Caitlyn F. DeRose represents local government entities and their employees in all aspects of tort, employment and civil rights litigation.

Before joining HCB in 2025, Caitlyn was on the plaintiff’s side for a large part of her career representing individuals in civil rights litigation including police excessive force, malicious prosecution and wrongful arrest cases. She also has extensive experience in high-stakes employment law matters including wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation and sexual harassment. Understanding the issues from the plaintiff’s perspective will make her an asset for the defense.

Caitlyn is a skilled and experienced litigator with extensive courtroom experience in federal and state court jury trials and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Her notable successes include securing a record-setting jury verdict in a USERRA and ADA discrimination case and prevailing in a landmark appellate decision in the Seventh Circuit, reversing summary judgment and remanding the case for jury trial.

Caitlyn earned her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and her B.A. from Stonehill College. She is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She is also a member of the Federal Trial Bar.