Olivia Sarmas-Ford

Bar / Professional Activity

• ITLA Member ITLA Women's Caucus Member, 2019
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois 
• Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Member

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

• $1.4M medical malpractice verdict in Lake County, Illinois, 2018
• $4.0M sexual abuse verdict in Cook County, Illinois., 2024
• $242,500 auto collision settlement in DeKalb County, 2016

Pro bono / Community Service

• Distracted Driving Speaker at Deerfield High School, 2016
• Distracted Driving Speaker at Deerfield High School, 2017
• Active member of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services from 2016 to the present

Educational Background

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A., Major: English, 2007-2011
• IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 2011-2014

Other Outstanding Achievements

• 5 Under 5 - One of five alumni chosen to speak at Chicago-Kent College of Law less than five years out of law school, 2017

Honors

• Received the CALI Award for Excellence in Law, Literature, and Feminism, CALI Award for Excellence, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2014
• Received the CALI Award for Excellence in Advanced Evidence, CALI Award for Excellence, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2014
• Received the CALI Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy II, CALI Award for Excellence, Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2014

“Olivia is not only a passionate litigator who cares deeply for her clients, she also is an incredible mentor. She works tirelessly and is a truly talented legal mind.”

“One of the most driven, passionate, detail-oriented, dedicated attorneys I have ever known. She stands alone in her commitment to her cases and her clients.”

“Olivia was a law clerk w/ our office for several years before she became a lawyer and joined our firm as an associate. nobody works harder and is more committed than Olivia and her results show. she has settled many cases on her own and has played important roles in resolving cases w/ others. she has second chaired several cases most recently a med mal case that was tried to a verdict in excess of $1 million in Lake county. Olivia is an excellent advocate with her greatest strength being writing. Olivia is clearly a rising star.”

“I have known Olivia since she was in law school, and in her brief career, she has proven to be a caring and more than capable advocate for her clients. Olivia has demonstrated a keen legal acumen, excellent writing and advocacy skills, and has been instrumental in the obtaining of significant multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements in a broad variety of complex personal injury and medical malpractice cases.”

“Olivia is the walking embodiment of a "Rising Star." She is sharp, composed and knowledgeable. She is kind and considerate and thoughtful. She has worked on everything from giant cases at trial to more moderate cases. She is simply excellent. ”

“Olivia's attention to detail and passion for advocating for her clients makes her stand out as one of the best attorneys I have had the pleasure of knowing.”

“Olivia is an amazing attorney who is driven by her compassion for clients. She is intelligent and able to creatively think of the issues present in any case. Olivia is always willing to go the extra mile for her clients and her hard work shows in the courtroom and at depositions. ”