Katherine G. Schnake
Katherine G. Schnake
Partner
She/Her
"I take pride in defending professionals and their practices. I understand the stress and reputational risk that allegations can bring. Most problems have solutions — and the best part of my work is learning how my clients practice. The more I understand their world, the better I can protect it."
Katherine G. Schnake
Partner
She/Her
"I take pride in defending professionals and their practices. I understand the stress and reputational risk that allegations can bring. Most problems have solutions — and the best part of my work is learning how my clients practice. The more I understand their world, the better I can protect it."
About Kate
Kate devotes her practice to representing and advising lawyers and law firms facing civil claims from their clients or third parties, including malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, aiding and abetting, fraud, defamation, civil conspiracy, statutory violations and preliminary injunctions.
She defends lawyers in discipline proceedings before the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), including responding to requests for investigation, securing closures following sworn statements, litigating cases before the Hearing Board, handling appeals before the Review Board, and drafting petitions for leave to file exceptions to the Illinois Supreme Court. She also advises lawyers and law firms on risk management and professional responsibility.
In addition to her work with the legal profession, Kate devotes a portion of her practice to defending insurance professionals, such as agents and brokers, against negligence and breach of fiduciary duty claims, as well as representing school districts in matters involving negligence and willful and wanton conduct.
Areas of Focus
Industries:
Services:
Initiatives:
Recognition
- Chicago Lawyer and Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty,” 2025
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, Dean's List
Credentials
Education
- University of Illinois Chicago School of Law (formerly The John Marshall Law School), JD, 2011
- Millikin University, BA, cum laude, 2007
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- Moderator, "Strategies for Litigating Professional Liability Claims in Bankruptcy Court," Hinshaw's 24th Annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (LMRM), Chicago, Illinois, March 5, 2025
- Moderator, "Trends in Non-Malpractice Claims Against Lawyers and Law Firms," Hinshaw’s 23rd Annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (LMRM), Chicago, Illinois, March 6, 2024
- Moderator, "Settlement Agreements: When Can You Enforce Them?," Hinshaw’s 22nd Annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (LMRM), Chicago, Illinois, March 8, 2023
- Co-Presenter, "Legal Ethics: Handling Difficult Client Dilemmas," NBI Webinar, Virtual Event, July 28, 2021
- "Inadvertent Disclosure of Privileged Information," Chicago Bar Association Committee Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, November 17, 2016
Events
In The News
- Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute Six Chapters to the "Attorneys’ Legal Liability" IICLE Handbook, Jun 12, 2025
- Hinshaw Contributes U.S. Chapter in Fourth Edition of The Professional Negligence Law Review, Aug 24, 2021
- Hinshaw Authors Updated Practical Law Q&A Guide on Regulation of the Legal Profession, Jun 11, 2021
- Hinshaw Authors United States Chapter in Third Edition of The Professional Negligence Law Review, Aug 5, 2020
- A Team of Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute to 2018 Edition of IICLE Attorneys' Legal Liability Handbook, Feb 19, 2018
Lawyers for the Profession® Alerts
- Fifth Circuit Affirms Broad Scope of Attorney Immunity Defense in Legal Malpractice Case, Jan 10, 2019
- Illinois Appellate Court Reaffirms Necessity of Proving "But For" Causation in Transactional Malpractice Claim, Jan 8, 2019
- Illinois Appellate Court Holds That Legal Malpractice Claim Was Barred by Six-Year Statute of Repose, and Collateral Estoppel Precluded Fraudulent Concealment Claim, Jul 5, 2016
- California Court Extends Attorney-Client Privilege to Protect Attorneys' Invoices, Jun 29, 2015
- California Court Awards Attorneys' Fees in Legal Malpractice Case Based on Rates that Exceeded the Actual Amounts Billed, Jul 17, 2014
Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletters
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Recent Developments in Risk Management - September 2017 Edition, Sep 27, 2017
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Halloween Issue October 2016 Edition, Oct 28, 2016
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Recent Developments in Risk Management - March 2016 Edition, Mar 24, 2016
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Halloween Issue October 2015 Edition, Oct 26, 2015
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Recent Developments in Risk Management - January 2015 Edition, Jan 5, 2015
Press Releases
- Kate Schnake Named to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 2025 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty, Sep 22, 2025
- Hinshaw Announces Election of Eight New Partners, Jul 1, 2019
- Kate Schnake Appointed as Project Officer of the CBA's Young Lawyers Section, Jul 9, 2018
- Hinshaw Lawyers Rack Up Appellate Victory, Apr 29, 2016
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alerts
Webinar
Interests
Did you know...
Outside of the office, Kate makes the most of the outdoors—hiking trails in the summer and skiing fresh powder in the winter. She also loves spending time with her two dogs, Whitaker and Daisy, who are always up for an adventure and a well-earned nap afterward.
