As the managing partner and director of nationwide litigation at Edelson PC, DePaul Law alum Rafey Balabanian ('05) has built a career rooted in cases with profound human impact. A first-generation law student, Balabanian’s journey to becoming a distinguished litigator was far from conventional—and all the more inspiring.
Encouraged by his father—an immigrant who came to this country with no money, barely spoke English and saw law as a “prestigious” profession—Balabanian enrolled in law school but initially struggled to find his footing. “I treated law school as an extension of college and focused on the wrong things,” he admits. However, everything changed during his third year when he worked as a student prosecutor in traffic court. The experience sparked a passion for civil litigation and the thrill of advocating in the courtroom.
By his final year, Balabanian was representing tenants against landlords he viewed as engaging in unscrupulous practices, a role that crystallized his mission: “being on the right side of things, representing people who didn't have the means to fight back.”
After a few years in practice, Balabanian found himself questioning his future in law, even considering a career in mortgage brokering. Then came a pivotal moment. A friend, Steven Woodrow, encouraged him to join fledgling firm, Edelson PC.
Operating out of a modest one-room office in Chicago’s Monadnock Building, the firm had big dreams and an ethos that resonated deeply with Balabanian. He credits founder Jay Edelson with shaping his approach to law. “Jay has always been committed to doing right by our clients. If that’s your first priority, financial success will follow.”
Determined to make his mark, Balabanian embraced the grueling demands of litigation. “I didn’t have the most prestigious background or the best grades, but nobody was going to outwork me,” he says. For a decade, he says he clocked 300+ hours a month traveling across states arguing major motions and taking depositions. “It was a crazy life,” he recalls, “but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Balabanian’s career highlights include cases that made a tangible difference in people’s lives. He says he recognizes, however, that ultimate success comes not from any one person’s individual achievements but from being part of an amazing team. Among these cases, he counts the PG&E wildfire lawsuit as the most impactful. In November 2018, PG&E's equipment was suspected of sparking the Camp Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California's history at the time. As part of the legal team, he explains that he helped secure a $13.5 billion settlement for victims, enabling countless families to rebuild their lives.
Balabanian also has led groundbreaking class action and consumer fraud cases. He explains that his team played a critical role in exposing the theft of millions from clients by disbarred attorney Tom Girardi and secured a record-breaking $650 million privacy settlement against Meta under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act. More recently, they have taken on gambling apps—virtual slot machines and casino games where users must pay to play “without the chance of winning real money”—and recovering “life-changing money” for victims whose finances were drained.
Reflecting DePaul Law’s pride that its graduates embrace a tradition of service to others to work tirelessly to enhance access to the legal system for the most vulnerable members of our society, Balabanian, a leading DePaul Law alum, knows that the true power of an attorney is the ability to do genuine good. “Being a lawyer is fulfilling work if you do it correctly,” he explains. “You have a real ability to make a positive impact on your family, your community, future generations and especially your clients. A lawsuit might not be the biggest thing in your life, but it's probably the biggest thing in theirs. Attorneys should take that seriously, and understanding this starts in law school.”