Stephanie A. Scharf

Stephanie A. Scharf is founding partner of Scharf Banks Marmor, LLC, a prominent women-owned law firm that represents local, national and global businesses. Specializing in complex litigation, Stephanie has tried and won multiple jury and bench trials in federal and state courts, has spearheaded the pre-trial, trial and appellate phases of litigation, and has overseen the resolution of multiple commercial disputes and complex tort actions.

Stephanie and the Firm have been profiled for the “unique quality of their work” and for “Work at a Very High Level.” A frequent author and CLE speaker, Stephanie created and is the lead editor of PLI’s Product Liability Litigation: Current Law, Strategy and Best Practices. She has been named a Leading Lawyer, Best Lawyer, and Super Lawyer, was granted the PLAC President’s Award, and was selected by Lawdragon Magazine as one of the “500 Leading Litigators in America.” She is “AV Preeminent” peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

In addition to her law practice, Stephanie is a Founding Principal of The Red Bee Group, LLC, www.theredbeegroup.com, a consulting firm that helps businesses, organizations and law firms achieve their goals for growth and innovation using data-based strategies with diverse and inclusive solutions.

Stephanie received a Ph.D. in Behavioral Sciences with a focus on social and organizational psychology as well as statistical analysis of large data sets. Before practicing law, she managed large national data-based initiatives in the areas of health and employment.

Stephanie is one of the nation’s leading lawyers for the advancement of women in the profession. She is 2017-2020 Chair of the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession. She is Chair of the ABA World Forum for Women in Law; a member of the Advisory Board of DirectWomen; a former President of the National Association of Women Lawyers (2004-2005); and was Special Advisor to the American Bar Association’s Presidential Commission on Diversity and Inclusion.

Stephanie frequently combines her skills in data analytics to create cutting edge research on issues of diversity and inclusion. Her most recent report, with co-author Roberta Liebenberg, is Walking Out the Door: The Fact, Figures and Future of Experienced Women in Private Practice. Stephanie also founded and conducted the NAWL Annual Survey of Women in Law Firms (2006-2014); the National Survey of Women’s Initiatives (2012); and the first-ever survey of women as lead counsel in litigation, First Chairs at Trial: More Women Need Seats at the Table (2015), with co-author Roberta Liebenberg.

Stephanie has received many awards in recognition of her work for advancing women in the law including: The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Myra Bradwell Award (2018); the National Association of Women Lawyers Public Service Award (2017); the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women Founder’s Award (2015); and the National Law Journal Two Steps Forward Award (2014). She was named by Crain’s Chicago 2017 as one of the 50 most influential women lawyers in Chicago.