Michael G. Ruff

Michael Ruff is a litigator who focuses his practice in professional responsibility, with emphasis in the defense of accountants and lawyers against civil liability. He also practices in the area of commercial litigation, including contract actions, business torts, and securities disputes.

Before joining Hinshaw as an associate in October 2014, Michael was a law clerk with the firm. During law school, Michael was a 7-11 licensed law clerk at the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and served as a judicial assistant to Mr. Justice Bernard Eder in the Commercial Courts of the Royal Courts of Justice in London, England.

In addition to his academic accomplishments, Michael competed as a member of the DePaul University College of Law Moot Court Society's appellate team.

Prior to his legal career, Michael worked as an auditor for an international derivatives marketplace – CME Group Inc. He is a Registered Certified Public Accountant in the state of Illinois.

• Chicago Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Illinois Bar Association

• Professional
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Professional Malpractice Law, 2021
  • Recognized on the Rising Stars list by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine, 2018 – 2021
• Academic
  • DePaul University College of Law
    • Dean's List

• "Practice Basics: Qualities of a Professional Lawyer," Chicago Bar Association CLE, Chicago, Illinois, September 21, 2018
• "Preparing for Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Profession," Chicago Bar Association CLE, April 4, 2018

• "Check Your Privilege," West LegalEdcenter, Webinar, June 2015

• Chapter Co-Author, "United States," The Professional Negligence Law Review, Third Edition, July 2020
• "Reforming Lawyer Mobility—Protecting Turf or Serving Clients?," contributor, The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics, Vol. 30, April 2017

• Lincoln Park Community Shelter, Associate Board Member, April 2016 – Present; Volunteer 2008 – Present