Overview
Sarah A. Ferrill is a partner at Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP; while Sarah maintains a diverse civil litigation and trial practice, she has dedicated the majority of her practice over the past 15 years to medical negligence work. She represents hospitals, physicians, physician groups, nurses, and other healthcare professionals as well as product manufacturers, public utilities and state employees in cases involving allegations of wrongful death, birth injury, and other catastrophic injury from the pre-suit investigation stage through trial. She has tried catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and premises matters to verdict as lead counsel.
- Chicago Bar Association
- Judicial Evaluation Committee, Appointed Member
- Illinois State Bar Association
- Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
- American Bar Association
- Bradley University Alumni Association
- Chicago Healthcare Risk Management Society
- Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys
- The Best Lawyers in America®, (2026)
- Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
- Illinois Super Lawyers®, “Rising Stars,” (2015-2023)
- Law Bulletin Media, “40 Under Forty,” (2020)
- Law Bulletin Media, Jury Verdict Reporter Awards, “Trial Lawyer Excellence Award”
- Outstanding Defense Verdict in a Medical Malpractice Case, (2019)
- The National Trial Lawyers, “Top 40 Under 40,” (2012)
- “COVID-19 and Long-Term Care Facilities,” Chicago Healthcare Risk Management Society (CHRMS) Winter Meeting, January 2021
- “Anatomy of a Medical Malpractice Trial,” Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Tort Litigation Committee, November 2018
- Jury Trial Tips, Chicago Bar Association’s Municipal & Law Divisions Committee, October 2018
- “Advanced Trial Advocacy,” University of Notre Dame Law School, 2017, 2018
- Herzog Moot Court Competition, Judge, John Marshall Law School, 2012, 2013
- “Personal Injury Litigation,” University of Notre Dame Law School, 2011, 2012
- “Litigation Lab,” DePaul University College of Law, 2011, 2012
- “Medical Malpractice 101,” University of Illinois College of Medicine, 2011
- Secured a defense verdict on behalf of their client, a vascular surgeon, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL. Plaintiff asked the jury for $7.2 million; jury returned a verdict of not guilty for the defendant.
- Obtained a defense verdict on behalf of their client, a cardiologist. Plaintiff alleged that three physicians, including the firm’s client, were negligent in failing to order the vascular surgery consult in a timely manner. Plaintiff asked the jury for $15 million. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty for the defense.
- Obtained a defense verdict in a premises liability case on behalf of their client, a prominent hospital, in the Circuit Court of Cook County, IL. Plaintiff asked the jury for $1.04 million; jury returned a verdict for the defense.
- Secured a defense verdict at trial on behalf of firm clients, a cardiologist and the cardiologist’s group. Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury for $8.5 million for wrongful death and survival damages. Jury returned a verdict for the defendants.
