Christopher J. Zaruba

Christopher J. Zaruba is a founding partner at Smit Zaruba, P.C. Before co-founding the firm, he spent twelve years at a well-known suburban law firm representing clients in family law matters involving parentage, child support, guardianship, dissolution of marriage, DCFS appeals, and post-decree disputes. Over the course of his career, he has handled thousands of contested and uncontested matters throughout the Chicagoland area, advocating strongly for his clients through both negotiated settlements and litigation.

Before entering private practice, Zaruba served as an Assistant State’s Attorney in DuPage County from 2009 to 2014. He began in the traffic and misdemeanor division, where he prosecuted cases involving DUI, orders of protection, and domestic battery. In 2012, he received the Outstanding Misdemeanor Prosecutor of the Year award. He later advanced to the felony juvenile division, working closely with DCFS on matters involving abused and neglected children, and then to the felony trial division, where he prosecuted serious criminal offenses such as drug crimes, burglary, and aggravated battery. During his time there, he tried more than 300 cases, including many jury trials, and completed the National District Attorneys Association annual seminar on Trial Advocacy.

In January 2014, Zaruba was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the United States Supreme Court, Illinois State, and DuPage County bar associations.

He earned his Juris Doctor from The John Marshall Law School in 2009, where he made the Dean’s List and received top honors in Evidence and Federal Criminal Procedure. He also clerked for the Honorable John W. Darrah of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Zaruba remains active in the DuPage County Bar Association, having served as Chair of the Young Lawyers Committee and as an elected member of its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Robert E. Jones chapter of the American Inns of Court. Outside the office, he enjoys community involvement, time on the lake in Wisconsin, and local golf leagues.