University of Illinois College of Law

About

Taisa Markus is an Adjunct Professor and teaches “Doing Business in Latin America.” Taisa was in private practice for 35 years focused principally on Latin America, an interest developed and nurtured at the College of Law. She now teaches, serves on boards, and volunteers to support Ukraine. Taisa is also a Visiting Professor at Kyiv Mohyla Faculty of Law. At KMA, Taisa guest lectures on business law and supports the legal English writing program including through an innovative peer to peer writing workshop with a number of US law schools including the College of Law.

Taisa served as partner in the Latin America Practice Group in the New York office of White & Case LLP until 2021 when she left to teach and volunteer. Previously, she served as partner at Paul Hastings LLP and at Milbank LLP. Her practice over the years focused on cross border capital markets and corporate finance transactions in emerging markets with a particular focus on Latin America. Taisa’s private practice experience includes SEC registered and Rule 144A equity and debt issuances and sovereign debt issuances and restructurings.

Taisa has been recognized in Chambers Latin America, Chambers USA Banking, Chambers USA, Capital Markets Debt & Equity, Legal 500 and Latinvex as a leading lawyer. She has written on various topics related to finance in emerging markets and has spoken at PLI and Euromoney seminars.

Taisa received a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1986 and a B.S. in Mathematics, cum laude, from Loyola University of Chicago in 1983. She serves on the board of the Vance Center for International Justice where she is Special Counsel for the Ukraine Project, the Advisory Board of the University of Illinois College of Law and the Ukrainian Institute of America. Taisa has been active in women’s bar associations and groups in the United States and in Latin America. She is very proud to have participated along with other US women lawyers in the launch of Abogadas MX, the first and largest association of women lawyers in Mexico. Taisa speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and Ukrainian.

Education

JD University of Illinois College of Law
BS Loyola University of Chicago