Background
With a background in social work and the influence of a grandfather and uncle who were passionate lawyers, Gina Arquilla DeBoni naturally gravitated towards a career in law where she could put her strong people skills and passion for helping others to good use. After law school, Gina established a successful personal injury law firm with another partner. She left the practice after six years to join the prominent firm of Romanucci & Blandin, LLC in June 2010 as its managing attorney. In February of 2019, she was named Managing Partner of the firm.
As one of the only female managing partners in the state of Illinois, Gina is responsible for the overall management and quality assurance of the firm’s legal and compliance services within client engagements. She also plays a critical role in advocating for the firm’s clients who have suffered from traumatic personal injury, medical malpractice, police misconduct, hazing, sex trafficking, products and premises liability, nursing home negligence, business interruption, mass shootings and construction injury cases.
Whether it’s in the office, courtroom or beyond, Gina is passionate about advocating for her clients and ensuring that real, institutional policy change can come from the firm’s cases. In September of 2017, Gina advocated on Capitol Hill with a client who testified before the Senate for an amendment to Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. Furthermore, Gina served as an expert on panels for the film I am Jane Doe and alongside Cindy McCain in public service announcements aimed at amending Section 230. On April 11, 2018, Gina was invited to the White House with her client, who stood next to the President in the Oval Office, to witness the monumental signing of the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex-Trafficking Act. Since 2018, Gina has also played a significant role in advocating for Romanucci & Blandin’s clients who have been impacted by carcinogenic emissions coming from the Sterigenics International facility in Willowbrook, Illinois without their knowledge for decades. This has included working closely with Illinois Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin, as well as several Illinois Representatives who are working to create greater regulations and expand transparency as it pertains to the handling of the cancer-causing chemical, ethylene oxide.
Gina’s work has landed her in several publications both nationally and internationally, including the front page of the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and The Times in London. Gina was chosen for the 2020 Notable Women in Law list by Crain's Chicago Business. In 2023, Gina received a number of accolades, including Women In Law: Leaders Leaning In honoree by Chicago Lawyer, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin's Top Women in Law, Top Women Lawyers - Chicago Metro Area - Leading Lawyers and Top Leading Women Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company.
Further, Gina's commitment to civic engagement and the community is reflected in her successful pursuit of public office. She was elected as a Trustee of the Village of Glenview, Illinois in 2021.
Experience
$4,500,000 Settlement – Trucking Accident
$1,000,000 Settlement – Premises Liability
Practice Areas
Environmental & Toxic Torts
Mass Torts & Class Actions
Premises Liability
Product Liability
Sexual Abuse & Hazing
Transportation & Car Accidents
Workplace Injury
Wrongful Death
Education & Certifications
J.D., Chicago-Kent College of Law, 2002
B.A., University of Iowa, 1997
Awards & Recognition
Women In Law: Leaders Leaning In honoree by Chicago Lawyer, 2023
Member of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin's Top Women in Law, 2023
Top Women Lawyers - Chicago Metro Area - Leading Lawyers, Leading Lawyers, 2023
Top Leading Women Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2023
Named as an Illinois Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers®, 2022-Present
Notable Gen X Leaders in Accounting, Consulting and Law, Crain's Chicago Business, 2021
Named one of The Best Lawyers in America©, 2020-Present
Named a Leading Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Leading Lawyers Division, 2017-Present
Recipient of the ISBA Elmer Gertz Human Rights Award, 2020
Named to the Notable Women in Law list by Crain's Chicago Business, 2020
Stevie Award - Female Executive of the Year, Consumer Services for 11-2,500 employees, 2020
Recipient of the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Dorothy Brown, 2017
The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys, ‘Ten Best Attorneys in Illinois’ for the Client Satisfaction Award, 2016-2017
Named an Emerging Lawyer by Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Leading Lawyers Division, 2015-2016
Selected to the Illinois Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers®, 2008, 2010-2015
Illinois State Bar Association “Young Lawyer of the Year” Award, 2010
The National Trial Lawyers Association: Top 40 under 40, Member
Legal Activities & Leadership
Advocated for legislative change on Capitol Hill, resulting in the passing bi-partisan amendment to the Communications Decency Act (SESTA/FOSTA). Invited to White House when the bill was signed into law, 2017-2018
American Bar Association (ABA)
House of Delegates, 2006-2010
Membership Co-Chair for the ABA for the State of Illinois, 2008-2010
ABA Young Lawyers Division District 15 representative, 2008-2010
Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
Past Member of the following: Board of Governors; General Assembly Scope and Correlation Committee; Young Lawyers Division (Chair, 2008–09); Board Liaison, Women and the Law Committee, Antitrust Committee, Business Advice and Financial Planning Committee and the Standing Committee on Legal Education, Admission and Competence.
Justinian Society of Lawyers
National Italian American Bar Association (NIABA)
Women’s Advisory Board for U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, Chair
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Northern District of Illinois, 2002
Illinois, 2002
Newsroom
In the News
Trial for accused Highland Park shooter to begin in February; Crimo III to represent himself
WGN9, December 11, 2023
Judge Rejects Gunmaker's Attempt To Remove Highland Park Shooting Suit
Patch, September 30, 2023
Judge: Lawsuits vs Smith & Wesson over Highland Park massacre belong in Lake County, not federal court
Cook County Record, September 28, 2023
Press Releases
Managing and Senior Partner Gina A. DeBoni honored on Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s Salute! To Women in Law list for 2023
November 29, 2023
Reaction to Backpage.com federal criminal verdict from legal team representing mom of Chicago sex trafficking victim, Desiree Robinson
November 17, 2023
Victory for Survivors: Civil Lawsuits on Behalf of Nearly 50 Victims of Highland Park Fourth of July Mass Shooting Returned to State Court
September 27, 2023
Blog Posts
The New Normal- Office Life Post Vaccine
Romanucci & Blandin Blog, May 10, 2021
Romanucci & Blandin’s Return to Office Model
Romanucci & Blandin Blog, May 21, 2020
