Sari Montgomery

Education

Loyola University Chicago School of Law — JD ’94
Loyola University Law Program in International Law — ’92,  Rome, Italy

University of Chicago — BA ’91 in Public Policy Studies

Licensure

Illinois Supreme Court — Admitted 1994
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois — Admitted 1994

Sari W. Montgomery, Legal Ethics: ABA Model Rule Banning Discrimination, Sexual Harassment Remains Controversial, Business of Law Digest (BridgeTower Media, June 25, 2024—ongoing ethics columnist).

Sari W. Montgomery, Legal Ethics: To Respond or Not Respond to Negative Online Reviews, Business of Law Digest (BridgeTower Media, March 26, 2024—ongoing ethics columnist).

Sari W. Montgomery, Legal Ethics: Unauthorized Practice or a Glimpse Into the Future, Business of Law Digest (BridgeTower Media, December 19, 2023—ongoing ethics columnist).

Sari W. Montgomery, Know When to ‘Just Say No,’ Business of Law Digest (BridgeTower Media, Sept. 26, 2023—ongoing ethics columnist).

Sari W. Montgomery, The Promise and Pitfalls of ChatGPT, Business of Law Digest (BridgeTower Media, July 5, 2023—ongoing ethics columnist).

Sari W. Montgomery, Legal Ethics: You Have Inadvertently Received Privileged Information from Opposing Counsel, Now What?, Business of Law Digest (BridgeTower Media, March 28, 2023—ongoing ethics columnist).

Lucian T. Pera, Mark Armitage, Lydia Lawless, Ronald Minkoff, Sari W. Montgomery, Wendy Muchman, Lynda Shely, Time to Renew America’s Lawyer Discipline System, Bloomberg Lawyers’ Manual on Professional Conduct (Bloomberg Law, Feb. 2023).

Sari W. Montgomery, The Dos and Don’ts of Using Social Media in Jury Selection, GP Solo, Volume 40, No. 1 (American Bar Association, Solo, Small Firm, General Practice Division, Jan./Feb. 2023).

Sari W. Montgomery, James A. Doppke, Jr., Stephanie Stewart, Ch. 7, Ethical Considerations in Jury Trials, Inside & Outside the Jury Box (IICLE®, 2023).

Sari W. Montgomery, Legal Ethics: How to Avoid Discipline When You’ve Made a Mistake, Business of Law Insider (BridgeTower Media, December 20, 2022—ongoing ethics columnist).

Mary Robinson, Sari W. Montgomery, James A. Doppke, Jr., Stephanie Stewart, Ch. 13, Disciplinary Liability, ATTORNEY’S LEGAL LIABILITY (IICLE®, 2021).

Sari Montgomery, Scott Kozlov, Nancy Vincent, A Cautionary Tale for In-house Counsel, Illinois Bar Journal, Volume 107, Number 7. (ISBA, 2019).

Contributing Author, Annotated Standards for Imposing Lawyer Sanctions, 2d Ed. (American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility, 2019).

Mary Robinson, Sari W. Montgomery, James A. Doppke, Jr., Ch. 9, Ethical Considerations in Jury Trials, Inside & Outside the Jury Box (IICLE®, 2019).

Mary Robinson, Sari W. Montgomery, James A. Doppke, Jr., Ch. 13, Disciplinary Liability, ATTORNEY’S LEGAL LIABILITY (IICLE®, 2018).

Speaker, Ethics of the Virtual Office and Generative AI, Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI, May 2024.

Speaker, Ethical Issues in Generative AI, Lake County Bar Association, April 2024.

Panelist, Generative AI in the Legal Profession, State Bar of California Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (COPRAC) Annual Symposium, April 2024.

Speaker, Ethical Issues in Advanced Licensing Including Generative AI, Practising Law Institute, April 2024.

Moderator/Panelist, Lawyer as Therapist—Dealing with Clients in Crisis, Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers Mid-Year Meeting, Louisville, KY, February 2024.

Moderator/Panelist, Legal Ethics and AI, LawDroid First Annual AI Conference, January 2024.

Panelist, Representing Clients with Diminished Capacity: Ethical Obligations and Best Practices, American Bar Association Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense and ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, January 2024

Co-Presenter, Ethics for New Attorneys, Illinois State Bar Association, January 2024.

Panelist, Hot Topics in Ethical Issues Including the Use of AI and the New Illinois Judicial Ethics Code, Chicago Bar Association Business Divorce and Complex Ownership Disputes Committee, December 2023.

Panelist, Special Industry Roundtable: Changing Rules for the Unauthorized Practice of Law and the Effect on the LPL Insurance Industry, American Bar Association National Legal Malpractice Conference, September 2023.

