Biography
Megan Slowikowski is a founding partner with Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska. As an “AV-Preeminent” rated attorney, she concentrates her practice on general negligence, product liability, premises liability, toxic torts, occupational injury and other environmental claims. This includes over sixteen years of experience in defending asbestos litigation and appeals.
Megan has defended product and equipment manufacturers, premise owners, employers, suppliers, property managers and outside contractors in general liability, mass toxic tort and product liability cases, including multi-party personal injury claims involving asbestos exposure, mold, diacetyl, benzene and legionella. She worked on an appeal upholding summary judgment in a take-home exposure case by convincing the court that, based on the lack of relationship between the parties, no legal duty was owed to a third party who never visited the client’s premises. Nelson v. Aurora Equipment Co., 391 Ill.App.3d 1036 (2nd Dist. 2009). She was also successful in asserting a corporate dissolution defense for a fiber supplier defendant resulting in the dismissal of hundreds of claims in Illinois and Missouri. Megan serves as national coordinating counsel for a fiber supplier defendant and an electrical supply company in multiple jurisdictions.
In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Megan was named an Emerging Lawyer in products liability and toxic torts defense by the Leading Lawyers Network, a distinction reserved for the top 2% of Illinois lawyers who are 40 years old or younger and have proven themselves professional, ethical and experienced. She also volunteers for the Women in Law Mentor program at Chicago-Kent.
Megan is a member of Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Chief is the only organization specifically designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership journey, cross-pollinate ideas across industries, and effect change from the top-down.
Megan has defended product and equipment manufacturers, premise owners, employers, suppliers, property managers and outside contractors in general liability, mass toxic tort and product liability cases, including multi-party personal injury claims involving asbestos exposure, mold, diacetyl, benzene and legionella. She worked on an appeal upholding summary judgment in a take-home exposure case by convincing the court that, based on the lack of relationship between the parties, no legal duty was owed to a third party who never visited the client’s premises. Nelson v. Aurora Equipment Co., 391 Ill.App.3d 1036 (2nd Dist. 2009). She was also successful in asserting a corporate dissolution defense for a fiber supplier defendant resulting in the dismissal of hundreds of claims in Illinois and Missouri. Megan serves as national coordinating counsel for a fiber supplier defendant and an electrical supply company in multiple jurisdictions.
In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Megan was named an Emerging Lawyer in products liability and toxic torts defense by the Leading Lawyers Network, a distinction reserved for the top 2% of Illinois lawyers who are 40 years old or younger and have proven themselves professional, ethical and experienced. She also volunteers for the Women in Law Mentor program at Chicago-Kent.
Megan is a member of Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there. Chief is the only organization specifically designed for senior women leaders to strengthen their leadership journey, cross-pollinate ideas across industries, and effect change from the top-down.
Publications and Presentations
- Speaker, Perrin Conferences National Construction Defect Conference, "The Growing Trend of Women in the Construction Industry" (2020)
- Speaker, Perrin Conferences National Asbestos Litigation Conference, "Judicial Perspectives" (2019)
- Speaker, Chicago Bar Association Career Assistance Committee Meeting, "Standing Out and Up as Women in the Law" (2018)
- Co-Author, Illinois Civil Practice, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Vol. I "Opening the Case: New Parties" (2006) (2009) (2012) and (2015)
- Speaker, FETTI Conference: Overview of Vapor Intrusion Regulations and Litigation (2014)
Notable Cases
- Richard DeSalvo v. Advance Auto Parts, Inc., et al., Circuit Court of Madison County, 16 L 803, motion to dismiss granted for asbestos fiber supplier defendant based on corporate dissolution
