Overview
Edna McLain serves clients throughout Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri.
In her 17 years of practicing law, Edna has developed a practical and pragmatic approach to resolving cases. Today, she is a fierce advocate with a calm demeanor. As a radio personality in college, Edna learned to get her message across to an audience quickly in the time she was allotted to speak. She draws on that experience today, as she forms oral arguments to solve problems.
As a member of the firm’s Health Care Service Group, Edna defends hospitals, physicians, nurses and oral surgeons in complex medical negligence cases. She works with clients to coordinate discovery responses, prepares clients for depositions, negotiates settlements, prepares and argues motions, and manages trial preparation. She has tried multiple medical negligence cases to defense verdicts and has successfully argued an appeal before the Illinois Second District Appellate Court. Edna is licensed to practice in Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri.
Edna also defends hospitals, religious and nonprofits institutions in sexual abuse claims. She has handled both pre-suit investigations of and litigated sexual abuse claims and provided advice and counsel to manage such claims that are both covered and not covered by insurance policies.
Edna has previous experience managing thousands of trial-set asbestos cases in several jurisdictions from filing, and when necessary, to verdict. She has assisted clients in preparing corporate representative witnesses for deposition, managed large-scale document productions, and coordinated discovery for cases pending in both state and federal court and negotiated several cases to favorable settlements. Lastly, Edna has represented clients in a variety of tort claims, including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability matters, and complex products liability cases.
Experience
Membership & Involvement
- Member: American Bar Association, Section of Litigation; Missouri Bar Association; Wisconsin Bar Association; Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Chicago Healthcare Risk Management Society (CHRMS): Executive Board Member (2022-2024) and Program Chair (2022-2023)
- Editorial Board: IDC Quarterly
Honors
- Selected to the Illinois Rising Stars list: 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Resources & Insights
In the Media
Alerts
Speaking Engagements
Published Works
Firm News
- The Challenge of Serving in Black Robes, Not White Coats: The Second District Affirms the Denial of Patients’ Requests for IvermectinThe Challenge of Serving in Black Robes, Not White Coats: The Second District Affirms the Denial of Patients’ Requests for Ivermectin
Read Edna McLain’s recent article, “The Challenge of Serving in Black Robes, Not White Coats: The Second District Affirms the Denial of Patients’ Requests for Ivermectin” in IDC Quarterly!
- Keeping an Eye on PHI: OCR Guidance Concerning Permissible Disclosures of Reproductive Health PHI following DobbsKeeping an Eye on PHI: OCR Guidance Concerning Permissible Disclosures of Reproductive Health PHI following Dobbs
Learn the new guidance post-Dobbs for patient’s health information concerning abortion and other sexual and reproductive health services.
- Edna McLain Quoted By ED Management on Unified Defenses in Malpractice ClaimsEdna McLain Quoted By ED Management on Unified Defenses in Malpractice Claims
In Ed Management's article, "Unified Defense Not Always Possible in Malpractice Claim," Edna McLain talks about what may happen if a hospital and an individual EP are at odds in a malpractice litigation and why there should be a cohesive strategy.
- May a Health Care Provider Refuse to Treat an Unvaccinated Patient?May a Health Care Provider Refuse to Treat an Unvaccinated Patient?
Two-thirds of Americans are vaccinated against COVID-19 according to the latest numbers. For the remaining unvaccinated population, there are questions about how medical care providers should serve them.
Education
Saint Louis University School of Law, J.D., 2002
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, B.A., 1999
Admissions
- Illinois
- Missouri
- Wisconsin