Stephanie A. Scharf concentrates her practice on a wide array of complex litigation and life sciences. She has represented clients in federal and state courts in Illinois, New Jersey, California, Washington, Iowa, Michigan, Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Oregon and New York. She has litigated or tried complex contract disputes, insurance coverage disputes for corporate policyholders, employment disputes, class actions, disputes over collaboration, distribution and supply agreements and indemnity agreements, environmental torts and product liability torts. Her roles have been as a trial lawyer, national coordinating counsel, regional counsel, science counsel, and as a member of several “virtual firms” created to address specific client problems. She is especially adept at presenting complex technical matters to lay audiences, and she has advanced skills in statistical analysis and clinical trials.

Since 2005, Mrs. Scharf has been recognized every year as an Illinois “Super Lawyer”. She has received the PLAC President’s Award and was selected by Lawdragon Magazine as one of the “500 Leading Litigators in America”. She is "AV Preeminent" peer review rated by Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest peer recognition for both ethical standards and legal ability.

A former President of NAWL and the NAWL Foundation and current Board Member of the Chicago Bar Foundation, Mrs. Scharf is active in national and regional organizations. She is also a Commissioner the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession, and delegate from Illinois to Vision 2020.

Mrs. Scharf attended Rutgers University and Stanford University. She received a Ph.D. in behavioral sciences in 1978 and a J.D. in 1985 from the University of Chicago. Before practicing law, she was a University Harper Fellow and Senior Study Director, NORC, where she helped design and manage large-scale surveys commissioned by the U.S. government.