ERICA BYRD
Partner
300 E. RANDOLPH, SUITE 3400 | CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60601
(312) 238-9003 | EBYRD@vablawfirm.com
Experience
Erica is a Partner at VAB and leads the firm’s Transactional Practice Group. As a former law clerk in the mortgage foreclosure division of the Circuit Court of Cook County during the height of the last financial crisis, Erica garnered key knowledge regarding the challenges associated with enforcing loan agreements and executing on secured transactions. Today, she uses that knowledge to serve her financial institution and government agency clients and is uniquely qualified to navigate all aspects of state court practice. When work-out is not possible, Erica is also part of VAB’s Commercial Litigation team and has participated in trials and contested hearings in state and federal court. In addition, Erica has a strong commitment to public interest work and is a longtime supporter of the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, where she is active in their Project Law Track that encourages Girl Scouts to pursue the practice of law.
Bar Admissions
State Bar of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Employment
Garfield & Merel, Ltd. - Associate (2012-2021)
Circuit Court of Cook County Illinois - Law Clerk (2009-2012)
City of Chicago — Municipal Prosecutions & Department of Buildings (2007-2009)
Languages
Portuguese
Publications
Contributing Author and Editor, Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Judicial Bench Book
Organizations
Chicago Bar Association, Member
Illinois State Bar Association, Member
Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Member
The Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Mentor & Volunteer
Education
The John Marshall School of Law
Chicago, Illinois – Juris Doctor, 2008
Purdue University Krannert School of Management
West Lafayette, Indiana - Bachelor of Science in Management, 2005
Activities: School of Management Council
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana - Bachelor of Science in Business Management, 2005
