Sara B. Jesser

Sara Jesser is a senior litigation paralegal experienced in products liability matters—namely toxic tort defense—who assists attorneys in all phases of litigation relating to chemical exposure, indoor air, food additives and asbestos cases. She is the coordinating paralegal for the firm's Toxic Torts practice for Northern and Central Illinois counties and also serves as the client reporting liaison and settlement coordinator for many asbestos clients.

Sara is skilled in witness location and interviewing, alternative discovery methods, business verification, and location of its officers, as well as obtaining archived documents locally and nationally. She is often assigned to perform investigations and research where a professional private investigator would have been hired.

In addition, Sara has substantial experience in case and document management. She is highly skilled in digital case management, including digital imaging and e-discovery methods. Sara is also proficient in eDiscovery platforms, including Relativity and Summation. She has designed and implemented numerous databases custom-tailored for practice group and client-specific data and document management. Sara also serves as the firm's administrator for many subscription-based eFile and eService platforms, including Tyler's Odyssey/eFileIL, Pohlman USA, File&ServeXpress and File&ServeIL, as well as for eRecords procurement/retrieval services such as RecordTrak and Pohlman.

Sara joined Hinshaw in 1999 as a litigation paralegal for the toxic torts division. Prior, she was a paralegal assistant at Brinks Hofer Gilson and Lione for two years. In that capacity, she gained her first federal case trial experience as part of the defense team for S.C. Johnson Commercial Markets, Inc. v. The B.F. Goodrich Company, Case No.98 C 0052 S (Western District of Wisconsin). Subject: Infringement and validity of three patents relating to bulk polymerization process for making acrylic copolymers. 

Sara completed her paralegal internship under the direction of a busy Chicago solo practitioner in domestic relations; she quickly gained familiarity with the complexities of the Daley Center and its departments, divisions, courtrooms, and protocols.

• Illinois Paralegal Association

• Illinois State Bar Association

• Associate Board of Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS),

  Former Event Raffle Chair and Associate Board Member

Sara assisted with the research and writing of "Component Supplier Litigation: What You New Need to Know to Craft a Solid Defense," a presentation delivered by Hinshaw partner Craig T. Liljestrand in April 2010.

Sara has been a contributor to articles authored by Hinshaw attorneys, including:

• "PFAS Exposure: A Comprehensive Look at Emerging Facts and Studies, Risk and Liability Assessment, Litigation History, Evolving Regulations and Future Predictions," IADC's Defense Counsel Journal, April 2022
• "Can Asbestos Ever be Mitigated from Illinois Courts?" Illinois Bar Journal, March 2020, Volume 108, Number 3, Page 42
• "Exposure to Welding Fumes: Are The Welding Industry's Risk Management Practices Ready to Face This Growing Litigation Threat?," 49 For the Defense (DRI) 16, June 2007
• "Ballard: Where We Are Now and What We Have Learned," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold, February 2003, 3-2 Mealey's Litigation Rep. Mold 21 (2003), Volume 3, Issue #2
• "The Effects of Mold Beyond the Courtroom," Mealey's Litigation Report: Mold, June 2003, 3-6 Mealey's Litigation Rep. Mold 20 (2003), Volume 3, Issue #6

In her spare time, Sara assists families with genealogical research.

• Associate Board of Coordinated Advice & Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS), Past Event Raffle Chair and Associate Board Member
• The Newberry Library, Associate Member
• Associate Board of Literacy Chicago, Past Vice President of Marketing
• Chicago Sinai Congregation, Member
• Jewish United Fund, Contributor
• Friends of LaSalle PTA, LaSalle Language Academy, Volunteer
• Lymphoma Research Foundation's Lymphoma Support Network (LSN), mentor providing support for patients and caregivers
• Immerman's Angels Cancer support community, mentor providing support, empathy and understanding to cancer fighters, survivors or caregivers.