Whitney K. Siehl

Whitney K. Siehl is a Plaintiffs’ litigator focused on complex class-actions in the areas of sexual abuse, sexual harassment, antitrust, mass torts, consumer protection, and sports law at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, LLP. Notable settlements include an over $17 million fund for survivors of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual abuse, a $215 million fund for USC students for sexual abuse by gynecologist Dr. Tyndall, and millions for college students in contract disputes and children with birth injuries. She also represents college students and consumers in Covid-19 refund litigation, workers in wage-fixing antitrust matters, and athletes in concussion litigation, among other cases. Every year since 2019, Whitney has been recognized as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in Illinois. In 2017, she received an Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Whitney is honored to serve the WBAI as the 2023-2024 President and she is extremely passionate about the WBAI’s mission to promote, foster, advance, and protect the interests and welfare of women and women lawyers. She has chaired or served on the committee for every major WBAI event and numerous other committees during her tenure on the board.

Whitney has dedicated a substantial part of her career to the representation of women, however, her passion for advocating for women began much earlier. In eighth grade, she won the local “There Ought to Be a Law” contest writing an essay about the dangerous chemicals in feminine hygiene products and stronger consumer protections. In 2007, she interned with the Chicago Foundation for Women working on the “What Will It Take?” initiative to end violence against women and girls and wrote Anti-Violence Day speeches for Illinois and Chicago leaders. In law school, she served as President of the Women’s Legal Society, scheduling high powered women lawyers as speakers and holding golf clinics with The Ohio State University Women’s Golf Team. She also worked as a legal aide to Ohio State Representative Teresa Fedor, working on H.B. 262, the Safe Harbor for Child Victims of Human Trafficking legislation signed into law in 2012. Whitney’s persistent focus on justice for women has enhanced her ability to advocate for WBAI’s members every day.

She received her J.D., cum laude, from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law where she was a member of the 2013 Sutherland Cup National Champion Constitutional Law Moot Court Team. She graduated from Northwestern University and was a member of the Women’s Golf Team. She was named an NCAA Academic All-American with the Miami University Women’s Cross Country and Track Teams.

Whitney has chaired the WBAI Annual Golf Outing since 2015 and hosts numerous clinics teaching women to golf. She is a past Club Champion of the Catawba Island Club in Port Clinton, Ohio, where she defeated her mother, a former Club Champion, in the final match play round of the golf tournament. She started the first women’s golf team at Port Clinton High School, and was named Player of the Year after going undefeated in all conference matches. Several members of the team have gone on to receive college golf scholarships, which is so meaningful to her. She was inducted into her high school Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. She enjoys volunteer marathon pace coaching with the Chicago Area Runners Association inspiring first timers to reach their dreams. She has completed 14 marathons and counting and numerous triathlons.