Licensed for 25 years

State IL

Acquired 1998

Status
Active and Authorized to Practice Law No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

Juliet E. Boyd

Litigation Attorney at Chicago, IL

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Resume

Whole-hearted Endorsement

Bulldog

I hired Ms. Boyd when I was falsely accused of battery by some neighbors. They banded together and conspired to submit false police reports, then repeatedly demanded a full blown trial even though the state's attorney wanted to drop it. It was surreal, here I am a local reputable businessman sitting in a suit in court as criminal defendant. I was not too worried about conviction though, I had Ms. Boyd. Throughout a three hour trial, she did an excellent job pointing out all the lies and inconsistencies in their case. She was extremely articulate, well prepared, and I could tell she commanded respect from others in the courtroom including the judge. When I was acquitted, the Judge said that he did not believe one word the neighbors said thanks to Ms. Boyd. We hugged and celebrated in the parking lot, I could really tell it was not just about legal fees with her. I knew I would not be convicted but it was still very stressful on my wife and I. I would (and have) recommend Ms. Boyd along with her partner Scott Kummer for any legal situation you have- she is my hero!

About Juliet

Learn Juliet’s areas of practice.

Practice areas

Litigation

40%

General civil litigation including: real estate litigation, Real Property Disclosure Act cases, Mold litigation, fraud cases, specific performance, Equitable mortgage actions, Consumer Fraud actions, fraudulent transfer actions.
... Read more
24 years
Business

30%

breach of contract litigation; set up of companies, collections, bankruptcy adversary cases, contract review.

24 years
Criminal defense

30%

Possession of drugs, sex abuse/assault, reckless homicide and defense of most other criminal charges. DUI, DWI and reckless homicide.

24 years

Juliet was born in Vereeninging, South Africa. Juliet attended the University of the Witwatersrand, in Johannesburg, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in English and International Relations. Juliet completed a year of study towards an LLB in Roman/Dutch law at the Randse Afrikaanse Universiteit in Johannesburg where she studied in the Afrikaans language. She obtained a J.D. from the University of Dayton in 1998.

Juliet is an experienced civil litigator and her practice is in the Circuit Court of Cook and the collar counties and in Federal Court. Juliet was named in Illinois Super Lawyer, and Super Lawyer Corporate Counsel for 2009, 2010, and 2011 for business litigation. Juliet also appeared in the 2012 Super Lawyers Business Edition for litigation. Juliet was named as one of Illinois’ top lawyers in the February 2011 edition of Chicago Magazine. Juliet has litigated cases involving contract disputes; the Residential Real Property Disclosure Act; specific performance of contracts; construction defects; the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act; equitable mortgages and condominium disputes. Juliet has litigated complex litigation actions involving RICO and fraud suits involving millions of dollars.

Juliet is also experienced in criminal law and has litigated cases ranging from first degree murder, reckless homicide, aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated DUI to simple DUI cases. Juliet has litigated Operating Under The Influence (“O.U.I.”) cases involving boats and snowmobiles. She has represented clients in the trial and appellate courts, including the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.

Juliet is the past Chair of International and Immigration Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. She is currently the Continuing Legal Education (“CLE”) coordinator for the International and Immigration Law Section Council. Juliet is also the secretary of the Traffic Law Section Council of the ISBA. Juliet is a past member of the Civil Practice & Procedure Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association. Juliet is a frequent speaker at seminars for CLE. In addition, Juliet has authored several articles published by the Illinois State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Awards

Client's Choice

2014

Photos and videos

Contact Juliet

Boyd & Kummer, LLC

(312) 675-4776 Office

(312) 634-2129 Fax

20 S Clark St Ste 1620

Chicago, IL, 60603-1834

boydkummer.com/

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Reviews

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5.0 / 5.0

24 customer reviews

5 Star

100%

4 Star

3 Star

2 Star

1 Star

Client's Choice

Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.

Posted by scott | February 27, 2014

Whole-hearted Endorsement

Juliet is an excellent attorney. She is highly intelligent and works hard for her clients. She is an excellent criminal, business and commercial lawyer as well as an amazing litigator. I endorse her whole-heartedly.

