Athena Farmakis

Athena Farmakis was born and raised in the Chicagoland area, graduated with a B.A. from Northwestern University, and received her law degree from DePaul University College of law. With over 25 years of litigation experience, Athena has tried 67 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials in complex and media-sensitive cases. Athena currently practices in all areas of personal injury including motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, product liability, construction accidents, animal attacks, negligent security, wrongful death, nursing home abuse and medical malpractice.

As a former prosecutor, Athena dedicated much of her legal career to serving the public for over 20 years as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney. Known for her zealous advocacy, Athena fought for the rights of countless victims and their families in homicide, sexual assault, child abuse and many other violent crimes often resulting in personal and catastrophic injury. She also led the prosecution of countless weapons, narcotics and financial crimes cases. Her dedication and hard work has afforded her with vast, wide-ranging trial expertise and knowledge of the litigation process. Athena has also actively participated in Continuing Legal Education (CLE) trainings and has made several presentations as speaker, lecturer and panelist. She has additional legal experience in real estate management involving landlord/tenant disputes, tax appeal matters and capital improvement project management.

Athena is very active in her community and is committed to people and issues outside of the courtroom. She currently serves as president of her 30 story high-rise condominium association in Chicago where she presides over disciplinary and mediation hearings and works closely with association attorneys in managing legal disputes.

DePaul College of Law

J.D. (1993)

1993

Attorney

VanDerGinst Law, P.C. - Injury Attorneys

2020 - Current

Attorney

Athena Farmakis, Attorney at Law

2018 - 2020

Attorney Litigation Supervisor

Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office

1994 - 2018

Women’s Bar Association of Illinois

Member, Volunteer

Current

Redeploy Illinois Oversight Board

Member of the Board

Current

Activities: Former member of the board overseeing the Illinois Redeploy program seeking to reduce the number of incarcerated youth through non-detention community alternatives.

Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago

Instructor

Current

Activities: Lawyers in the Classroom Program

Chicago Kent College of Law

Substitute Trial Advocacy Instructor, Mock Trial Judge

Current

State Bar of Illinois  # 6217563

Member

Current

Illinois

Supreme Court of Illinois

ID Number: ARDC 6217563

Since 1993

U.S. Supreme Court

Since 2012

• Free Consultation
  Free consultations on personal injury cases.

• Veterans Disability