About Us

Ms. Kurtz is a trial lawyer.

“I analogize the adrenaline rush of a trial to skydiving, which is a passion of mine, and as crazy as it sounds, my form of relaxation and getting a perspective on the world. Skydiving reminds me that I can do anything”. Ms. Kurtz has successfully litigated pattern and practice and class action cases, cases for individuals, as well as employers. She has tried and litigated cases involving civil rights, police misconduct, political corruption, employment discrimination and retaliation, sexual harassment, RICO, the False Claims Act (Qui Tam), breach of contract and various other state law issues.

Ms.Kurtz is experienced in handling cases for individual and multiple plaintiffs and for large billion dollar corporations and small family owned businesses. She works tirelessly for her clients in preparing their cases for trial, and has obtained multi-million dollar jury awards.

Ms.Kurtz is also a tough negotiator and has been successful in obtaining six figure settlements, including many over $1 million.

“As a business owner, I also understand the importance of teamwork in small and large businesses. My experience as a plaintiff’s lawyer gives me a perspective in the business world that most big firm lawyers do not have. I know how to keep my business clients out of litigation and save them money. I also bring unique knowledge to defending our business clients that has resulted in victories for them at trial.”

Ms. Kurtz has also successfully argued before the Seventh Circuit in numerous cases, including Jacobs v. City of Chicago, 215 F.3d 758 (7th Cir. 2000), on issues of qualified immunity and unlawful search and seizure. In Jacobs, the Seventh Circuit reversed the district courts grant of a motion to dismiss on qualified immunity grounds. Jacobsis often cited in Section 1983 cases on qualified immunity issues. Ms. Kurtz also successfully appealed and argued Lewis v. City of Chicago, 496 F.3d 645 (7th Cir. 2007) and Valentino v. South Chicago Heights, 575 F.3d 664 (7th Cir. 2009), in which the Seventh Circuit reversed the lower courts granting motions for summary judgment. Both cases are often cited by the district courts on precedential legal issues.

Ms. Sleper specializes in employment discrimination and enforcement of individual’s Constitutional rights. Ms. Sleper also specializes in representing small businesses with their employment related needs. 

Ms. Sleper has extensive litigation experience and has been a part of the trial team winning significant verdicts and for our clients. Including, the trial of Lewis v. Country Club Hills, in which the firm obtained a verdict for Ms. Lewis, a female firefighter, in the amount of $11.2 million and Burruss v. Cook County Sheriff, et al. where the firm obtained a verdict for 21 Cook County Correctional Officers in the amount of $1,600,000 for political retaliation and discharge. Ms. Sleper has also negotiated sizeable settlements for our clients, including Januszewski v. Village of Oak Lawn, et al. achieving a settlement in the amount of $850,000 for sexual harassment and retaliation and constitutional claims and implementation of new policies and training at the fire station.

Ms. Sleper has also argued successfully before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Ms. Sleper received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Nebraska College of Law during which she was honored as being the top of her class in Native American Law. Ms. Sleper was also involved in the Women’s Law Caucus and Equal Justice Society. Ms. Sleper received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in English also from the University of Nebraska.

Ms. Sleper is admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

Ms. Sleper is the proud mother of two young children. The love for her children has inspired her to expand her practice to help others create families of their own, which include representing the legal rights of intended parents, egg donors, sperm donors, parties in surrogacy arrangements, and fertility clinics.

Ms. Sleper is also a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and its Illinois chapter, the Chicago Bar Association, the American Bar Association, its Family Law Section and the Genetic and Reproductive Technology Committee.

Jacob Exline has been working with litigation and trial attorneys since 2015, assisting with complex, in-depth, and high-stakes civil rights and employment issues ranging from drafting initial complaints, discovery documents, and litigation motions to partaking in depositions and oral arguments.

Jacob received his Juris Doctor from Loyola University Chicago School of Law in May of 2017, where he was consistently on the Dean’s List, was awarded the CALI Award for Excellence in Legal Writing II and was an editor for both the International Law Review and the Consumer Law Review. Jacob is also a member of the DuPage Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. In November of 2017, Mr. Exline became licensed and is admitted to practice law in the State of Illinois and the United States District Court for both the Northern District and Central District of Illinois.

Most notably, Jacob assisted as the third chair in the trial of Lewis v. Country Club Hills, in which the firm obtained a verdict for Ms. Lewis in the amount of $11.2 million. Jacob’s legal research and writing skills helped shape the victory in that case and won many legal arguments. Jacob has been an invaluable asset and assisted in numerous other cases in which clients have won substantial awards or in which he has assisted in negotiating sizeable settlements. Jacob is an excellent advocate for those wronged by discrimination, retaliation, in violation of their Constitutional rights or by their employers.

In October of 2019, Jacob became a Partner at Kurtz, Sleper & Exline, LLC and immediately took on a larger role with the firm, not only continuing to provide excellent legal advocacy for those whose civil rights had been violated, but also assisting with case evaluation, business growth and development, and overseeing administrative duties and tasks. Jacob aspires to be an approachable and friendly lifeline to those who need it most while also being a fierce advocate willing to take the extra steps necessary to vindicate those wronged by their employers.