MLA ATTORNIES
FOUNDER AND PRINCIPAL
SAMIHA H. YOUSUF
Samiha H. Yousuf is the founder and Principal at Madison Law Associates, LLC. She has over a decade experience trying jury cases and has garnered a remarkable reputation in court for her outstanding oratory skills and exceptional knowledge of the law. Samiha has also argued at the appellate level in front of the Illinois Appellate Courts, in the 1st and the 2nd District. She is an active member of the Illinois State Bar Association.
Beyond her trial skills, Samiha has notably settled and resolved numerous cases with favorable terms to her clients. She has been retained by the same clients over the years because of her commitment to open and truthful dialogue with her clients. Samiha has an impressive ability to relate to her clients from all walks of life, largely because of her listening skills and ability to understand what are the individual needs of each client.
While Samiha is passionate about being in the courtroom, she has found humbling satisfaction in the opportunity to pass along her experience to the next generation of lawyers through her position as Adjunct Professor at University of Illinois Chicago, College of Law. In addition to practicing law, Samiha has engaged in many philanthropic and volunteer projects for issues important to her including women’s rights, domestic abuse, education, and ending child hunger both locally and internationally. While in law school, Samiha volunteered at a reputable civil rights organization to help assist in ensuring equal justice and rights for all people.
Samiha is an avid reader, traveler and enjoys her time with her husband and three amazing daughters.
MANAGING ATTORNEY
RYAN D. BLUES
Ryan graduated from the University of Kansas where he obtained a major in human biology and minored in applied behavioral sciences.
In 2017, Ryan graduated from The John Marshall Law School where he finished in the top 30% of his class. While attending law school, Ryan worked at the international human rights clinic where he played a lead role in helping several Syrian refuges obtain asylum in the United States of America.
Ryan is a through and through MLA team member. He joined MLA as a law clerk in the summer of 2014, while a law student. He remained working as a clerk throughout his law school career. In 2017, upon graduation from law school and passing the Illinois Bar, Ryan was welcomed as a full time associate attorney. Ryan has experienced the full gamut of working at MLA, from his days of preparing exhibits late at night for trial attorneys as a clerk (and running them coffee first thing in morning in court) to successfully taking over forty cases to verdict as a trial attorney himself. Today, rising to his current position as managing attorney, Ryan is a remarkable example of loyalty and determination. Ryan applies the same principles to his relationships with his clients, determined to understand each one of their unique situations and relentlessly works for each one of them.
LEGAL ASSISTANT
SARA LIEFFRIG
Sara Lieffrig is a legal assistant at Madison Law Associates. Sara studied criminal justice and psychology at Carthage College and graduated magna cum laude in May of 2022. Sara was also a collegiate athlete at Carthage College, and she was the starting goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team all four years. Sara is an integral part of MLA’s operation, responsible for many roles in assisting both attorneys and our clients. Outside of work Sara enjoys listening to music, playing the guitar, and hanging out with her cat, Rover.
LEGAL ASSISTANT
ANDREA RAMIREZ
Andrea Ramirez is a legal assistant at Madison Law Associates. Andrea graduated Cum Laude from Dominican University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and minored in Psychology. After pursuing her studies in Criminology, she had an interest in law which drove her to Madison Law. Andrea is the first MLA team member clients interact with when they call the firm. Andrea is heavily involved in each one of the firm’s cases and our clients often feel at ease after first speaking with her. During her free time, Andrea enjoys playing video games, spending time with loved ones, and playing basketball.