Tonya Newman

Practice Areas

Tonya is chair of the Litigation & Disputes practice group. She represents clients in complex civil litigation, products liability, insurance coverage and hospital property tax exemption matters. Her practice includes defense of state and federal products liability matters and representation of policyholders in insurance coverage matters, as well as the defense and prosecution of complex commercial litigation. She also counsels clients on complex risk management and insurance issues across an array of insurance lines. Clients value the way she concentrates on relationship building and her enthusiasm for tackling challenging matters.

She is a member of the firm’s Associate Review Committee. From 2013 through 2015 she served on the Board of Directors of Chicago’s Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, and in 2014 and 2015 she was the co-chair of the Coalition’s Community Outreach Committee. She was selected as a “Super Lawyer Rising Star” in 2011, 2012 and 2013; a Super Lawyer since 2011; and was named to the Top 50 in the 2015 and 2016 editions of Women Illinois Super Lawyers.

Community outreach is very important to Tonya. From 2009 through 2013 she was a member of the Leadership Council of Posse Foundation’s Chicago chapter, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping diverse public high school students who may be overlooked by the traditional college selection process attend, and succeed in, college by awarding four-year, full tuition leadership scholarships. She presently serves on the Board of Directors for Girls on the Run Chicago, which is a nonprofit that empowers pre-teen girls and fosters their self-esteem through running.

Professional Memberships

American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Products Liability Committee

Regional Co-Chair, Judicial Internship Opportunity Program (2022-present)

Co-Chair, Products Liability Committee (2018-2020)

Co-chair, Women in Products Liability Subcommittee (2015-2017)

Co-chair, Consumer Products Subcommittee (2013-2015)

Chair, Women in Litigation Joint Conference (2019)

American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee (ICLC)

Managing Editor of Coverage, a nationally distinguished ABA publication (2010-2019)

Co-chair, 2016 Annual CLE

Vice Chair, 2015 Annual CLE

Chicago Bar Association

Chair, Insurance Law Committee (2011)

Vice Chair, Insurance Law Committee (2010)

Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law

Co-chair, Community Outreach Committee (2014-2015)

Co-chair, Associates Committee (2011-2012)

Board of Directors (2012-2015)

International Association of Defense Counsel (May 2014-2017)

Propane Gas Defense Association

President (2016)

Board of Directors (2011-present)

Community Involvement

Girls on the Run Chicago, Board of Directors (2017-present)

Posse Foundation, Leadership Council Member (April 2009-December 2013)

St. James Episcopal Cathedral, Chapter Member (2012-2014)

Personal

Chicago-Kent College of Law (J.D., 2005) with high honors; University of Louisville (B.A., 2001) cum laude