SmithAmundsen Promotes Three to Partner

On February 22, 2021, SmithAmundsen promoted three attorneys to partner, including Charles Prochaska, Erin Walsh, and Danessa Watkins.

Charles Prochaska, Tort Litigation – Chicago, IL

Chuck defends wrongful death, premises liability, truck and auto collision, product liability, contract, and legal malpractice matters. He represents clients in the construction, government entities and insurance industries. He has achieved numerous positive results for clients including winning motions to dismiss, summary judgments, and arbitration verdicts. Additionally, as a prosecutor, Chuck tried more than 50 criminal felony cases to verdict in Cook County, including 13 felony jury trials. 

Erin Walsh, Class Action; Commercial Litigation; Data Privacy – Chicago, IL

Erin defends a wide-range of clients in class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country. She has extensive experience successfully defending claims brought pursuant to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), Section 1983, and a wide-range of state consumer protection and unfair trade statutes. Erin also assists clients in crafting privacy policies and the interpretation and implementation of evolving data privacy laws, such as the California Consumer Protection Act and other state privacy statutes. She has experience guiding clients in the data breach notification process.

Danessa Watkins, Commercial Litigation – Chicago, IL

Danessa defends clients in matters relating to business disputes, computer fraud, products liability, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and tortious interference. Danessa also represents the free speech rights and reputational interests of media clients, businesses and individuals. She defends the media against libel suits and intrusive subpoenas. In addition, Danessa counsels clients on how to minimize risk in their publications and advertising.