Facilitator, DePaul University School of Law Professionalism Orientation, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, September 2023.

Panelist, Generative AI and the Legal Profession: “Ask the Experts,” Lemme Law firm Best Practices Forum, September 2023.

Panelist, Exploring the Next Frontier: Generative AI and the Challenges of New Technologies, Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers Annual Meeting, August 2023, Denver, CO.

Panelist, Ethical Implications of Bots Practicing Law, Practising Law Institute, June 2023

Panelist, Changing 5.5—In Our Lifetimes?, Chicago Bar Association Legal Ethics One-and-Done Professional Responsibility Overview, June 2023.

Speaker, Tips on What to Expect and How to Respond to an ARDC Inquiry, Lake County Bar Association, May 2023.

Panelist, Lawyer Mobility: Risks and Rewards, Joint Meeting of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers and the Law Society of England and Wales, April 2023, Washington, D.C.

Speaker, Ethical Issues in Advanced Licensing, Practising Law Institute, April 2023.

Panelist, UPL: Anachronism or Necessary Regulation, American Bar Association National Legal Malpractice Conference, April 2023, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Moderator, Bots Practicing Law: Where is the Line?, Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers Mid-Year Meeting, February 2023.

Moderator, Bots Practicing Law: Where is the Line?, American Bar Association UPL School, October 2022.

Facilitator, DePaul University School of Law Professionalism Orientation, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, August 2022.

Panelist, Changing 5.5—In Our Lifetimes? (Part 2 of 2), Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers Annual Meeting, August 2022.

Panelist, First Amendment—Choose Your Own Adventure, National Organization of Bar Counsel Annual Meeting, August 2022.

Panelist, Ethics of Lawyer Transitions, Chicago Bar Association, June 2022.

Panelist, Regulating Lawyers: Will We See 5.5 Changes in this Decade? (Part 1 of 2), Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers Mid-Year Meeting, February 2022.

Panelist, The Exhilarating World of Material Adversity and Other Adrenaline-Charged Conflict of Interest Discussions, National Organization of Bar Counsel Mid-Year Meeting, February 2022.

Facilitator, DePaul University School of Law Professionalism Orientation, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, August 2021.

Co-Presenter, Basic Skills Course, Illinois State Bar Association, June 2021.

Speaker, Advanced Licensing: IP Ethics Issues, Practising Law Institute, May 2021, April 2022.

Panelist, Technology and Ethics: What Every Lawyer Should Know, New York State Bar Association, April 2021.

Speaker, Landscape of Regulatory Innovation and Reform Efforts, ABA Bar Leadership Institute, March 2021.

Panelist, Guess What! Your Online Mediation is Not Confidential, ABA Section of Litigation, December 2020.

Panelist, 2020 Tech Summit: Pajamas & Professionalism: Standards and Ethics for New Surroundings, New Tech and New Social Media Users, New York State Bar Association Tech Summit, November 2020.

Panelist, Be Prepared: Practical Advice and Ethical Considerations for Succession Planning, Mergers and Acquisitions, Closures and Retirement, National Collectors Bar Association, September 2020.

Co-Presenter, Ethical Issues Update; Defending/Avoiding Ethics Investigation; Ethics and Technology Use in Legal Practice, Practising Law Institute Ethics Marathon, July 2020.

Moderator, Social Media Issues: Addressing Negative Online Reviews, Geo-Fencing and More, Including What is Permitted vs. Practical, and the Malpractice Carrier’s Perspective, APRL Mid-Year Meeting, Austin, TX, February 2020.

Co-Presenter, When Practice Collides with the Rules: Ethical Issues in the Collections Practice, Illinois Collections Bar Association, February 2020.

Panelist, Unauthorized Practice—Crossing Borders, Chicago Bar Association, November 2019.

Panelist, Liar Liar: Managing Truth and Lies in Law Firms, Holland & Knight Firm General Counsel Summit, September 2019.

Moderator, Why Do People Lie and Why Should We Care? The Movie, The Director, and Legal Ethics, APRL Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, August 2019.

Recipient of Award for Pro Bono Service, Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois, 2019

Provide informal ethics opinions as membership benefit to Illinois Creditors’ Bar Association

Panelist, Professional Responsibility Implications of Evolving Technology and Other Emerging Trends, ABA Lawyers’ Professional Liability Young Professionals Event, 2019

Speaker, Legal Ethics 101: Avoiding Common Mistakes and Conducting Your Practice with Honesty and Integrity, National Academy of Continuing Legal Education, 2019

Speaker, Ethics Issues for New Lawyers—What You Need to Know, National Academy of Continuing Legal Education, 2019

Panelist, Basic Skills for New Lawyers Series, Ethical Dilemmas for New Attorneys, Illinois State Bar Association, 2018

Panelist, NOBC Ethics Roundtable (presented on Cryptocurrency, Email Tracking Software, and Of Counsel Relationships), National Organization of Bar Counsel Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, 2018

Speaker, Multijurisdictional Practice: How to Cross Borders Without Crossing
Ethical Lines, Practising Law Institute Ethics Marathon, 2018.

