Michael A. Barry

Mike Barry has quickly earned a reputation as a formidable opponent at trial. Well prepared, focused and trustworthy are how adversaries, jurors, and trial judges have described Mike as he has advocated for his clients in courtrooms throughout Illinois.

In the last 8 years, Mike has second-chaired 26 medical malpractice trials to a verdict against several of the most distinguished plaintiffs’ firms in Illinois. He has litigated a wide range of other matters through discovery and successful resolution, including legal malpractice, insurance broker liability, 1983 civil rights actions, general negligence claims, product liability, and personal injury matters. He also represents professionals before the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

As most cases are resolved outside the courtroom, Mike utilizes his courtroom experiences to gain leverage in discovery and expose an opponent’s weaknesses, often reducing risk exposure and efficiently resolving matters either through early dismissal or settlement, where appropriate.

As Mike’s career has been focused on litigation, he has taken and defended approximately a thousand depositions of professionals, lay witnesses, and experts. He has consulted several hundred expert witnesses over the course of his career to frame the issues and refine the themes of the complex matters he litigates.

At trial, Mike enjoys connecting with jurors during the selection process. He works to build trust and never makes promises he can’t keep. Jurors respond favorably to Mike as he does not hide behind the difficulties in a case but acknowledges the weaknesses and addresses them head-on.

Clients enjoy working with Mike. Mike knows the emotional toll that litigation can take on a client and works from the outset to provide counsel and to build the necessary trust and respect to develop a collaborative relationship that facilitates successful outcomes.

Mike began his career at Pretzel & Stouffer while in law school, was hired on as an associate in 2008, joined the ranks of partnership in 2016, and was elevated to shareholder in 2024. Mike has been recognized as a Rising Star and as an Emerging Lawyer from 2015 through 2022, distinctions reserved for less than 2.5% and 2.0%, respectively, of all lawyers licensed in Illinois under the age of 40.  In 2024, Mike was recognized by Super Lawyers for being a top rated medical malpractice attorney, which is a distinction reserved for the top 5% of attorneys. 

While in law school, Mike completed two judicial externships, serving under Illinois Appellate Justice Robert E. Gordon of the 1st District and under U.S. District Judge John W. Darrah (deceased) of the Northern District of Illinois. Mike served as an editor for The John Marshall Law Review and was a member of a moot court team.

Mike grew up in a near Southwest suburb of Chicago as the eldest of five siblings. He attended St. Laurence High School. Mike currently resides in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago with his wife Becky, a pediatric physical therapist, and their three children.