SBH LLC

Meet Austin Montbriand, an associate attorney at SBH whose background reflects a strong foundation in legal writing, advocacy, and client service. Austin earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before pursuing his legal education at Marquette University Law School. He is licensed to practice in Illinois and Wisconsin.

During law school, Austin gained valuable experience through internships and clerkships that strengthened his legal research, writing, and advocacy skills. He also performed substantial writing for a personal injury firm, where he developed a sharp attention to detail and a thoughtful approach to analyzing complex legal issues. These experiences helped shape his practice and prepared him for a career centered on careful analysis, effective advocacy, and strong client service.

At SBH, Austin is developing his practice in litigation, including medical malpractice defense. He is particularly motivated by the responsibility that comes with handling cases involving complex facts, important professional judgments, and significant consequences for everyone involved. He appreciates the level of precision, preparation, and critical thinking the work demands and is committed to guiding clients through those matters with diligence and care.

Outside of his practice, Austin is a passionate Chicago sports fan, avid concertgoer, and golfer. Whether he is following his favorite teams, getting out for a round of golf, or attending a live show, he loves staying active and connected with friends and family.

SBH partners Jenny Blake and Katie Vaughan, assisted by associate Suzana Broderick, secured a trial victory on behalf of their clients, a neurosurgeon and a local hospital. The plaintiff, a 55-year-old woman, claimed the physician improperly performed a posterior cervical decompression and fusion. Nine hours after surgery, the patient developed weakness in her right arm that progressed over time. The surgeon promptly took her back to surgery for further decompression of her nerve roots. The patient awoke with full function of her right arm, but eight hours after the second surgery, she again developed right arm weakness followed by bilateral weakness and gait abnormalities. The plaintiff claimed the first surgery was improperly performed when the surgeon allegedly improperly placed allograft bone spacers in the cervical spine and allegedly failed to adequately decompress the foramina, requiring a second surgery where the plaintiff claimed the surgeon caused a permanent injury to her spinal cord. The defense argued the physician performed the surgery appropriately, as evidenced by neuromonitoring during surgery as well as the post-operative exams. The defense argued the patient developed a C5 palsy after both surgeries. This is a known and unpredictable complication of surgery and did not occur due to any negligence. The defense further argued there was no objective evidence of a nerve root injury or a spinal cord injury, despite the patient’s deterioration. The plaintiff asked the jury to award more than $27 million. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the neurosurgeon and the hospital. The case was tried in Cook County Circuit Court before Judge Slattery Boyle.

Meet Lauren Reyes, a second-year associate at SBH. Lauren earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, where she double majored in Philosophy and Spanish. After graduating, she moved to Chicago to attend Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor.

Prior to joining SBH, Lauren worked as a law clerk at a plaintiff's personal injury firm in Chicago and a criminal defense firm in Michigan. While in law school, Lauren competed in several mock trial competitions as a Philip H. Corboy Fellow. In addition, she served as the Finance Director of the Mock Trial Executive Board. Now, Lauren serves as an Adjunct Professor of Trial Advocacy at Loyola, helping students prepare for national mock trial competitions.

In her spare time, Lauren enjoys playing tennis, collecting records, and spending time with friends and co-workers. When she's not in Chicago, you can find Lauren back in Michigan visiting family and cheering on her alma mater.

SBH is excited to celebrate the firm’s 10th anniversary on November 15, 2025! It is a milestone that fills us with pride and gratitude as we reflect on our journey and the individuals and organizations we have had the privilege to serve. Our first ten years was marked by a changing legal landscape, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are proud of our ability to adapt and meet our clients’ changing needs in a demanding time.

As we commemorate this significant anniversary, we extend our thanks to our clients for entrusting us with their legal matters. We also extend our gratitude to our team of attorneys and support staff, whose hard work, expertise, and dedication have been instrumental in guiding our firm to this milestone. Each member of our team plays a vital role in our collective success, and we are honored to work alongside such talented individuals.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the future and the continued opportunity to serve our clients and make a positive impact through the practice of law. Thank you for being an integral part of our firm’s success, and here’s to many more years of partnership and collaboration!