Bartlit Beck LLP

Rebecca Weinstein Bacon is a nationally recognized trial lawyer with over two decades of experience trying and litigating complex cases for Fortune 500 companies. Her representations span a broad range of matters, including pharmaceutical products liability claims, antitrust cases, consumer class actions, and commercial disputes.  

Rebecca’s ascent in her career is a product of her propensity for turning her client’s most crucial, high-stakes legal matters into resounding victories, achieving precedent-setting outcomes. While representing Bayer in the WeightSmart litigation, Rebecca successfully appealed a ruling to the Third Circuit and set a new standard regarding class ascertainability in class action lawsuits. She tried one of the only federal consumer class action cases to go to trial, which resulted in a defense verdict for Whirlpool. The plaintiffs were seeking $66M in damages. She tried one of the only "pattern or practice" employment discrimination cases to go to trial brought by the EEOC against Texas Roadhouse. She led a team defending FedEx Ground against sweeping claims by the EEOC relating to their treatment of deaf package handlers, crafting a strategy that led to a favorable settlement.  

Also, Rebecca has been chosen to first chair trials for a major motor carrier company involving some of its most critical matters related to fatal roadside incidents in various states. This includes leading a wrongful death and negligence case for the company that was settled in May 2022 with a favorable result and leading two more cases scheduled for trial in 2023. She also tries cases to arbitrators. Recently, she led a team to victory in three confidential AAA arbitrations concerning breach of contract claims – two cases on the defensive side, the other on the offense. Both matters involved significant damages.  

Regardless of the subject matter, clients view Rebecca’s prowess in the courtroom as their competitive edge. Compassionate but tenacious, she is a skilled legal strategist with a strong command of the courtroom. Her emotional awareness, combined with her business sophistication and acumen, let her interpret and respond to a broad legal landscape, always working towards achieving the best result for her clients. This approach has earned Rebecca peer recognition and many accolades, including repeated recognition on Benchmark Litigation’s "Top 100 Trial Lawyers” and “Top 250 Women in Litigation” lists and being named to the “Notable Women in Law” list by Crain’s Chicago Business. In addition, Rebecca is Chambers ranked in General Commercial Litigation (Illinois) and Product Liability & Mass Torts. Rebecca has also been recognized as one of Lawdragon’s 500 leading lawyers as well as litigators in America. She is one of the Top 50 of Illinois Women Super Lawyers and has been recognized by Who’s Who Legal for her work in Product Liability Defense and well as Commercial Litigation. 

Rebecca served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Law, where she taught trial advocacy for three years. She has also published and presented on a wide range of topics related to high-stakes litigation. 

In addition to Rebecca’s impressive law career, she is committed to mental health awareness and is a relentless advocate for women in the firm and the broader community. Rebecca is a member of The Chicago Network, which empowers, inspires, and supports the next generation of women leaders, and serves on the board of directors for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, a leading organization focusing on mood disorders. 

Rebecca graduated from Columbia University School of Law as a Kent and Stone Scholar and earned her bachelor's degree from UCLA with honors.

Member, The Chicago Network (nominated 2014)

Member, International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) (2011-present)

Association of Trial Lawyers of America

Adjunct Professor, Northwestern University School of Law, High Tech Trial Techniques

The Balanced Mind Foundation, Board of Directors (2011-2013)

Young Women's City Council of the Jewish United Fund (2012-present)

Legal Aid Society Board for Metropolitan Family Services (2013-present)

Columbia Law School, 1997, J.D.

James Kent Scholar

Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar

University of California at Los Angeles, B.A., magna cum laude

Phi Beta Kappa