Justice Advocates

JUSTICE ADVOCATES

SARAH RAISCH and DAISY AYLLÓN are trial lawyers and practice group leaders at Romanucci & Blandin, LLC, one of Chicago’s leading trial law firms. They represent survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation as well as individuals harmed by medical negligence and civil rights violations. Both bring extensive courtroom experience to complex, high-stakes cases. Beyond their legal work, Raisch and Ayllón co-created Trial Besties, a social platform designed to demystify trial practice, share practical legal education, and build community among women in the legal profession.

A standard you’ve set? Be prepared, be collaborative, and never lose sight of the person behind the case. Our clients often come to us after the worst experiences of their lives. Excellence as a lawyer means knowing the facts and mastering the law, but it also means listening, earning trust, and remembering that our clients are people first.

Best advice you’ve received?

Raisch: “Curious over furious.” Before assuming someone intended the worst, ask a question. Be curious. Give people the opportunity to explain themselves. It is remarkably useful advice in law, leadership, and life.

Ayllón: Take the opportunity before you feel completely ready. Some of the biggest opportunities in my career came before the timing felt perfect. Luck is the intersection of hard work and opportunity—you have to do the work so that when an opportunity appears, you’re ready to say yes.

A shift in your industry you’re watching closely? We are seeing juries develop a deeper understanding of the lasting harm caused by sexual abuse, including harm that may not be visible from the outside. Last year, we led a trial team that secured a record-setting $15 million Illinois verdict for a survivor of childhood sexual abuse in a school setting. The jury understood that the harm from abuse does not end when the abuse does.

What are you building toward? A legal community where compassionate, creative and formidable women lead from the front, and where people from communities historically excluded from leadership have a meaningful seat at the table.