Admissions
Illinois, 2005
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2005
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals
Clerkships
The Honorable Frank Easterbrook, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, August 2005 - August 2006
Education
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, Chicago, Illinois, J.D., 2005
- Honors: summa cum laude; Northwestern Law Review, Senior Articles Editor
Publications:
- The Supreme Court and Foreign Sources of Law: Two Hundred Years of Practice & the Juvenile Death Penalty Decision, 47 Wm. & Mary L. Rev. 743 (with Steven Calabresi)
- Comment: A Celebrity Balancing Act: An Analysis of Celebrity Trademark Protection Under the Lanham Act and the First Amendment Artistic Expression Defense, 99 Nw. U.L. Rev. 1817
Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, B.S. 2002
- Major: Information & Decision Sciences
- Honors: summa cum laude, Christ College Interdisciplinary Honors College Scholar
Overview
Companies and executives turn to Stephanie Zimdahl when the stakes are high and the path forward is not clear. She represents clients facing government investigations, regulatory scrutiny, and complex disputes, particularly where legal, operational, and reputational risks are all in play.
Stephanie is a seasoned trial attorney with extensive jury trial experience who brings unparalleled confidence and success in a courtroom, focusing her practice on white collar defense, internal investigations, and high-stakes litigation. She works with clients at critical inflection points, often before a matter becomes public or formalized, helping them assess exposure, respond strategically, and move forward with confidence. When matters escalate, her experience as a seasoned trial attorney with extensive jury trial work strengthens both strategy and outcomes. She guides organizations through government inquiries, leads internal investigations, and defends claims involving employment, professional liability, and complex business disputes.
What sets Stephanie apart is her ability to anticipate how enforcement decisions are made. She spent nearly 17 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois and the Western District of Kentucky, including eight years as Deputy Criminal Chief of the Economic, Cyber, and Healthcare Fraud Section, where she led complex investigations involving financial crimes, healthcare fraud, and cyber-related offenses.
That experience shapes how she advises clients today. Stephanie understands how matters are evaluated behind the scenes, what drives enforcement decisions, and where risk can escalate. She uses that insight to help clients make informed decisions early, control outcomes where possible, and position matters for efficient resolution.
Clients rely on Stephanie for:
- Government and internal investigations
- White collar and criminal defense
- Healthcare fraud and regulatory enforcement
- Employment-related investigations and disputes
- Professional liability and malpractice defense
- Complex business and commercial litigation
She is known for bringing clarity and focus to high-pressure situations, helping clients navigate uncertainty with a steady, strategic approach.
Primary Practice
Additional Practice Experience
- Administrative Law
- Appellate Advocacy
- Business Executive Defense
- Business Owner Disputes
- Business Torts
- Civil Investigations
- Contract and Partnership Disputes
- Corporate Investigations
- Criminal Defense
- Criminal Investigations
- Employee Member Wrongdoing
- Employment Litigation
- Fraud, Waste and Abuse Claims
- Government Investigations
- Human Resources Investigations
- Malpractice and Professional Liability Defense
- Municipal Liability
- Product Liability Litigation
- Professional Liability Defense
- Public Sector Liability
- Regulatory & Licensing Issues
- U.S. Department of Labor Investigations
Affiliations
Community/Civic Leadership
Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky, 501(c)(3) non-profit agency, Louisville, KY, Board Member (January 2018 -January 2025)
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Frankfort, KY, Traumatic Brain Injury Trust Fund, Advisory Board Member, (March 2022 - present)

