Atty. Gil M. Soffer
Gil Soffer, managing partner of Katten's Chicago office, has made his mark on both sides of white-collar actions. As a former federal prosecutor and senior Department of Justice (DOJ) official, he thoroughly understands the government's enforcement strategies and tactics.
Profile Summary
About Gil M. Soffer at a glance
Gil M. Soffer is a criminal defense and white collar attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Katten. Educated at Harvard University (J.D., 1989). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Compliance Law (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Gil Soffer, managing partner of Katten's Chicago office, has made his mark on both sides of white-collar actions
- As a former federal prosecutor and senior Department of Justice (DOJ) official, he thoroughly understands the government's enforcement strategies and tactics
- As an experienced white-collar defense lawyer and national co-chair of the firm's litigation practice, he devotes his practice to keeping clients out of trouble and navigating them safely through government investigations and enforcement actions
- Gil believes that the best strategy is prevention
- He focuses on identifying risks and addressing them before the government does
- He helps clients draw up compliance plans and codes of corporate conduct that are sensible and as business-friendly as possible within the bounds of the law
- And where a government investigation has already begun, Gil devises ways to guide his clients — including corporations, their board members, their executives and employees — out of harm's way
- His rare mix of experience gives Gil valuable insights into the government's enforcement strategies regarding corporate fraud
- When he worked at DOJ, he managed the President's Corporate Fraud Task Force and was a key drafter of DOJ policies governing the charging of corporations and corporate monitorships
- In private practice, Gil has served as independent corporate compliance monitor for a major international pharmaceutical company — a role few attorneys have performed — in one of the most substantial FCPA resolutions to date
- And in the past three years alone, Gil has served as counsel to three public company boards or their special committees, investigating shareholder allegations of misconduct and reporting his findings to the board
- Gil defends executives and other individuals no less than corporations
- Among other victories, he has convinced the DOJ to drop its case against the CEO of an international entertainment company, and persuaded the Securities and Exchange Commission to decline charges against top executives of a mortgage banking firm
Practice Areas Explained
Gil M. Soffer's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Gil M. Soffer handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
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Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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