Denise Vaughn

Denise assists her clients by contemplating effective trial or negotiation tactics from the outset of every case. She regularly prepares and presents clients for testimony in  government investigations and manages responses to subpoena requests for documents from the SEC and DOJ. Additionally, Denise is experienced in cross-examining government witnesses in federal court and leading internal investigations for companies and universities by conducting interviews of employees of varying levels. 

Denise’s experience includes arguing in front of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit asking the court to adopt the Ruse Exception to the Speedy Trial Act. She also served as part of a team that successfully defended a client in an SEC investigation alleging non-disclosure in collateral mortgage obligation trades. In this role, she assisted in preparing a Wells Notice submission.

Further, she represented pro bono an incarcerated individual in a federal civil rights lawsuit through to trial, as part of her law school’s Federal Civil Rights Clinic. Notably, that case was the first, full and completely virtual jury trial, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in the state of Illinois.

Stemming from her time as a Division 1 athlete on the University of Illinois’ cross-country and track and field teams, Denise is committed to excellence. Striving to provide high quality representation and achieve positive outcomes for her clients, Denise provides skillful counsel through virtually all stages of a litigation.