Benesch is pleased to announce that partners Erik Connolly and Nicole Wrigley have been named to the 2025 Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Litigators & Trial Attorneys list. This prestigious award celebrates exceptional legal professionals in the Chicago area, recognizing their leadership and impact in significant litigation and trial proceedings.
This year’s 92 honorees are selected based on their courtroom achievements, pro bono service and contributions to the legal community. The award highlights attorneys who have led high-stakes, headline-making cases across various practice areas, including complex commercial litigation, civil rights disputes and major corporate trials.
“Erik and Nicole’s dedication and talent truly set them apart,” said Managing Partner Gregg Eisenberg. “We couldn’t be prouder of their well-deserved recognition, which reflects their unwavering commitment to clients and their leadership in the legal field.”
View the full list of Crain’s Chicago 2025 Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys here.
As a partner and managing chair of Benesch’s Litigation Practice Group, Erik is a highly respected litigator and known for handling complex, high-stakes commercial and defamation cases. His work has been featured in The New York Times and Bloomberg, and he has led billion-dollar disputes, including the $6 billion "pink slime" lawsuit against ABC and a $2.7 billion lawsuit on behalf of a voting machine company. He also represents one of the country’s largest oral care companies in a multi-billion-dollar defamation case against NBC.
Beyond defamation, Erik has extensive experience in "bet the company" cases involving securities fraud, trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract. He has represented Fortune 50 financial institutions, technology firms and major consumer product companies, achieving precedent-setting legal victories. His strategic approach, commitment to client service and ability to navigate complex litigation make him a trusted advocate for companies facing critical legal challenges.
Nicole is vice chair of Benesch’s Litigation and Trial Practice Group and brings 20 years of experience handling some of the largest and most high-profile cases in the country. She has represented plaintiffs in landmark defamation cases, defended clients in major auditor liability trials and advocated for Fortune 100 companies in multibillion-dollar securities fraud claims. Known for her strategic and aggressive advocacy, Nicole has earned recognition from Chambers for General Commercial Litigation and has been featured in Benchmark Litigation’s Under 40 Hot List as well as Chicago Lawyer’s list of exceptional women lawyers.
Beyond litigation, Nicole advises clients on media strategy, crisis management and government investigations by helping companies develop proactive strategies to avoid disputes. Committed to giving back, she has led pro bono initiatives supporting prisoners' rights, homelessness advocacy and public-school teachers, and she has served in leadership roles for organizations like the American Cancer Society and Seven Generations Ahead. Her track record of precedent-setting victories and dedication to mentorship make her a standout in the legal community.