Panelist, Secrets of the Citation Act and Tips for Enforcing Judgments:
Professional Rules v. Collection Practice: Know and Avoid the Conflicts, Illinois
State Bar Association, 2018.

Panelist, Basic Enforcement of Judgments: Ethical Issues in Collection Practice,
Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education, 2018.

Panelist, The Adjudicator’s Perspective – A Peek Behind the Curtain,
National Organization of Bar Counsel Mid-Year Meeting, Vancouver,
British Columbia, 2018.

Speaker, The Ethical Defender: Conflict of Interest and Other “Hot Button”
Ethical Issues in Public Defense, Illinois Public Defender Association Fall
Meeting, 2017.

Panelist, Ethics of Limited Scope Representation, Chicago Bar Foundation
Limited Scope Representation Seminar, 2017.

Panelist, Ethics and Technology, Illinois Legal Aid Advocates
Conference, 2017.

Speaker, Limited Scope Representation: When Less is More, Illinois State
Bar Association, 2016.

Panelist, Ethical Pitfalls for Attorneys Managing Multi-State Practices,
National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys Annual Meeting, 2016.

Speaker, Tips on What to Expect and How to Respond to an ARDC Inquiry,
North Suburban Bar Association, 2015

Speaker, Legal Ethics 2013: Hot Topics in Technology and Communication,
Lorman Education Services, 2013.

Speaker, Ethical Issues in Collection Practice, Illinois Creditors’ Bar
Association, 2011.

Panelist, Ethical Issues in Collection Practice: Where Professional Rules Conflict
with the Realities of the Collection Process, National Association of Retail
Collection Attorneys Annual Meeting, 2011.

Speaker, Illinois’ New Rules of Professional Conduct: A Comprehensive
Overview, Illinois State Bar Association Mid-year Meeting, 2009.

Speaker, Illinois’ New Rules of Professional Conduct: An Initial Overview,
Illinois State Bar Association, 2009.

Panelist, Sex, Death and Money: A Discussion of Self-dealing Conflicts of
Interest, National Organization of Bar Counsel Mid-year Meeting, San
Antonio, TX, 2004.

American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility — Member 2012-Present

Chair, Standing Committee on Professional Regulation (2024-2027)

Special Advisor, Standing Committee on Professional Regulation (2022-2024)

Member, Standing Committee on Professional Regulation (2019-2022)

APRL Liaison to Standing Committee on Professional Regulation (2018-2019)

Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL) — Member 2012-Present

Treasurer (2023-Present)

Board of Directors (2020-Present)
Conference Planning Committee (2019-2020)
Appointed as APRL Liaison to ABA Committee on Professional Regulation (2018-2019)

Illinois State Bar Association –1994-Present

Appointed to Committee on Professional Conduct, 2008-Present; Chair (2014-2015) Participate in drafting new ethics opinions for benefit of 30,000 member association.

Appointed to Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Practice of Law

Appointed to President’s Special Committee on Alternative Business Structures (2019-2020)

Appointed to President’s Special Committee on the ARDC Matching Services Study (2018-Present) Review ARDC Matching Services Study and formulate recommendations to ISBA Board of Governors to be presented to ARDC and Illinois Supreme Court.

Appointed to President’s Special Committee on Collaborative Law (2015-2018)–Draft proposed legislation and changes to Supreme Court Rules to facilitate the collaborative law process in a manner consistent with the Rules of Professional Conduct.

Chicago Bar Association — Member 1994-Present

Board of Managers (2024-Present)

Member, Committee on Professional Responsibility
Member, Committee on Unauthorized Practice and Multidisciplinary Practice

Chicago Council of Lawyers—Member 2020-Present

Member, Access to Justice Committee (2020-Present)

Lake County Bar Association—Member 2022-Present

Member, Community Outreach and Diversity Committee

Association of Women Attorneys of Lake County—Member 2022-Present

Member, Ethics Seminar Planning Committee

Law360 Legal Ethics Editorial Advisory Board – Member, 2022

National Conference of Bar Examiners—2018-Present

Member, Drafting Committee for Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) (2023-Present)

Subject Matter Expert, Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) (2018-2023)