Z Scott

Ms. Scott is a seasoned litigator and trial lawyer with over 25 years of legal experience. She has managed complex civil and criminal litigation and represented public companies and individuals in government investigations and counseled corporate clients on regulatory and compliance issues. Her years of broad legal experience includes 14 years managing, providing strategic leadership and direction as a member of an executive team and as a director of an Illinois public agency. Ms. Scott has a highly collaborative style and strong integrity.

Represented major publicly traded and private corporations in complex commercial litigation, and administrative civil tax appeals; conducted and participated in corporate internal investigations; counseled clients on matters related to compliance, ethics and government regulations; and represented corporate entities in federal criminal and regulatory investigations.

Tried 43 mostly jury and bench trials as to verdict first or second chair. Federal criminal litigation experience includes public corruption, complex fraud, criminal tax, money laundering, investment and financial institution fraud. Led and managed complex and multifaceted criminal grand jury investigations.

Appointed by Illinois Governor as first Executive Inspector General for the Office of the Governor and established Illinois’s first inspector general function; which included the management of the State’s internal compliance, ethics and investigative agency for Illinois government and all Illinois public universities. Experience included participation and oversight of over 200 internal investigations of state vendors and state employees, counseling state senior managers, including agency directors on issues related to personnel policies, internal controls, ethics and systemic personnel problems. Worked closely with State internal audit staff on audit findings and other forensic issues. Duties also included collaborating with senior staff members of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General on matters related to investigations.

Served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois. Responsibilities included serving as Chief of the General Crimes Section — the largest section in the Criminal Division — where responsibilities included: the review and approval of criminal cases and dispositions; assisting AUSAs in the development of strategy for trials and grand jury investigations; and managing a staff of approximately four direct-reporting Deputy Assistant U.S. Attorneys and, on average, 30 Assistant U.S. Attorneys. Also responsible for active federal district court case docket that included appellate practice in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Extensive legal education teaching experience including Northwestern University School of Law, Adjunct Professor in Trial Advocacy, lead instructor for introductory trial advocacy course, 1993-2005. The John Marshall Law School, Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy, 2002-2004. University of Chicago School of Law, Criminal Sentencing Seminar 2003. Federal Criminal Law Seminar 2001.