Posted by jeff | February 28, 2014

Bulldog

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Posted by Dan | November 6, 2023

Simply the Best

I was referred to Juliet Boyd by my divorce attorney, after a false and severe allegation of abuse reported to the DCFS (Department of Children & Family). Right from our first conversation, she attentively listened to my story and knew exactly how to navigate me through the entire process. Her professionalism was evident within minutes, and she possesses an impressive ability to advocate on your behalf. Her diligent work ethic, unwavering integrity, profound expertise, and genuine empathy were truly exceptional and needed. I sincerely hope I won’t need to, but if the need arises, I wouldn’t hesitate to hire Juliet again.

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Posted by JP | May 23, 2023

Best Lawyer Ever

Juliet is an excellent attorney. We hired her when a family member was falsely accused of a crime and we won. Julie is compassionate, honest, knowledgeable, and supportive. She will fight for you even when things aren't looking in your favor. You can see that Juliet has a passion for this and that's what separates her from other attorneys.

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Posted by Bruce | April 24, 2023

Great navigator through unknown waters

We found ourselves in an unprecedented situation for us and needed legal counsel. A friend of ours recommended Juliet Boyd for our particular circumstance. Right away we recognized she was an amazing advocate and coach for us as we prepared for our case. Juliet's knowledge of the law and experience in these matters proved to be an effective combination as we prepared for our hearing. As the date approached, we felt confident and ready for any possibility. Juliet's performance during the hearing was intelligent, cogent and compelling. We won our case and were vindicated deftly under her leadership.

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Posted by Foxy brown | January 30, 2023

The best lawyer to retain (DCFS case)

You will not regret hiring Juliet at all. From the beginning she's prompt informative and hands on. I have a home daycare and was under investigation by DCFS dcp and police department they were trying to shut me down and arrest me. After retaining Juliet All cases were dismissed and none of the above happened. It's best to contact and retain her before you sign or make any decisions. Juliet personally worked with me handled all 3 departments, effortlessly. Thanks Juliet!

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Posted by Thomas | December 12, 2022

Exceptional and considerate advocate

Juliet is a fantastic attorney. I hired her to help me deal with a challenging matter involving DCFS and I found her to be an excellent choice. She has true compassion for her clients, but maintains the appropriate distance to allow for objectivity. She demonstrated a keen and clever mind with excellent strategies and great follow-through. Her communication is top notch, and her commitment to the case was greatly appreciated. Ultimately, her approach paid off and she won my case for me, with as good a result as could be hoped. I recommend her highly to anyone in need of a legal ally.

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Posted by Carolyn | April 22, 2022

Our Highest Recommendation, with No Reservation

My husband and I cannot express how impressed we were with Ms. Boyd since the moment we first contacted her to the moment we knew she won our case for us. For nearly a decade now, my husband’s ex-wife has harassed us in every way she could: personally, professionally, judicially, and monetarily. Most egregiously, however, she has habitually attempted to alienate the affections of his eldest children he shares with her from the both of us. Once these outlets had been exhausted, she viscously and intentionally manipulated the system and had us reported to the DCFS for medical neglect and substance misuse. Unfortunately, we were indicated for both. We were shocked! When we first spoke with Ms. Boyd, she calmed our fears. She went over the allegations and findings with us and assured us that we would be able to overturn these indications on appeal. She worked incredibly hard for us, was always available, and reassured us with such a lovely demeanor that we felt she was more like a friend than counsel. Once we finally went to trial, Ms. Boyd was on fire! She did not miss a beat! She got my husband’s ex-wife to perjure herself almost instantly. She ripped the case to bits to the point that the DCFS counsel did not even cross-examine any witness other than my husband, of whom she asked three questions that only strengthened Ms. Boyd’s case! When the trial was over, my husband and I finally felt we had won against his irrational ex-wife who had berated us all these years. Our judge seemed to agree. After the trial, our judge wrote a twenty-seven-page document detailing the case and how Ms. Boyd proved that his ex-wife intentionally created a narrative to have us falsely turned into the DCFS. We give Ms. Boyd our highest recommendation, with no reservation. Should you choose to contact her and seek her counsel, you will do the same!

