Diane E. Webster

Diane E. Webster represents companies in complex/catastrophic litigation cases, including medical negligence, birth trauma, neonatal negligence and neurologic injuries. A seasoned litigator, she is among a select group of attorneys nationwide to consistently deliver favorable trial verdicts and results. Her clients include hospitals and physicians, insurance companies, a medical/surgical device company, state and county governments, corporations and school districts and a major league baseball organization. Her practice also includes premises liability, municipal law, and government litigation. She has also defended mass tort actions and separately class action lawsuits alleging violation of the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

Just a dozen years after she began her legal career at Hinshaw, Webster was chosen in 2016 to lead the Chicago office. Among her notable contributions, she managed all aspects of the office move to its current location in the John Buck building at 151 North Franklin. While continuing to manage a heavy case load, she oversaw and worked with the architect on the design elements of the new space, selected all furnishings, finishes, amenities and other elements, and oversaw the relocation. Her efforts resulted in a seamless move, and the office was selected as one of the “11 Coolest Offices” in Chicago by Crain’s Chicago Business.

In 2012, she was named to Diversity MBA’s list of Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executive & Emerging Leaders. In 2013, she was named to the Top “40 Under Forty” list by Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer magazine. And in 2017, she was named to the “Most Influential Minority Lawyers in Chicago” list by Crain’s Chicago Business.

A native of Chicago, Webster was among the inaugural fellows of the Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity (LCLD) in 2011. She worked with other participants during the year-long fellowship to design and develop the initiatives of the newly established program. Today, LCLD is a national program that identifies high-potential diverse attorneys with leadership attributes and provides them with a series of structured, multi-tiered leadership and professional development programs. LCLD also offers professional networking opportunities and allows fellows the opportunity to learn from general counsels and managing partners at firms across the country.

In addition to managing the firm’s Chicago office, Webster is a leading advocate for women and minorities. Along with mentoring associates and summer associates, she is a member of Hinshaw’s Executive Committee, Hiring Committee, Attorney Life Committee, and Women Affinity Network. She is also an active member of the National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL), Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IADTC), Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), and the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA).