Partner

Sandra is a partner in the firm’s Chicago office where she concentrates her practice on commercial transportation and product liability. In these areas, Sandra has resolved matters including personal injury, catastrophic loss, property damage, and contract disputes. Sandra has achieved success in the courtroom, as well as positive resolution of cases via mediation, arbitration, settlement negotiations, and successful dispositive motion practice. She recently won a rare summary judgment in an indemnity case which allowed a lessor to be indemnified by a lessee regardless of negligence based on contract language. Sandra also represents her clients as part of SmithAmundsen’s Rapid Response Team and by coordinating rapid response efforts with investigators and experts.

Sandra is licensed to practice in the State of Illinois, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois, United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

Chapter Co-author, “Special Considerations in a Product Liability Case,” Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education’s Illinois Civil Discovery Practice Supplement, 2006, 2009, and 2011.

Co-author, "In the Wake of Sperl: Best Practices Following an Eight Figure Judgement Against a Freight Broker," IWLA, June 2011.

Speaker, “Broker Liability,” Marsh-USLAW Roundtable, Milwaukee, WI, June 15, 2011.

Speaker, “Broker Liability,” Marsh-USLAW Roundtable, Atlanta, GA, April 14, 2011.

Co-author, "Illinois Appellate Court Affirms $23.775 Million Dollar Judgment Against Broker - Sperl v. Ch.H. Robinson," Transportation Law Alert and Transportation E Brief, April 6 and April 7, 2011.

Author, Survey of Broker Liability Cases, Marsh-USLAW 2011.

Co-author, "Opening the Door to Broker Liability -- Speri, et al. v. C.H. Robinson, et al.," and "Indemnification and Risk Shifting in the Motor Carrier Industry," Office Moving Alliance Conference, October 2010.

Co-author, "Being Prepared – Some Alternative Considerations for Minimizing Risk, Protecting Your Company and Doing Business Just a Little Bit Better," International Warehouse Logistics Association, March 2010.

Columnist, “Legally Thinking,” The Waybill: “Additional Insured Coverage — Another Way to Protect Your Business,” (February 2010); “Killing Me Softly — The End of Indemnification in Motor Carrier Transportation Contracts (Almost),” (October 2009); “An Expansion of Broker Liability,” (August 2009).

Co-author, "It's Not Just Motor Carriers Anymore – Big Verdict and Broker Liability: Sperl, et al. v. C.H. Robinson, et al.," American Trucking Association Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsels, July 2009.

Author, “Commercial Transportation Law Update,” SmithAmundsen Case Reports, 2006 - Present.

Speaker, “Internal Records,” Claims Personnel Meeting, Denver, Colorado, May 2007.

Contributor, “The Elder Law Resource Guide,” Illinois Legal Aid, Spring 2005.

Co-author, “Third Party Practice— Products Liability,” IICLE Handbook, June 2004.

Contributor, “Construction Law Compendium,” USLAW Network, 2003.