Overview
Colby Kingsbury provides practical advice and strong litigation advocacy on commercial, intellectual property and employment matters.
Commercial Litigator
- Breach of contract
- Breach of fiduciary duties
- Breach of representations and warranties
- Fraud and other misconduct
- Construction defect issues
Intellectual Property Litigator
- Patents
- Trade secrets
- Copyrights
- Trademarks
- Licensing
- Advertising
- Damages
- Privacy
- Reversionary rights
Employment Litigator
- Trade secret misappropriation
- Non-compete covenants
- Discrimination
- Breach of contract
Industry Experience
Colby works closely with large and small clients in a variety of industries including but not limited to banking, financial services, telecommunications, food and agribusiness, manufacturing, and home construction.
Previous Experience
Before joining the firm, Colby practiced for 10 years in the Chicago office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. In addition to her litigation practices, Colby co-founded the Kirkland Immigration Network (KIN) and mentored other Kirkland lawyers, providing useful resources and tools to colleagues working on immigration matters and offering regular CLE programs on immigration law.Related Legal Services
Related Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Illinois
Court Admissions
Illinois Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
Education
DePaul University College of Law
J.D. with honors, Order of the Coif (2000)
Otterbein College
B.F.A. in Musical Theatre and Dance, summa cum laude (1991)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
News
Other Perspectives
- How to Build a Winner: Establishing Team Leadership and Beneficial Strategic Pricing Arrangements for Legal Matters
Association of Corporate Counsel Chicago Chapter Seminar, 2018 - Seventh Circuit Civil Appeals: Amicus Curiae Briefs
Co-author, Practice Note, Practical Law Litigation, March 2015 - The Secrets to Winning Trade Secret Cases
Contributing Author, 2012-13 & 2014-15 Editions - Pro Bono Panel
Panelist, DePaul College of Law, Chicago 2012 - Green Power for Illinois Manufacturers
Co-author, The Illinois Manufacturer, Summer 2010 - Implications of Recent Court Decisions on the Application of the "Entire Market Value Rule" to Patent Damages
Moderator, American Bar Association Intellectual Property Roundtable, Chicago, 2010 - The Visitor
Panelist, National Immigration Justice Center and Midwest Coalition for Human Rights Seminar, Chicago, 2008 - New Developments and Recent Trends
Speaker, Advertising & Trademark Law Seminar, Chicago, 2008 - Immigration Law Reform: The Effects of September 11th on Immigration
Co-organizer and host, Immigration Network Presentation, Chicago, 2007 - Numerous presentations to lawyers, summer associates, legal assistants and case assistants on values of becoming involved in pro bono work, available pro bono projects and policies on handling pro bono matters
Chicago, 2005-07 - Immigration Law Reform: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know
Co-organizer and host, Immigration Network Presentation, Chicago, 2006 - Electronic Evidence Theory and Reality
Speaker, 11th Annual Technology & Law Seminar, Chicago, 2004 - The Tangled Web of Idea Ownership: Who Owns What?
Speaker, Advertising, Marketing & Promotions Law Seminar, Chicago, 2001
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
- Co-counsel with the ACLU to appeal to the Illinois Human Rights Commission the decision reached by the Illinois Department of Human Rights in a matters involving the rights of a transgender student.
- Member of Project Management team for the firm's Africa Advocacy Project in 2012 to provide pro bono legal support to nonprofit organizations working to promote human rights and the rule of law in Africa.
- Lead partner in excessive force case alleging unlawful beating of detainees by Cook County Jail and then argued in the Seventh Circuit to have client's individual claims remanded for further proceedings.
- Lead counsel on a pro bono immigration matter in the Seventh Circuit involving whether the Immigration Court and Board of Immigration Appeals failed to properly consider the evidence.
- Co-counsel with the ACLU to represent all juveniles detained at the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center in a class action in the Northern District of Illinois that spanned approximately 17 years.
- Counsel for an indigent plaintiff in a racial harassment and retaliation case.
Professional Associations
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association
- Trial Bar for the Northern District of Illinois
- Chicago Bar Association
Civic Activities
- ACLU of Illinois — Board Member
- Chicago Bar Foundation — Campaign for Justice (Vice Chair); Board Member
- Evanston Children's Choir — Board Member
- James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy (formerly Evanston Community Defender) — Former Board Member and Former Board President
- National Immigrant Justice Center — Former Litigation Steering Committee
Firm Leadership
- Chair, Women Forward, 2024-present
- Pro Bono Committee
Honors
- Crain’s Chicago Business — Notable Women in Law, 2024
- Illinois Leading Lawyers — Commercial Litigation, 2015-19
- Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020-23
- Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2014-17, 2019
- Chicago Bar Association and Chicago Bar Foundation — Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Service Award, 2013
- DePaul College of Law — Pro Bono Alumni Award, 2013
- Illinois Super Lawyers — Business Litigation, 2015-20, and Intellectual Property, 2013
- Faegre Baker Daniels LLP — Charles L. Whistler Pro Bono Award, 2011
- ACLU — Annetta Dieckmann Award, 2009
- Kirkland & Ellis LLP — Pro Bono Partner of the Year, 2008; Pro Bono Service Award, 2008 and 2009