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Posted by anonymous | July 15, 2021

DCFS Fiasco

Thorough and professional. Ms. Boyd was hired to help appeal a DCFS indication that defied common sense. She demonstrated great compassion while providing the tools and preparation necessary for a successful appeal. The regret is that we did not involve her at the time we were first contacted by DCFS. Our situation involved a common occurrence in any household that we assumed would be routinely unfounded. The belief was that since we did nothing wrong and had nothing to hide, the involvement of an attorney was not required. That belief was flawed as the DCFS investigators were determined to deliver a positive indication regardless of its merit. Having interacted with DCFS initially without Ms. Boyd's counsel, we found ourselves involved in a nightmare scenario that dragged on for months. Once hired, Ms. Boyd worked expeditiously to help us overturn their finding. She provided calm, thorough and knowledgeable guidance throughout the process and our case was determined to be unfounded. I would tell any parent who finds themselves on the receiving end of a DCFS investigation to hire legal representation immediately. In our case, Ms. Boyd proved to be the perfect person for the job.

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Posted by Justin | May 29, 2021

Game-changer, Professional, Compassionate, Untiring Work Ethic

Juliet’s dedication to our case was unmatched! She never wavered and we always knew our best interests were centered in every one of her actions. The case was tough with a very uncooperative/unreasonable defendant who initially offered settlements on the pennies of what we were out. The unrealistic initial settlements, coupled with the stress and financials of the repairs (not to mention COVID) brought in doubts throughout the process, however Juliet always was there to raise our expectations and increase our confidence. In the end, wow, she surpassed our expectations, and we were able to settle. As a mother, she understood the impact our case was having on us as a family and her compassion kept us calm - focused on the path that she had detailed to achieve the most efficient outcome. Juliet understood my frustrations at times, but never allowed us to get off path and engage in exercises I felt were warranted but would have come at much greater financial/time-consuming impact. All-in-all, we owe everything to Juliet (and Scott Kummer)! They form the perfect team, and we could not be more pleased with the outcome – allowing us the opportunity to move on and finally return to living our lives! Thank you, Juliet!!!

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Posted by anonymous | March 16, 2021

Professional, compassionate, supportive.

I found Juliet looking desperately for last-minute counseling, facing criminal prosecution and Child Services interrogation, I was scared because it was the first time I was facing such problems in my life, I was eager to find a lawyer to trust and time was running quickly. From the moment I contacted Juliet, she made sure I was calm and took my anxiety away while providing me with clear and specific instructions on the next steps throughout the whole process. Juliet was patient and always available to answer my questions, taking the time to ensure I was informed at all times. She guided me with her experience and was very honest about the possible outcome for both cases she represented me, never promising unreal endings. With her professionalism and experience, my case came to an end in a much better way than I expected. Being my first experience with a lawyer I can fully recommend Juliet without hesitation.

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Posted by Chris | July 9, 2020

Extremely Competent & Knowledgeable Lawyer

Juliet Boyd is extremely knowledgeable about legal matters. She does extensive research, on an ongoing basis, to stay on the leading edge of any changes to the law. She quickly diagnosed my legal issues and developed a very effective plan of action on my behalf. Juliet continuously advocated for me throughout the legal process with the court, even in the face of delays produced by both court system and State's Attorney. She enabled a successful outcome to my case and I would absolutely hire her again.

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Posted by Amanda | June 22, 2020

Medical Neglect Claim

Juliet Boyd came to us at a time when every system that should be protecting us failed. She was a light of hope during one of the darkest times of our lives. From the very start, the medical neglect claim was unjustified, it reached DCFS in an unconventional way. We were referred to a lawyer who sat on his hands and did nothing. He took our money and did not defend us, he was literally a mediator between DCFS and us. With very little effort on his side it could have been unfounded, and yet since he did absolutely nothing it was indicated. We fired him and hired Juliet Boyd. She came in strong, knowledgeable, told me this would have been unfounded if she was hired from the start. We finally felt represented and protected and that justice would finally be around the corner. Long story short, our case was voluntarily unfounded by DCFS, but if it hadn't I have full faith she would have been able to get it unfounded after the appeal. Please be weary of lawyers who claim to know this specific system, most do not. Even if a lawyer comes referred to you, check and check again cause in the wrong hands your situation can get much worse. However, Juliet Boyd is one of the great ones. Please to all families that are suffering at the hands of DCFS, feel safe and secure that Juliet can and will help your family as this is her true specialty.

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Posted by Ahna | December 4, 2019

The BEST criminal defense lawyer in Chicago

I retained Juliet to fight a DCFS case that was founded and seemed impossible to overturn. This situation was the hardest thing my family has ever had to face, she was right there supporting and fighting with us through it all. Juliet not only got one case overturned but TWO! Juliet is very articulate, knowledgeable about the law and comes highly recommended. Thank you Juliet.

