Chicago-Kent Alumnus Bryce Hensley Donates $1.5 Million to Strengthen Law School’s Nationally Recognized Advocacy Program

CHICAGO—November 18, 2025—Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech) today announced that it has received a $1.5 million gift from Bryce Hensley (LAW ’17), founding partner of Gould Grieco & Hensley (GGH), to bolster the law school’s nationally acclaimed Advocacy Program, which is ranked #12 in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

“Chicago-Kent provided me with the foundation to advocate for others at the highest level,” says Hensley, who manages GGH’s Mass Tort Practice Group. “Whether I am at trial or working up to trial, I find myself still utilizing the skills I learned at Chicago-Kent to achieve life-changing results for my clients and their families. Through the Advocacy Program, I learned invaluable lessons—both inside and outside the courtroom—from dozens of volunteer lawyers and judges that devoted their time and energy to ensuring I had the confidence to walk into a courtroom right out of law school and hold my own with and against some of the top lawyers around the country. Kent’s Trial Team equipped me for my career better than I could have ever imagined, and I’m eager to pay that forward, ensuring that the next generation of trial lawyers and advocates has access to the same transformative opportunities that I did.”

A magna cum laude graduate of Chicago-Kent and former captain of the law school’s Trial Advocacy team, winning the Best Advocate Award at the 2016 Tournament of Champions, Hensley has built a national reputation for work in complex litigation involving toxic exposures, institutional sexual abuse, and catastrophic personal injury. Hensley has represented hundreds of clients in landmark cases such as the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, the Willowbrook and Lake County ethylene oxide litigations, and the hazing of football players at Northwestern University. At just 34 years old, he has recovered over $670 million on behalf of his clients and secured more than 150 settlements in excess of $1 million.

“Bryce embodies the best of Chicago-Kent: excellence in advocacy, leadership in the profession, and a dedication to finding justice for his clients,” says Jason J. Czarnezki, dean of Chicago-Kent College of Law. “His extraordinary generosity will enhance our ability to provide hands-on experiential training that prepares our students not just to compete, but to lead in the courtroom and beyond.”

Hensley credits Judge David A. Erickson, director of the Trial Advocacy Program, as one of the most influential mentors through law school and into his career.

“Bryce was an excellent student whose talent and relentless passion for mentoring others on the trial team exemplified the mission of Chicago-Kent's advocacy program,” says Judge Erickson. “It’s not surprising to see his dedication pay off as a leader in the profession. His generosity will have a lasting impact on our program and on generations of Chicago-Kent trial lawyers.”

Chicago-Kent’s advocacy program encompasses competitions in trial advocacy, where the school consistently places at national and regional competitions; appellate advocacy and moot court teams, which is ranked #21 in the country by Kurth Moot Court Rankings (2024–25); and mediation and arbitration programs, including sports law competition. In the 2024–25 season, Chicago-Kent captured multiple championships, sending two teams to the National Trial Competition after sweeping the Midwest Regionals. Along the way, Chicago-Kent teams also won the National Medical-Legal Trial Competition and took first place at the Queens County Mock Trial Competition in New York—earning an individual “Best Advocate” honor and reinforcing Chicago-Kent’s reputation as a national powerhouse in trial advocacy.

“Advocacy is at the heart of what it means to be a lawyer,” adds Hensley. “It’s about standing up for others, using the law to create change, and giving a voice to those who might not otherwise be heard. Chicago-Kent made this all possible for me, and I’m proud to contribute to the effort to make it possible for others.” 

Photo: From left, Bryce Hensley (LAW ’17), Chicago-Kent College of Law Dean Jason J. Czarnezki, and Judge David A. Erickson, director of the Trial Advocacy Program

Illinois Institute of Technology

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Chicago-Kent College of Law

As the nation’s only law school tied to a tech university, Chicago-Kent graduates are adept in technological advancements that are constantly altering the practice of law. Students gain real-world experience through Chicago-Kent’s extensive externship program and its unique clinical model. The school's highly-ranked trial advocacy program and award-winning moot court teams produce some of the strongest competitors in the country. Chicago-Kent’s intensive legal research and writing program serves as a model for countless other institutions. With its many distinguished J.D. certificate programs, including top-ranked programs in intellectual property and labor and employment law, Chicago-Kent prepares its students not just to succeed, but to excel in their fields.

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