Melanie J. Chico
Member
Melanie Chico is the co-lead of the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) practice team and also serves as Dykema’s Chicago Office Managing Member. She litigates complicated, high-stakes business disputes with the least disruption to the client while finding workable solutions both in and out of court. Every new matter is an opportunity to learn the facts, assess the law, and deploy her skills to successfully resolve disputes.
Although Melanie prefers to bring common sense and creative problem-solving to the fight rather than a scorched-earth approach, she is always prepared to go toe-to-toe with the other side to pursue the client’s best interests. Her experience spans various industries with a client roster that includes automotive, real estate developers, trading companies, retailers, insurance carriers, financial institutions, and local governmental units.
“My greatest advantage is perspective—the foresight, hindsight, and insight from my broad range of commercial litigation experience on both sides of the courtroom.”
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- University of Chicago, J.D.
- Duke University, B.A.
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Bar Admissions
- Illinois, 2007
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Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
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Named to the Crain's Chicago Business "Notable Women in Law" list, 2022
- Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and the Federal Bar Association
- Margaret A. Costello Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service
- Edwin F. Mandel Award for Exceptional Contributions to the University of Chicago Law School's Clinical Program
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- Chicago Bar Association
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Dykema Women’s Business Initiative, Chicago Leader
Areas of client focus
Will Illinois businesses finally be able to relax on their biometric data policies? In response to…
One Minute Matters [Video]: What is the Biometric Information Policy Act? (with Melanie Chico)
Understanding the Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) and how to responsibly safeguard…
Dykema Announces New Management Appointments
Dykema is pleased to announce eight new management appointments, each of which commenced on January…