Jay Paul Deratany

Jay Paul Deratany is the founder of The Deratany Firm. Receiving his law degree from DePaul University, he has been voted one of the top 100 lawyers nationwide, and one of the top Illinois lawyers, since 2007.  In 2004 Mr. Deratany won the largest jury verdict in Lake County history ($23,000,000) - at the time.



Jay Paul Deratany has published numerous articles featured in the Illinois Bar Journal, Daily Law Bulletin, Adoption Magazine, and Foster Families Today. He has been a guest on Fox & Friends, CNN and the O’Reilly Factor. He has been featured in Foster Families Magazine for his continuing fight on behalf of foster children.

​

He has served on numerous boards including: Howard Brown, Chicago House, Perspectives Charter Schools, and Community Support Services. He won the Ekroth Award for his Federal Lawsuit advocating on behalf of disabled women who were being discriminated against in housing.

​

Mr. Deratany is also a playwright; his hit play, which addresses GLBT rights in a global context, “Haram Iran,” was nominated for a GLAAD theater award, and played in Chicago, Los Angeles and London.  Mr Deratany continues to advocate for global GLBT youth rights, and serves on the board of directors of Ekta Transglobal.