This special gathering brings together members of the legal community, civic leaders, and supporters committed to strengthening our democratic institutions. Proceeds from the luncheon support the Chicago Council of Lawyers’ ongoing work to promote judicial integrity, transparency, and access to justice.

Registration is now closed, but you can still support the Chicago Council of Lawyers’ mission by making a charitable donation to our 501(c)(3) partner organization, The CCL More Perfect Union Fund, that reflects your commitment to advancing justice, accountability, and the rule of law.

While CCL is an independent public-interest bar association dedicated to promoting excellence and integrity in the administration of justice as a 501(c)(6) organization, contributions are generally not tax-deductible as charitable contributions. However, The CCL More Perfect Union Fund supports charitable and educational activities through tax-deductible contributions as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Thank you to our generous supporters:

*As of June 21, 2026.

Program

Cara Hendrickson of the Illinois Attorney General’s office will be interviewed by Sharon Fairley of the University of Chicago about protecting the Rule of Law.

Liam Connell of the Patriotic Millionaires will then speak on concrete steps toward greater economic fairness in his presentation, ‘Proud to Pay More: The Patriotic Millionaires’ Fight to Create an Economy that Works for All.’

Learn more about these featured speakers by watching the video and reading their bios below.

Cara Hendrickson

Cara Hendrickson serves as the Executive Deputy Attorney General in the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. In that role, she is responsible for advancing the strategic legal priorities of the office, including overseeing the Attorney General’s work promoting federal accountability and the rule of law. Earlier, Cara served as the Chief of the Office’s Public Interest Division, where she supervised the attorneys and staff who enforce the civil rights, disability rights, workplace rights, and antitrust laws, in addition to conducting investigations and cases involving the False Claims Act, consumer fraud, and energy issues.

Cara previously served as the Executive Director at Impact for Equity, one of Chicago’s most formidable law and policy centers, guiding its work for racial, economic, and social justice. An experienced litigator, Cara’s law practice focused on constitutional and civil rights litigation at Hughes Socol Piers Resnick & Dym, Ltd. She has also practiced at Massey & Gail, LLP and Kirkland & Ellis, LLP.

Cara has served as a Commissioner on the Illinois Executive Ethics Commission, which promotes ethics in Illinois public service, on the board of the Public Interest Law Initiative, and on the advisory board of the American Constitution Society, Chicago Chapter. She was a Fellow in the 2014 class of Leadership Greater Chicago.

Cara served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ann Claire Williams, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (Ret). She graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and received her B.A. from Northwestern University. She has a Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management certificate from Harvard Business School.

Sharon R. Fairley

Sharon Fairley is a University of Chicago Law School graduate and current Professor from Practice. Before joining the Law School, Professor Fairley was a federal prosecutor, the First Deputy Inspector General & General Counsel for the City of Chicago Office of the Inspector General, and Chief Administrator for the Independent Police Review Authority, the agency responsible for police misconduct investigations. She also created and stood up the Chicago Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA).

Liam Connell

Liam Connell is a member of Patriotic Millionaires, the former CEO of Allston Trading, and the founder of several algorithmic trading firms that Goldman Sachs and Sequoia Capital later acquired. His professional career has spanned technology, finance, entrepreneurship, and quantitative trading, including work at an IBM research center before transitioning to Wall Street and later founding multiple financial technology and trading firms.

Throughout his career, Liam has combined experience in technology and financial markets with long-standing involvement in advocacy related to human rights, democratic accountability, and economic inequality. He participated in civil rights activism in Northern Ireland and in the Anti-Apartheid movement, and has continued to engage in efforts to protect democratic institutions and address the concentration of wealth and power.

Liam’s work and advocacy draw on decades of experience across both the private sector and civic engagement, with a focus on the relationship between economic systems, political power, and democratic governance.

Click here to learn more about Patriotic Millionaires, a network of business leaders, investors, and philanthropists who use their private influence and unique public voices to advance an economic framework capable of sustaining the rich, stable, and free nation the vast majority of Americans want.

Stay Connected

Thank you for supporting CCL and the More Perfect Union Fund. The work doesn’t end when the luncheon concludes. We invite you to stay engaged with our efforts to strengthen the justice system, uphold the rule of law, and advance equal justice for all.

• Join the Council – Become a part of a network of attorneys, judges, law students, and civic leaders committed to judicial excellence, public service, and meaningful reform. 
• Follow Along – Stay informed about upcoming events, advocacy initatives, and opportunities to support our mission by following us on social media: LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and BlueSky
• Share Your Experience – Attending the luncheon? Share your photos and reflections on social media and tag CCL to help spread the word. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at ccl@chicagocouncil.org or by giving us a call at 224-301-5808.