Paula E. Litt

Paula Litt is a trusted advocate for corporate policyholders navigating high-stakes insurance and reinsurance disputes. She has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in coverage for clients under many types of insurance policies in a wide range of industries, including oil and gas, financial services, pharmaceutical products, retail, agriculture, and manufacturing. One client describes her as “one of the top policyholder attorneys in Chicago, Paula is experienced and a smart strategic thinker.”

Paula combines her insurance recovery expertise with extensive experience in commercial litigation. She is widely recognized for her litigation savvy and strategic thinking. Paula advises clients on how each decision serves the broader objectives of the case and their business. One client adds, "She is experienced, never fails to respond promptly and always provides pragmatic, well-reasoned advice."

Her commercial litigation practice includes disputes involving complex commercial agreements such as purchase and sale agreements, distributorship agreements, commercial leases, loan agreements, employment agreements, executive compensation and non-compete agreements, and joint venture agreements. Her clients range from international manufacturers to national retailers to non-profits.

Paula is also a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Neutrals for commercial litigation and has served as an arbitrator in multiple commercial disputes. She is a frequent speaker at nationwide forums on insurance coverage, litigation, alternative dispute resolution.

Practice Areas

Representative Matters

• Negotiated insurance-funded settlement on behalf of an oil well fishing tool manufacturer after insurers denied all coverage for a $9 million adverse verdict
• Defeated insurer motion for summary judgment on duty to defend medical equipment manufacturer in product liability action
• Negotiated insurance-funded settlement in legal malpractice action following coverage denial
• Won summary judgment for employer in action for retaliatory discharge and discrimination
• Negotiated insurance-funded settlement of shareholder derivative actions.
• Represented industrial gas manufacturer in underlying suit and coverage litigation in Louisiana resulting from catastrophic accident, culminating in eight-figure insurance-funded settlement of underlying death and injury cases
• Won summary judgment for defendants in copyright suit alleging infringement of story about John Dillinger’s death; won Seventh Circuit affirmance on appeal
• Successfully represented plaintiff in first civil RICO case tried to a jury; won Seventh Circuit affirmance of verdict on appeal
• Won summary judgment for insured manufacturer in action seeking indemnification for underlying trademark suit
• Won summary judgment for receiver of failed savings and loan in action brought by former chairman seeking millions in compensation and benefits under the employment agreement
• Secured arbitration award for manufacturing client’s defense costs and settlement of underlying trade liable case and award of all fees incurred by the client in arbitration
• Prevailed in AAA arbitration of dispute between majority and minority owners over majority owner's exercise of call option to buy out minority
• Won bench trial representing the insolvent company in action against the actuarial firm for negligent misrepresentation

Prior Experience

• Schopf & Weiss LLP
• Isham, Lincoln & Beale
• Reuben & Proctor

Education

Admissions

Court Admissions

Awards

• 2019 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service, U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
• Ranked in Chambers USA, 2008–2024
  • Recognized in Band 1, the top tier, in Insurance: Dispute Resolution in Illinois; Chambers USA states:
    • "Paula Litt is an outstanding attorney who is extremely knowledgeable about insurance and reinsurance litigation."
    • "Paula provides clear, cogent and practical guidance that demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of coverage issues."
    • "[Paula] is widely considered a leader in the Chicago market and is regularly retained by both private and corporate clients to handle a variety of complex policyholder-side disputes."
    • "[Paula] is a very knowledgeable attorney in this field and is a wonderful communicator of that knowledge," further adding: "She is an exceptional lawyer and a delightful person."
    • "[Paula] enjoys a strong reputation for her 'excellent representation' of policyholder clients in complex insurance coverage disputes. Clients say: 'She is exceptionally professional, very client service-oriented and exceptionally creative in terms of coming up with resolutions.'"
• The Best Lawyers in America, 2013–2025
  • Recognized in the practice area of Insurance Law
• Honored by The BTI Consulting Group as a Client Service All-Star in 2020 and 2016
• Illinois Super Lawyers, 2005–2021, 2023–2025
  • Top 50 Women Super Lawyers, 2005–2024
  • Top 100 Super Lawyers, 2005–2018, 2020–2021, 2023–2024
  • Top 10 Super Lawyers, 2010
• Nominated for "Best in insurance and reinsurance" by Women in Business Law in 2018
• Recognized as a 2018 Harvard Law Society of Illinois Role Model
• Law Bulletin Media
  • Leading Lawyers, Commercial Litigation, 2004–2017, 2022–2024
  • Leading Lawyers, Insurance, Insurance Coverage & Reinsurance, 2004-2017, 2022–2024
  • Leading Lawyers, Trade Secrets/Unfair Competition Law, 2004–2017, 2022–2024

Professional & Community Involvement

• The American Law Institute, Member
• American College of Coverage Counsel, Fellow
• American Arbitration Association
  • Roster of Neutrals, Commercial Arbitration

• Impact Grants Chicago, Member, Grant Review Committee

News

Press Releases

Events

Alerts

Publications