Kate has run the Chicago marathon five times, completed the Chicago Triathlon, and served as co-captain of her undergraduate varsity women's volleyball team.
Community/Civic Activities
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, "Who's Side Are You On: A Discussion on the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement," Debate Presenter, November 2011
Thought Leadership
Presentations
- Moderator, "Strategies for Litigating Professional Liability Claims in Bankruptcy Court," Hinshaw's 24th Annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (LMRM), Chicago, Illinois, March 5, 2025
- Moderator, "Trends in Non-Malpractice Claims Against Lawyers and Law Firms," Hinshaw’s 23rd Annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (LMRM), Chicago, Illinois, March 6, 2024
- Moderator, "Settlement Agreements: When Can You Enforce Them?," Hinshaw’s 22nd Annual Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (LMRM), Chicago, Illinois, March 8, 2023
- Co-Presenter, "Legal Ethics: Handling Difficult Client Dilemmas," NBI Webinar, Virtual Event, July 28, 2021
- "Inadvertent Disclosure of Privileged Information," Chicago Bar Association Committee Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, November 17, 2016
Events
In The News
- Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute Six Chapters to the "Attorneys’ Legal Liability" IICLE Handbook, Jun 12, 2025
- Hinshaw Contributes U.S. Chapter in Fourth Edition of The Professional Negligence Law Review, Aug 24, 2021
- Hinshaw Authors Updated Practical Law Q&A Guide on Regulation of the Legal Profession, Jun 11, 2021
- Hinshaw Authors United States Chapter in Third Edition of The Professional Negligence Law Review, Aug 5, 2020
- A Team of Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute to 2018 Edition of IICLE Attorneys' Legal Liability Handbook, Feb 19, 2018
Lawyers for the Profession® Alerts
- Fifth Circuit Affirms Broad Scope of Attorney Immunity Defense in Legal Malpractice Case, Jan 10, 2019
- Illinois Appellate Court Reaffirms Necessity of Proving "But For" Causation in Transactional Malpractice Claim, Jan 8, 2019
- Illinois Appellate Court Holds That Legal Malpractice Claim Was Barred by Six-Year Statute of Repose, and Collateral Estoppel Precluded Fraudulent Concealment Claim, Jul 5, 2016
- California Court Extends Attorney-Client Privilege to Protect Attorneys' Invoices, Jun 29, 2015
- California Court Awards Attorneys' Fees in Legal Malpractice Case Based on Rates that Exceeded the Actual Amounts Billed, Jul 17, 2014
Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletters
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Recent Developments in Risk Management - September 2017 Edition, Sep 27, 2017
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Halloween Issue October 2016 Edition, Oct 28, 2016
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Recent Developments in Risk Management - March 2016 Edition, Mar 24, 2016
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Halloween Issue October 2015 Edition, Oct 26, 2015
- The Lawyers' Lawyer Newsletter - Recent Developments in Risk Management - January 2015 Edition, Jan 5, 2015
Press Releases
- Kate Schnake Named to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 2025 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty, Sep 22, 2025
- Hinshaw Announces Election of Eight New Partners, Jul 1, 2019
- Kate Schnake Appointed as Project Officer of the CBA's Young Lawyers Section, Jul 9, 2018
- Hinshaw Lawyers Rack Up Appellate Victory, Apr 29, 2016
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alerts
Webinar
Kate's Insights
Press Release
Sep 22, 2025
Kate Schnake Named to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 2025 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty
In The News
Jun 12, 2025
Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute Six Chapters to the "Attorneys’ Legal Liability" IICLE Handbook
In The News
Aug 24, 2021
Hinshaw Contributes U.S. Chapter in Fourth Edition of The Professional Negligence Law Review
Press Release
Sep 22, 2025
Kate Schnake Named to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s 2025 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty
In The News
Jun 12, 2025
Hinshaw Attorneys Contribute Six Chapters to the "Attorneys’ Legal Liability" IICLE Handbook
In The News
Aug 24, 2021
Hinshaw Contributes U.S. Chapter in Fourth Edition of The Professional Negligence Law Review
In The News
Jun 11, 2021
Hinshaw Authors Updated Practical Law Q&A Guide on Regulation of the Legal Profession
Press Release
Jul 1, 2019
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alert
Feb 12, 2019
Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Jan 10, 2019
Fifth Circuit Affirms Broad Scope of Attorney Immunity Defense in Legal Malpractice Case
Lawyers for the Profession® Alert
Jan 8, 2019
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alert
Nov 8, 2018
Avoid Becoming Another Hacking Statistic: A Primer on Foreign Domain Extensions
Privacy, Cyber & AI Decoded Alert
Oct 9, 2018
