Hello friendly faces! It’s that time of the week! We’re back with a new CNSM Meet a Mom spotlight brought to you in part by Mary Gifford of Gifford Law. This week we’re are excited to introduce you to Buffalo Grove mom of two sweet kids and lead attorney at Barry S. Silver Law, Robin Winer!
As a personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney, Robin advocates for those struggling with injury and pain while navigating the often-murky waters of medical expenses, missed work and confusing coverage questions. Robin counsels clients from the beginning to conclusion of each case and handles all aspects of claims and, where appropriate, litigation. Robin’s job is equal parts minimizing her clients’ stress and maximizing their compensation. Robin is an incredibly empathetic and kind human who will have your back every step of the way, should you need her. Welcome, Robin!
Hi Robin! Please introduce yourself. Where are you from originally? What city do you live in now and what brought you there?
Hi, I’m Robin Winer! I’m originally from Deerfield, where I met my now husband Ben (prom dates, high school sweethearts). After we graduated from different colleges (GO BLUE!), we both returned to Chicago for graduate school. And, after 12 years of city life, we were ready to plant roots in Buffalo Grove (9 years ago) for the schools, proximity to family and friends, and endless outdoor adventuring around us.
Tell us about your little loves.
I have a 12 year old and 6 year old. Both are old souls with the gift of gab, their father’s dry sense of humor, mind-blowing creativity and a love of animals and dance parties. I love getting to experience motherhood in two different stages: my oldest moves through the world with neurodiverse superpowers teaching me every step of the way, and with my youngest, I get to have the perspective of a seasoned mom and revisit that age with fresh eyes.
What are one or two fun facts to know about you?
I’ll give you three: I’m a former theater, choir and dance nerd (music and musical theater are my happy place); I’m a dog lover; and I’m a former catering and event planner for some of Chicago’s most beloved caterers – Blue Plate Chicago and Food For Thought.
What are your favorite North Shore places, spaces and eats to frequent?
Prairie Wolf Dog Park in Lake Forest, Buffalo Creek in Long Grove, Mellody Farms (Buttermilk!) Le Colonial in Lake Forest, Northwestern Beach in Evanston, and last but certainly not least Therapeutic Kneads in Highland Park. We also visit Chicago on the regular because my in-laws live in Bucktown.
What gets you through a tough day (ie. lots of coffee, yoga, meditation, wine, a good book, etc)?
A few things are so important! My morning iced coffee and a jog with our new rescue husky mix Luna, or, on rainy days, Peloton. I also cherish connecting daily with my besties near and far on Marco Polo video messaging app, listening to anything by Lizzo, and sipping on wine or tea while “Kindling” in the winter. In the summer evenings I find respite on the hammock and around the firepit.
Please introduce your endeavor and tell us about your tenure at the Law Offices of Barry S. Silver, P.C.
I began practicing law in 2005 at a large, prestigious firm in Chicago, but after four years in, I was not fulfilled by the defense work I was doing for large corporations. For the past 10 years, I’ve been focusing on personal injury and workers’ compensation law where I counsel clients who have been injured from the beginning to conclusion of each case. I handle all aspects of claims and litigation including court appearances, discovery, depositions, oral arguments, settlement negotiations, arbitration/mediation proceedings and of course, trial. I sleep great at night knowing I am providing a service to those who need help being made whole after something terrible has happened to them or their loved ones.
How is your approach personable to those in crisis mode?
As a young teen, I had spinal fusion surgery and it has shaped how I view injury, pain, recovery and a patient’s journey through the healthcare system having gone through it personally. As a mom, I have battled insurance companies for my family members’ special needs and have a deep understanding of “how the sausage gets made”, and how to prevail.
As an attorney, I represent victims with persistence and empathy. I enjoy being an advocate for those struggling with injury and pain while navigating the often-murky waters of medical expenses, missed work and confusing coverage questions.
Every client’s circumstances are different and my responsibility is to make the client as whole as possible – whether it’s getting replacement car seats and a rental car to minimize disruption to their daily responsibilities, retrieving video surveillance footage of an accident before it’s lost, tracking medical bills and keeping debt collectors off their back or providing resources and legal options for families dealing with trauma and anxiety in the wake of an accident. My job is equal parts minimizing my clients’ stress and maximizing their compensation..
What can prospective clients expect when they come to you requiring your services?
“Do I have a case?” As a prospective client, you can expect a free consultation in person or virtually to walk you through the various aspects of your specific case. I am an astute listener and based on your short-term and long-term priorities, I’ll provide an overview of the claims and potential litigation process. I’ll advise you about your rights, risks and potential rewards and explain my firm’s contingency fee structure, which means ZERO money down. (My firm is paid at the conclusion of the case based on what you recover.) I’ll answer any and all questions and have an open door policy along the entire way. After an initial consultation, my goal is that you feel informed about what the road ahead looks like and reassured that you have an advocate in your corner that you trust and can confide in.
What’s on the horizon for your line of work?
As the holiday weekends and summer road travel is here, we can expect more motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, higher speeds and of course, distracted drivers. In the workplace, where employers are still understaffed, many laborers are working more overtime, causing fatigue and increasing workplace accidents. Medical care costs are increasing faster than the rate of inflation and in our fragile economy, insurance companies are making stingier settlement offers than ever before — especially when you are without representation. Similarly, health insurance companies and Medicare are less negotiable with unrepresented parties when recovering funds they may be owed.
On the plus side, patients are getting specialist and therapy appointments with much shorter delays than in the past few years, which helps shorten recovery times and case resolution timelines. Where appropriate, remote appearances in court and for depositions help me streamline my schedule and allow me to be more productive on a given workday without the hassle of travel.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about yourself or your role at the Law Offices of Barry S. Silver, P.C.?
Some of my most rewarding experiences have been working with women who are juggling motherhood, work, injury, trauma and financial hardship. Many parents do not know that when a child receives a settlement, it may require approval by a probate court and held in trust until the child turns 18. There is a LOT to consider. No one has time for serious injury, and as a working mom of kids with special needs, I understand how disruptive and aggravating an unexpected accident and injury can be. I pride myself on helping clients get their life back on track as quickly as possible.
And your contact details in case anyone reading this should need you?
If you’ve been involved in an accident, reach out and let’s start a conversation. I mentioned above that I offer a free initial consultation to help you understand the various aspects of your potential case. Should you need me please reach out to Robin M. Winer, Esq. of Barry S. Silver, PC by emailing rwiner@barrysilverlaw.
About our Meet of Mom Sponsor
A very heartfelt thank you to CNSMoms’ Meet a Mom sponsor, Lake Forest mom of three and owner of Gifford Law, a solo Estate Planning Firm (wills and trusts). Mary, we appreciate your support of local moms in our North Shore communities! Learn more about Mary by visiting her Meet a Mom spotlight here! Contact Mary directly here: [email protected].
