I represent children and families in special education and disability rights matters to ensure that all children have access to a customized education that allows them to learn and thrive. McBride Law LLC is disability proud and neurodivergent-affirming, and I have deep experience with medically complex/rare, gifted/twice exceptional, and neurodivergent youth, including autistic and PDA children.

Drawing on my legal training and PhD work in education policy, I consult to schools, districts, nonprofits, and other educational institutions on disability rights, compliance, and policy design.

I represent Illinois-based students and families in:

• Securing eligibility for IEP/504 plans, including navigating the evaluation process

• Developing IEP/504 plans

• Enforcing existing IEP/504 plans that are not being implemented as designed

• Revising existing IEP/504 plans (current or future school years)

• Securing accommodations for students found ineligible for IEP/504 plans

• Challenging placement decisions made by the school/district

• Homeschooling compliance and rights issues for students with disabilities, including securing special education and related services for homeschooled students

• Enforcing disabled students’ and families’ rights in disciplinary matters, including manifestation determination reviews

• Due process hearings, mediation, and litigation to enforce special education and disciplinary rights, if needed

• I am happy either to advocate for your child and family directly with the school/district, and/or to provide behind-the-scenes advice and strategy.

I work with students and families outside of Illinois on a consultation-only basis to provide advice and strategy on navigating the special education process, especially for neurodivergence/PDA, medical complexity, and rare diagnoses. Due to licensing requirements, I am only able to represent non-Illinois families in school- or court-based proceedings in partnership with a local attorney.

I understand your family’s experience. I am a proud parent and caregiver to medically complex, rare, and neurodivergent kids, and am medically complex and neurodivergent myself. I believe that our children deserve full access, inclusion, and equity, and I’m here to support your family in making that a reality. Together, we can be the change our community needs.

There’s no time like the present. If you know or suspect that your child has a disability or health condition and/or may need special education, services, and/or accommodations in school at any point in time, I’m happy to begin the conversation with you now. The evaluation and eligibility process can take a long time, and careful planning is the best way to ensure your child has what they need, when they need it.

Leveraging my experience as a Seventh Circuit clerk and former co-director of Northwestern Law’s Supreme Court Clinic, I craft compelling written and oral advocacy in state and federal courts of review. I am experienced in both criminal and commercial appeals. I have handled interlocutory appeals, appeals of right, petitions for certiorari, and merits briefing in multiple state courts of appeals and supreme courts, and merits and amicus briefing in more than a dozen U.S. Supreme Court cases, including as counsel of record.

I also serve as appellate counsel to trial teams, strategizing and drafting dispositive briefing and advising on critical issues.

Representative matters include:

• Appointed as deputy special prosecutor in high-profile prosecutorial misconduct case, with primary responsibility for briefing and appellate strategy. Won rare interlocutory appeal, securing the prosecution’s ability to introduce critical evidence.

• Represented financial institution in complex multistate fraud litigation, including drafting successful motion to reconsider dispositive issue; handled cross-jurisdictional appellate strategy and served as member of trial team.

• Drafted opening brief in landmark appellate victory for False Claims Act plaintiff-relator.

• Drafted numerous petitions for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court regarding regulatory and criminal defense issues, including two successful petitions (Brown v. U.S. (2023) and Kahler v. Kansas (2019)).

I represent businesses and individuals in all phases of litigation and investigations, with a particular focus on highly regulated industries, expert witness development, and False Claims Act matters.

My False Claims Act practice focuses exclusively on representing relators (whistleblowers), especially relators with potential or confirmed criminal exposure.

Representative matters include:

• Appointed as deputy special prosecutor for Cook County in complex ethics investigation leading to criminal charges.

• Member of lead national science and expert team for major pharmaceutical company in litigation concerning GLP-1 receptor agonist medications.

• Represented financial institution to highly favorable resolution in cross-border Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigation.

• Represented individual corporate officers in SEC investigation.

• Represented plaintiff-relator in suit leading to one of the largest False Claims Act settlements ever against a defense contractor.

• Represented health insurer in Medicaid litigations.