Sarah M. Raisch

Sarah Raisch is a Senior Attorney at Romanucci & Blandin and part of its highly regarded Civil Rights and Medical Malpractice teams. Her background in criminal defense has given her expertise in seeking justice for individuals affected by various parts of the criminal justice system, especially concerning police misconduct.

In addition to handling civil rights cases, Sarah is a member of the firm’s Mass Torts & Class Action team. Recently, Sarah was appointed to the Leadership Development Committee for In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3060, Case No. 1:23-cv-818 (Northern District of IL) where she is actively representing women who have used chemical hair straightening products and subsequently developed uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer. Sarah also helps clients seeking justice for issues they face in the healthcare system, assisting them in situations that include, but are not limited to, birth injuries, medical malpractice and other forms of medical harm. 

Before Romanucci & Blandin, Sarah spent a decade with the Office of the Lake County Public Defender, building up a meaningful history of trial experience. After joining the office in 2012, she defended clients facing charges for misdemeanors, DUIs, and felonies of all kinds. She engaged in pretrial and trial litigation to challenge the veracity of the prosecution’s case by defending her clients’ civil rights. These motions challenged: warrants; unlawful search and seizures, arrests or dog sniff cases under the Fourth Amendment; unlawfully obtained or coerced confessions under the Fifth Amendment; and denials of the right to counsel under the Sixth Amendment. Her work on cases included writing and arguing motions to suppress unlawfully obtained or unfavorable evidence, discovery motions, motions for sanctions, petitions for rule to show cause, and motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Sarah sought the best possible result for her clients facing significant challenges from socio-economic or other circumstances with limited or no resources due to systemic discrimination.

In her time with the Public Defender's office, Sarah advocated and negotiated favorable case dispositions and sentencing outcomes, as well as tried 20 cases to jury trial verdict and nine cases to bench trial verdict, including trials for Attempted Murder, Battery, Theft, Class X DUI, and Drug Possession charges. As a Principal Assistant, her typical caseload would include up to 90 concurrent, active felony cases. She also represented clients in Post-Conviction Petitions. Sarah was responsible for a sophisticated caseload in both quantity and complexity of clientele, including clients facing poverty, mental health challenges, substance abuse issues, lack of childcare and familial stability, and employment barriers. She also managed client expectations regarding possible case outcomes utilizing transparent strategic development, clear internal and external communication, and compassion.

Prior to her time as a public defender, Sarah represented adult and juvenile clients at trial and appellate levels in felony, misdemeanor, and traffic matters at Richards & Hall (now Richards & Dimmer) in Racine, WI, as an Associate Attorney.

Sarah enjoys participating in triathlons and completed the 140.6-mile Wisconsin Ironman in 2019. She is a mother of twins and spends her free time planning and enjoying travel with her friends and family when not long-distance running or cooking a gluten-free diet.

Experience

Clerkships

• Judicial Clerk, Dane County Circuit Court Judge William Hanrahan, 2011
• Law Clerk, Hennepin County Public Defender's Office, 2010

• J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School, 2011
• B.S.W., University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2008
• B.A., University of Wisconsin - Madison, 2008

• Quarterfinalist, Herbert Wechsler National Moot Court Competition, 2010
• Meyerhoff Undergraduate Excellence Award for Leadership, Service and Scholarship, University of Wisconsin, 2008

• Lake County Bar Association, 2013 - Present
  • Board Member, 2021 - Present
  • Criminal Law Committee Co-Chair, 2020 - 2022
  • Young & New Lawyers Committee Chair, 2018 - 2020
• Northwest Suburban Bar Association, 2022 - Present
  • Co-Chair, 2023 Mock Trial Competition Committee
• Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, 2023 - Present
• Jefferson Inn American Inns of Court, 2018 - Present
• Illinois State Bar Association, 2021 - Present
• Prairie State Legal Services Campaign for Legal Services Committee, 2020 - Present
  • Emcee for two innovative virtual fundraising social events raising substantial gifts for the organization
• Cristo Rey St. Martin High School Mock Trial Program
  • Coach, 2016-2019
  • Attorney Volunteer Coordinator, 2016 - 2019
• Volunteer Juror, Lake County High School Mock Trial Invitational, 2014 - 2016 & 2022
• Participant, National Criminal Defense College Trial Practice Institute, 2015
• Student Attorney, Wisconsin Innocence Project, 2009-2011
• Secretary, Student Bar Association, University of Wisconsin Law School, 2009-2010
• Musical skit performance, Stuart’s Law Revue, University of Wisconsin Law School, 2009-2011
• Vice President of Membership, Moot Court Board, University of Wisconsin Law School, 2010-2011
• Team Coach, Appellate Lawyers Association Moot Court Competition, 2010
• President of Panhellenic Association, University of Wisconsin, 2007-2008
• Executive Director of Humorology, University of Wisconsin, 2006-2007
• Iron Cross Society, University of Wisconsin, 2008

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Sarah serves as a leadership member in:
  
  • In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3060, Case No. 1:23-cv-818 (Northern District of IL) (Leadership Development Committee)

• Illinois, 2011
• Eastern District of Wisconsin, 2011

• Co-Presenter, From Tragedy to Triumph: Stories of Resilience in Legal Battles, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association - Trial & Practice Tips Seminar, Chicago, IL, May 2024
• Guest speaker, Civil Law and Work as a Plaintiff’s Lawyer for Students Who Intend to Go to Law School, Lake Forest College - Legal Studies, Lake Forest, IL, March 2024
• Panelist, Women in Law, UIC Women's Law Caucus and the Justinian Society of Lawyers, Chicago, IL, February 2023