Julie B. Porter
Julie Porter is a calm, confident leader known for her integrity, sound judgment, and ability to navigate complex legal and factual issues with clarity and fairness. In litigation, arbitration, and investigations, Julie brings deep experience overseeing sophisticated legal matters with sensitivity, discretion, and a steady hand.
Julie serves on the American Arbitration Association’s national roster of commercial arbitrators and is particularly valued for her ability to manage high-stakes disputes involving multiple parties, sensitive information, or overlapping legal and regulatory concerns. Her approach is pragmatic and thoughtful—focused on identifying core issues, facilitating resolution, and maintaining the trust of all participants.
Julie has built a distinguished legal career in both private practice and public service. She served as Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, where she supervised nearly 150 prosecutors and was responsible for all criminal investigations and prosecutions in one of the nation’s busiest and most complex districts. Her oversight included matters ranging from financial fraud and public corruption to cybercrime and national security. She also mentored attorneys and instilled a culture of excellence and ethical rigor.
Julie also spent years in private practice at a national law firm and now at Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter, where she leads investigations and serves as counsel in sensitive matters. Her experience makes her especially adept at facilitating collaboration among stakeholders with divergent interests and handling cases requiring discretion and impartiality.
Julie is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is individually ranked by Chambers USA for White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations in Illinois.
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:
- Former Illinois Legislative Inspector General Says Office is ‘Broken’
WTTW Chicago, April 25, 2019 - Julie Porter Admitted to American College of Trial Lawyers
The American College of Trial Lawyers, Chicago, IL, 3/4/2019 - Legislature’s new inspector general: ‘I can make a difference here’
The Associated Press, 11/6/17 - New Watchdog to Investigate Ethics Complaints in Springfield
Chicago Tonight, 11/6/17 - Lawmakers appoint former prosecutor as top watchdog in wake of sexual harassment scandal
Chicago Tribune, 11/4/17 - Julie B. Porter, Chief of the Criminal Division, to Depart U.S. Attorney’s Office After 12 Years
U. S. Department of Justice, 9/7/2016 - Veteran Federal Prosecutor Julie B. Porter Takes Helm Of U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Criminal Division
U. S. Department of Justice, 5/13/2014 - New Regime at SEC Takes a Page From the Prosecutors’ Playbook
Perkins Coie / White Collar Briefly, 2/14/2014 - ‘King of Clout’ jailed in final trial linked to Blagojevich corruption case
NBC News, 10/5/2012 - Prosecutors focus on Cellini’s laugh
The Carmi Times, 10/26/2011 - Cellini, US Make Last Arguments In Blagojevich Fraud Case
Law360, 10/25/2011 - Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Porter Recognized at Annual U.S. Attorney Awards Ceremony
U. S. Department of Justice, 12/4/2009 - Priest Molestation Case Goes to Jury
BishopAccountability.org, 10/23/2008 - Julie Ruder
Crain’s Chicago Business, 11/3/2007 - Ex-school principal gets 20 years on child porn charge
Daily Journal, 9/5/2007 - Conrad Black and the end of an era
Fortune, 6/19/2007 - Prosecutor calls Black a liar who stole millions
The Globe and Mail, 6/19/2007 - Prosecution closes with simple plea
Toronto Star, 6/19/2007 - Closing Arguments Begin in Black Trial
New York Times, 6/19/2007 - Young prosecution star gets the nod to close
The Globe and Mail, 6/18/2007 - A Lucky Break
ABA Journal, 1/4/2007 - Favoritism Trial Hurts Chicago Mayor
The Washington Post, 7/7/2006 - Chicago Officials Convicted in Patronage Arrangement
New York Times, 7/7/2006

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.