Laurel Bellows

Laurel Bellows, principal of The Bellows Law Group, P.C is an internationally recognized business lawyer counseling senior executives and corporations in the United States and globally on employment matters, employment and severance agreements, executive compensation, and workplace disputes. Her expertise in executive compensation matters also includes mid-level management compensation, benefit plans and human resource/talent management matters involving incentives, pension, retirement, and workforce restructuring.

The Bellows Law Group, P.C., offers transactional, counseling and litigation services to entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized businesses, and large corporations. Client matters range from commercial litigation to business startups.

Laurel is Immediate Past President of the American Bar Association and its nearly 400,000 members. She served as chair of the ABA’s policymaking House of Delegates (2006-2008). Laurel was the second woman president of the 22,000 member Chicago Bar Association in 1991. Her many accolades include: Crain’s Chicago Business annual list of Power Players, one of 28 Power Lawyers in the city by Chicago Magazine, one of Chicago’s 100 Women of Influence by Crain’s Chicago Business, one of Working Mother Magazine 25 Most Influential Working Mothers in the country in 1997, served on the Illinois Supreme Court Special Commission, is on the Administration of Justice and on the United States Senate Judicial Nominations Commission for the State of Illinois, Past President of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, Past Chair of The Chicago Network, Past Chair of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession, and Past Chair of the Finance Committee of the American Bar Association’s Board of Governors.

This year, Laurel received the Visionary Award from Vision 2020 for her efforts regarding gender equity and combatting Human Trafficking. The German Bar Association honored Laurel with the Maria-Otto Preis Award for her outstanding background as a female lawyer, establishing the ABA Gender Equity Task Force and anti-trafficking efforts. In 2013, Laurel, along with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa-Mary Robinson, received the Rule of Law Award. ATHENA International honored Laurel with the prestigious 2012 ATHENA Leadership Award presented to exemplary leaders for achieving the highest level of professional excellence and for actively assisting and inspiring women to realize their full personal and professional potential. Laurel received the ABA Commission on Women Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award in 2002.

Ms. Bellows is highly regarded for her many contributions to the Chicago and national community. Laurel is admitted and qualified as an Attorney and Counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States and is a mediator, certified through the Institute for Conflict Management. Laurel is licensed to practice in Illinois, Florida and California.