The founding partner and lead trial attorney of his own Chicago-based personal injury law firm, Jay Paul Deratany has particularly excelled in cases that involve nursing home and foster care negligence. Some of his most significant victories include a $20-million settlement against a foster care agency that placed a child under the care of an abuser and an $8.7-million verdict against a foster care division that allowed a child to be sexually terrorized by an older child who was placed in his home. Jay Paul Deratany has also shared his legal expertise as the author of multiple articles that have appeared in publications ranging from the Illinois Trial Lawyers Journal to Foster Families Today.

In recent years, Mr. Deratany has expanded into the world of nonfiction writing, finding success as both a playwright and a screenwriter. His 2016 play Haram Iran won a GLAAD Award for Best Theatrical Play. He is also the author of the 2013 novel Lincoln's Dilemma.