Julie B. Porter

Founding Partner

(312) 283.5711 porter@sppplaw.com Julie B. Porter Chicago, IL

In the News!

» High court set to hear appeal from principal over her firing
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, March 31, 2020

About Julie

A calm, confident leader, Julie Porter excels at solving complex legal problems for her clients. Julie is a careful investigator, a skilled negotiator, and an exceptional trial lawyer who is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and individually ranked by Chambers as a top litigator for White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations in Illinois. She has committed her career to seeking justice and becoming a voice for those who might not otherwise be heard. At Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter, PLLC, Julie brings her deep experience with complex commercial litigation and prosecuting public corruption, financial crimes, and child exploitation to a private practice that focuses on sophisticated criminal defense and investigative work, commercial litigation, and civil rights and employment litigation.

After graduating with honors from Williams College and The University of Michigan Law School, Julie joined the litigation department at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. As a partner in Kirkland’s Chicago office, Julie represented clients as both plaintiffs and defendants, in commercial and employment cases big and small.

Julie then served the public as an Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago, handling some of the most significant cases that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has brought over the past decade. Julie successfully tried to juries complex cases that garnered nationwide interest, including cases against international media baron Conrad Black (corporate fraud), Illinois powerbroker Bill Cellini (public corruption), top Chicago Mayoral aide Robert Sorich (public corruption), and prominent Jesuit priest Donald McGuire (child exploitation), among others. As Chief of the Chicago Office’s Criminal Division, Julie supervised nearly 150 criminal prosecutors and all criminal prosecutions, including health care fraud, securities and commodities fraud, other financial crimes, public corruption and organized crime, national security, cybercrimes, violent crimes, narcotics, and appeals. Julie mentored many AUSAs and promoted a culture of excellence at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which she carries into her practice at Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter.

Finally, Julie is also an arbitrator, serving on the American Arbitration Association’s national roster for commercial cases. One of Julie’s greatest abilities as a lawyer is being a problem-solver. She avoids tangents, focuses on key issues and how to overcome obstacles, shows creativity in finding solutions to tough problems, and works well with others. She is also experienced at facilitating collaboration among groups with differing interests in highly sensitive matters. For more information about Julie’s availability to serve as an arbitrator on a commercial matter, please reach out to her directly or contact the American Arbitration Association at (312) 616-6560 .

Awards / Recognition

  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Chambers-recognized practitioner for government & white-collar investigations in Illinois
  • Department of Justice, Executive Office of United States Attorneys, 2009
  • Director’s Award for being a leader and role model as a federal prosecutor
  • Department of Justice, Executive Office of United States Attorneys, 2008 Director’s Award for superior performance by a litigative team
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2008 Director’s Award for Outstanding Criminal Investigation
  • Internal Revenue Service, 2014 Chief’s Investigative Excellence Award
  • Chicago Lawyer, 2008 Rising Stars of the Trial Bar
  • Crain’s Chicago Business, 2007 40 Under 40

Teaching / Speaking

  • ABA panel concerning internal investigations, 2018
  • PLI panels on internal investigations, 2014-2016
  • Corporate Compliance and Ethics Institute panel, 2016
  • Seventh Circuit Bar Association Conference, panel on Disparities in Enforcement, Prosecution, and Punishment, 2016
  • Keynote address at PLI Compliance and Ethics Institute, focusing on the government’s perspective on effective compliance and ethics programs, 2016
  • 36th Annual Ray Garrett Jr. Corporate and Securities Law Institute, panel on enforcement, 2016
  • ABA panel at 30th Annual White Collar Crime Institute, 2016
  • Association of Corporate Counsel panel, focusing on practical and ethical considerations for managing government investigations, 2015
  • Panel at Foley & Lardner concerning criminalization of regulatory violations, 2015
  • Association of Corporate Counsel panel concerning Foreign Corrupt Practice Act issues, 2013-2014
  • Sandpiper Partners panel concerning SEC & DOJ hot topics, 2014
  • PLI panel featuring regulators’ perspectives on enforcement, 2013
  • ABA panel concerning the evolving role of the SEC, 2013
  • Lectures at University of Chicago Law School and Northwestern Law School on various topics, including ethics, criminal procedure, child exploitation, and human trafficking.

Julie also cares deeply about developing and promoting women in the legal profession. She was on the organizing committee for a 2016 symposium hosted by the United States District Court, focusing on improving opportunities for women to serve as lead trial lawyers.

For more about Julie’s accomplishments, see the following articles:

Bar Admissions

Julie is a member of the Illinois Bar, the Michigan Bar, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

Testimonials

I have not had many good experiences with lawyers. Julie was professional from the start; she charged fair fees; and she was straightforward about what was to be expected. I was impressed with her organization and planning in preparation for…

I cannot say enough positive things about Julie Porter. I was vulnerable and very scared when I contacted her. She responded immediately, and before I had even met her, began helping me and fighting for me. Upon hiring her, she…

Julie was great. She was patient and caring through the process in a difficult time for our family. We appreciated her legal expertise and pragmatic, straight-forward approach as we navigated through the case. She took the time to explain what…

We turned to Julie Porter during a very difficult period in our lives. We obviously needed legal guidance, but we received so much more than just that. The circumstances of our needing Julie were sad and demoralizing. But her ever-present…

Julie Porter is the best. Great listener and gets the job done. Thanks for all your help.