicago School of Law's Alumni Board of Governors
- Elected Member (2020-present)
- American Bar Association Council of Appellate Lawyers (CAL)
- Chair-Elect (2023-2024)
- Secretary (2022-2023)
- AJEI Summit Liaison (2022)
- Executive Board Member (2019-2022)
- National State Chairs Committee, Co-Chair (2018-2022)
- Women's Bar Association of Illinois
- Mary Heftel Hooton Fund Committee (2014-Present)
- Nominating Committee (2013-2015)
- Women's White Collar Defense Association, Chicago Chapter
- National PR and Branding Committee, Co-Chair
- Chicago Bar Association
- Judicial Evaluation Committee (2013-2015)