Amy Derby brings an emphasis on research, strategy and
writing skills to Hull McGuire’s representation of clients in both
commercial litigation (U.S. and abroad) and regulatory disputes with
governments and administrative agencies.
She was introduced to the legal profession at age 19,
when she worked as a receptionist at what is now DLA Piper’s Chicago’s
office. She eventually became a paralegal in three practice groups:
bankruptcy reorganization, commercial transactions and commercial
litigation practice. Amy’s work included research, analysis, writing and
regular communications with clients for cases ranging from the steel
industry to the technology sector. She worked closely with Janice Duban, a
respected corporate lawyer who ignited Amy’s passion for volunteer work
and advocacy writing.
In 2004, Amy moved to San Francisco to pursue creative
writing courses at UC Berkeley. She has since provided freelance writing
and contract legal assistant services to corporations, healthcare groups
and non-profits in the United States, Africa and Australia, as well as to
law firms in Seattle and New York City that specialize in consumer and
food safety law. As an author, she has written dozens of articles on a
number of legal and non-legal subjects. Amy’s work has been published by
USA Today, the Chicago Tribune and LIVESTRONG.com. She is also a volunteer
writer for the American Foundation for Children with AIDS.
Amy lives in Tinley Park, a southwest suburb of Chicago.
When not working, she is seeking a publisher for her first novel, working
on a screenplay, and learning American Sign Language.
