Aurora Austriaco
Shareholder
300 E. RANDOLPH, SUITE 3400 | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601
(312) 238-9061 | aaustriaco@vablawfirm.com
Experience
Aurora concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial and real estate litigation, construction litigation, mechanic’s liens, defense of mortgage foreclosure, mortgage fraud - plaintiff, title insurance claims litigation, and other special chancery remedy cases. Her clients range from multinational corporations to small and startup companies to individuals. Aurora is currently serving as Commissioner for the Illinois Courts Commission. She served 9 years as Commissioner for the Park Ridge Planning and Zoning Commission, and has served 11 years as Commissioner for the Cook County Human Rights Commission. She is the immediate past president of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, past president of the Chicago Bar Association, and past president of the Lawyer’s Trust Fund of Illinois. She was named a Super Lawyer-Real Estate, one of the Top 10 Women Consumer Attorneys by Leading Lawyers, one of the Top 10 Women Lawyers in Real Estate and one of 50 honorees for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer “Salute! Women in Law. Aurora was named one of Chicago United’s “50 Business Leaders of Color.” Aurora is also fluent in Tagalog
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
United States Supreme Court
Representative Engagements
Lead Counsel on a senior fraud financial exploitation case and obtained a multimillion dollar judgment against various defendants and in favor of the elderly clients.
Lead Counsel on a mortgage fraud scam wherein the client was defrauded by her ex-husband who took out several millions of dollars in fraudulent mortgages under her name without her knowledge against the marital property. The lender foreclosed against the wife based on the fraudulent mortgages and we prevailed on a summary judgment in favor of the wife and against the defrauding ex-husband.
Lead counsel on a title insurance claims litigation involving a mortgage scam. Our firm obtained hundreds of thousands in judgment against the fraudulent parties and in favor of the title insurance company.
Represented various developers in the purchase and conversion of several buildings to condominium units.
Represented various business owners on the purchase and sale of restaurants, hotels, apartment buildings and commercial buildings.
Lead counsel in various title insurance claims litigations.
Lead counsel in a mechanic’s lien litigation involving a fraudulently released claim for lien wherein the general contractor’s lien was fraudulently signed and released by the owner. We successfully recovered over $300,000.00 in favor of the general contractor claimant.
Boards
Chicago United, Board Member (2022-present)
Chicago Bar Association, President (2012-2013) and ABA House of Delegates (2012-present)
American Bar Association, IL, State Delegate (2017- present)
Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., Board Member (2006-present)
Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., Board Secretary (2021-present)
National Conference of Bar Presidents, Secretary (2017-2019) & President (2020-2022)
ATG Legal Serve, CEO and Board Member (2012-present)
National Association of Asian American Professionals, Board Member (2016- present)
CMAA, Honorary Board Member (2017 -present)
Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce, Board Member (2017- present)
Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, President (2018-2020)
Asian American Coalition of Chicago, Board Member (2010-present)
Diversity Foundation, Board Member (2010-present)
Presence Health Systems, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Community Board Member (2012-2019)
Chicago Bar Foundation, Board Member (2000-2008)
Center for Conflict Resolution, Board Member (2000-2005)
Illinois Real Estate Lawyers' Association, President (2004-2006) and Board Member (2004-present)
Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Board of Directors (2022-present)
Women's Bar Association of Illinois, Past Board Member
Filipino American Bar Association, (n/k/a Filipino American Lawyers Assn), Founding Board Member (1999) and Advisory Board Member (2017- present)
Cook County State's Attorney Asian Advisory Council, Chairperson (2004-2016)
Cook County Human Rights Commission, Commissioner (1996-2008)
Park Ridge Planning and Zoning Commission, Commissioner (2004-2013)
Hubbard Street Dance of Chicago, Board Member (2011-2014)
Maine Township School District 207, Elected School Board Member (2017-2021)
Awards
ABA GP Solo Committee, “Difference Maker” Award, 2021
CBA Alliance for Women, "Alta Mae Hulett" Award, 2006
Cook County State's Attorney, "Distinguished Service" Award, 2008
Philippine Chamber of Commerce, "Ten Most Outstanding Filipino American Businessmen," 2009
Diversity MBA Magazine, "Top 100 under 50 Diverse Executive Leaders," 2011
Today's Chicago Woman, "100 Women of Influence," 2013
Award by Institute of Women Today, "Sister Margaret Traxler," 2013
Asian American Coalition of Chicago, "Ping Tom" Award, 2015
Filipina Women’s Network, "2015 Global FWN 100 Women," 2015
Chicago Filipino American Hall of Fame "Excellence in Public Service," 2015
Named "Super Lawyer in Real Estate," 2012-present
Recognized as a "Leading Lawyer" in the areas of Real Estate Law and Consumer Law, 2009-present
Recognized "Top 100 Women Consumer Law" Attorneys by Leading Lawyers, 2013-15
Named Illinois "Super Lawyer" in general litigation, 2015-2016
Employment
Austriaco & Associates - Founding Partner (2009-2016)
Clark Hill - Of Counsel (2012-2014)
Attorneys' Title Guaranty Fund, Inc - Corporate Counsel & Managing Attorney (1993-2003)
Harold I. Levine, Ltd - Associate (1990-1993)
Education
University of Chicago Booth School of Business
Chicago, Illinois - Finance for Executives, Certificate Course 2016
De Paul University School of Law
Chicago, Illinois - Juris Doctor, 1990
De Paul University
Chicago, Illinois - Bachelor of Science, 1987
