Eli Kay-Oliphant is an American attorney and partner at Sparacino PLLC in Chicago. He is also married to Marina Squerciati, the actress who plays Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D. His professional background includes commercial litigation, a federal appellate clerkship, and work at major law firms in New York and Washington, D.C. Outside his legal practice, he has helped lead Chicago Debates, an organization supporting academic debate for young people. Together, these roles offer a fuller picture of Kay-Oliphant: a lawyer whose work extends from business disputes to advocacy for workers and students.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Professional name | Eli J. Kay-Oliphant |
| Occupation | Attorney |
| Current position | Partner at Sparacino PLLC |
| Professional base | Chicago, Illinois |
| Undergraduate education | Northwestern University, B.S., 2001 |
| Law degree | Emory University School of Law, J.D., 2005 |
| Spouse | Marina Squerciati |
| Community leadership | Former governing board chair of Chicago Debates |
Education: From Northwestern Debate to Emory Law
Kay-Oliphant graduated from Northwestern University in 2001. While studying there, he was a Hardy Debate Scholar and a member of the Northwestern Debate Society. Competitive debate involves researching questions, building arguments, and answering an opponent’s position—activities with clear parallels to legal advocacy.
He subsequently attended Emory University School of Law, earning his Juris Doctor with honors in 2005. His academic distinctions included recognition as a William Agnor Scholar. He also served as editor-in-chief of the Emory Law Journal, a student-edited publication devoted to legal scholarship.
His early legal experience included clerking for Judge W. Eugene Davis of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. An appellate clerkship provides experience with the judicial review of lower-court decisions, where written arguments and the interpretation of law are central to the process.
Building a Career in Commercial Litigation
Before joining Sparacino PLLC, Kay-Oliphant worked as an associate at O’Melveny & Myers in Washington, D.C., and Latham & Watkins in New York City. He later became a partner at Massey & Gail LLP.
His current practice includes contractual disputes, commercial fraud, business torts, and mass tort claims. These areas concern civil liability: disagreements over obligations, allegations of business misconduct, or claims involving harm to numerous people.
A commercial litigation attorney’s work can involve much more than a courtroom appearance. Parties may challenge whether a lawsuit can proceed, dispute access to evidence, negotiate a settlement, or ask a court to decide an issue before trial. The route a case takes depends on its facts and the legal questions involved.
Kay-Oliphant’s professional directory profile also lists alternative dispute resolution among his practice areas. That field includes processes such as arbitration, in which a dispute is decided outside the ordinary court system.
Notable Work: The Rich Family and Qatar Construction Workers
Representing Seth Rich’s Parents
Kay-Oliphant was among the attorneys representing Joel and Mary Rich, the parents of Seth Rich, in litigation against Fox News and other defendants. Their lawsuit concerned a false story linking their son to the release of Democratic National Committee emails.
The parents brought claims including intentional infliction of emotional distress. After a district court dismissed their lawsuit, the case reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
In September 2019, the appeals court vacated the dismissal and returned the case for further proceedings. Its opinion listed Kay-Oliphant among the lawyers supporting the parents’ appeal. The ruling allowed the litigation to continue; it was a decision about the sufficiency of the pleaded claims rather than a final determination of liability.
The dispute subsequently ended in a settlement. It is one example of his work representing individuals in litigation involving a large corporate defendant.
Anti-Trafficking Litigation Connected to the World Cup
Kay-Oliphant has also worked on litigation involving Filipino construction workers who allege they were trafficked to Qatar to help build stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In a public statement about the lawsuit, he described claims brought against Jacobs and CH2M entities involved in overseeing stadium construction. The workers alleged that they experienced forced labor and inhumane living and working conditions.
The lawsuit invoked the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. The workers’ claims concerned whether companies benefited from participation in a venture involving trafficking or forced labor. These are allegations advanced in litigation, not findings establishing that the defendants committed the alleged conduct.
Supporting Student Debate in Chicago
Kay-Oliphant’s involvement with debate continued beyond his university years through Chicago Debates. He served as chair of the organization’s governing board and helped lead the search that resulted in Anthony J. Bolden Jr.’s appointment as executive director.
The organization works with Chicago Public Schools students through debate programming and competitions. Its activities give participants opportunities to develop arguments, conduct research, and speak before judges.
Kay-Oliphant also participated directly in competition. In February 2026, Chicago Debates identified him as one of the judges for the novice final at its Silver Conference Championship, hosted at the University of Chicago. Two Kenwood Academy teams competed in that final at Rockefeller Memorial Chapel.
His chairmanship ended in May 2026, when Amit Bindra succeeded him. This distinction matters when describing his community roles: governing board chair is a position he previously held.
Marriage to Marina Squerciati and Family Life
Eli Kay-Oliphant is married to Marina Squerciati, a longtime cast member of NBC’s Chicago P.D. She has portrayed Kim Burgess since the show’s first season.
The couple welcomed a daughter in May 2017 and a second child in 2024. Squerciati announced the second child’s arrival on December 31, 2024. In the same announcement, she explained that her pregnancy accounted for her absence from the first two episodes of the show’s twelfth season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eli Kay-Oliphant licensed to practice law?
He is actively licensed in Illinois, New York, and Washington, D.C. His professional biography also lists admissions to several federal district and appellate courts.
Has Eli Kay-Oliphant received professional recognition?
Yes. His Super Lawyers profile lists selections for every year from 2022 through 2026. It identifies civil litigation among his principal practice areas.
Does he handle appeals?
Yes. His professional biography describes appellate experience in Illinois courts and federal courts, including successful appeals before the Seventh Circuit and the Illinois Court of Appeals.
Does he work in arbitration?
Yes. His experience includes proceedings before JAMS and the American Arbitration Association, two organizations that administer arbitration and other dispute-resolution services.
Who is Eli Kay-Oliphant’s wife?
His wife is actress Marina Squerciati. Her best-known television role is Kim Burgess on Chicago P.D. The couple have two children.
Conclusion
Eli Kay-Oliphant’s career spans corporate disputes, representation of individual plaintiffs, and student debate leadership. His work on the Rich family litigation and Qatar workers’ claims provides concrete examples of his legal practice, while his involvement with Chicago Debates connects his university experience to service in the city where he works.
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