Kristine M. Schanbacher is a partner of Dentons’ Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. Her primary practice focuses on defending class actions and complex commercial litigation. Kristine has secured numerous victories in her class action and complex commercial litigation cases including: denials of a plaintiff’s motion for class certification, winning motions to dismiss the entire complaint (and some were dismissed with prejudice), winning motions for summary judgment, and prevailing on multiple appellate briefs. Kristine has tried jury and bench trials in both state and federal courts, and has obtained multiple trial wins.
Kristine also volunteers significant time on pro-bono cases. Kristine’s pro bono work includes: winning reinstatement of food benefits that were wrongfully terminated, obtaining political asylum on behalf of multiple clients who faced torture in their home country, helping prevent an unconstitutional statute take effect, obtaining clemency on behalf of her client with a decades old, singular, non-violent offense, and obtaining a reduced sentence for a juvenile unconstitutionally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Kristine currently serves as the WBAI Communications & Marketing Director. She is a recipient of the 2021 WBAI Service Award, and has served as the co-chair for multiple annual dinners and judicial receptions. She is also an active member of WILPOWER, the current mission of which is to pass paid family leave in Illinois.
Kristine earned her undergraduate degree at Northwestern University before obtaining her Juris Doctor from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law where she graduated in the top 10% of her class. Kristine is a proud double Northwestern wildcat. When she’s not working, she enjoys going boating with her husband Kyle and son Frankie.