In this special report, The National Law Journal recognizes the Chicago metropolitan area’s top in-house departments and their general counsel in six categories: overall excellence; outside counsel management; technology; diversity and quality of life; pro bono and community service; and corporate compliance.

Chicago is home to a remarkable number of progressive corporations, but we were particularly impressed by the law department at US Foods Inc., our overall winner. General counsel Juliette Pryor built the operation practically from scratch—just 20 percent of the department came along when it moved from Maryland. For all that, Pryor has made tremendous strides in diversity, outside counsel management—across the board. “What we have created is a place where we work well together and have open and honest dialog, even if it’s not always happy dialog,” Pryor said.