Kyle Davis Oakes

With a strong academic background and an unwavering commitment to providing exceptional client service, Kyle is dedicated to achieving favorable outcomes for clients both in and out of the courtroom.

As an associate in Barack Ferrazzano’s Litigation Group, Kyle represents clients in the luxury brand and motor vehicle industries and concentrates his practice on a wide range of complex litigation matters, including motor vehicle franchise disputes, employment litigation, cases involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, business torts, and antitrust and competition matters.

Before joining Barack Ferrazzano, Kyle was a law clerk for the Honorable Judge Gerald B. Tjoflat of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. During law school, Kyle gained valuable litigation experience at the Washington University School of Law Appellate Clinic, where he was part of a team that was responsible for handling all aspects of their client’s appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Prior to attending law school, Kyle spent more than a decade as a teacher, developing strong communication and critical-thinking skills that translate seamlessly to his legal work.

Kyle is involved in firm life at Barack Ferrazzano. He is a member of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.

Admissions

• State of Illinois
• State of Pennsylvania
• U.S. Court of Appeals - 11th Circuit
• U.S. District Court - Northern District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Michigan
• U.S. District Court - Middle District of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Clerkships

• Hon. Judge Gerald B. Tjoflat, U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit (2022)

Education

• Washington University School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2022
• University of Nebraska-Kearney, M.A., History, 2014
• Ball State University, M.A., Curriculum and Educational Technology, 2012
• Purdue University, B.A., Social Studies Education, 2008

• One to Watch, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch (2025)
  • Commercial Litigation Law

• Member, National LGBTQ+ Bar Association
• Member, Chicago's LGBTQ+ Bar Association (LAGBAC)
• Public Interest Law Initiative Fellow, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts
• Articles Editor, Washington University Law Review