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Posted by anonymous | August 9, 2019

Great lawyer - professional, trustable, and considerate

When our incident happened with a false report, I called several lawyers trying to make appointment. Juliet was the only one that asked me through the phone what my situation was, what would happen to me immediately after that, and what I should do at that moment. She gave me immediate consulting and help which made me decide to hire her as my lawyer. During the whole process, she listened to us carefully, asked detailed questions, explained the related laws and policies to us, told us what would happen as next steps, and what we should do. She was very knowledgeable and professional, and she was very nice and considerate as well. She was with us during the investigation process, help us with follow up emails and phone calls, gave us immediate updates. And eventually, with her great help, the case ended as no fault for us. Everything and every step happened as how she explained to us and we had no surprise during the process, which gave us big peace of mind. She encouraged us a lot as well which help us step out the frustration and face the case bravely. I feel so lucky that I found Juliet and I sincerely appreciate all her professional help and kind encouragement. She is someone you can trust!

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Posted by David M | April 4, 2019

Possession of firearm by felon

Wow I don’t know where to start. I fired my previous attorney and found JULIET BOYD, It was the best decision I ever made! facing 3-7 years mandatory minimum. Once Ms.Boyd was hired she went right to work always informing me of the strategy and never once did she promise anything she couldn’t guarantee. Countless hours spent on my case, very interactive, her professionalism is beyond amazing. Once she found holes in my arrest/search she attacked it with a motion to suppress evidence (squash arrest ) which she was surprisingly was very aggressive in cross examination , stood firm on her strategy and was able to catch the officers in multiple lies. She was far more prepared than the states Attorney! After a few hours my motion was granted! And my case dismissed...very affordable price she worked with me thru a payment plan that fitted my budget, she’s very understanding,caring the list goes on. She restored my life my and my freedom. Hiring Ms.Boyd will be the best choice u will make she a real fighter in the court room and will not disappoint you ....I have seen her in action and I was confident during the entire process ....thank you Ms.Boyd

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Posted by Jason | July 23, 2018

Ultra Professional & Knowledgeable

I needed to retain an attorney to defend a DUI charge. Atty Boyd successfully challenged my driver's license suspension (it was reinstated) and argued the facts of my case with excellence. She stood by me while the prosecutor delayed my case for over two years. In the end, she helped me to resolve this matter without a DUI conviction. She can only work with the facts given. In my case, she had the facts and knowledge of procedure to make sure I had every opportunity to defend myself. She even impeached a witness for the prosecutor. If you need representation, I cannot say enough good about her. She is more than I hoped to have as an attorney. I can say that with confidence.

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Posted by Kelsey | April 24, 2018

The Absolute Best

Juliet Boyd is amazing. I hired her for a DUI case with very unusual circumstances, which she utilized extremely well in defending my case. She was very understanding when it came to my financial abilities, and my case had a better end result than I ever believed possible. Beyond being a great lawyer, I know after working with her that she cares about my well-being and was most concerned with giving me the best chance at a fresh start in life that she could.

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Posted by Joseph | November 10, 2016

Got caught up hire Juliet Boyd

If your looking for an attorney that is well on there game and knows the inns and outs of our justice system, then you have just found your attorney . Juliet has been my attorney for at least 6 years and if I ever have an issue she's on it. Shes honest and always does one hell of a job. I won't use any other attorney for a criminal manner. You can't go wrong here, your be very impressed with the job she can do for you.

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Posted by Matt | November 6, 2014

Simply the Best!

In February 2014 I found myself in the midst of a contentious divorce, while at the same time fighting for the custody of my two minor children. As a father, I knew that the odds would be stacked against me, and to make matters even worse, my ex-wife had falsely accused me of doing some incorrigible acts in an attempt to gain an immediate advantage in the custody battle. I knew that in addition to having access to the best family law attorney possible, I knew that I would also need a litigator who could walk on water. I reached out to an old attorney friend of mine, and he referred me to Juliet Boyd of Boyd & Kummar. Everything that you see on this website with regards to her ratings is absolutely true. Juliet is not only the best criminal defense attorney in the state, but she is also brilliant in her knowledge with regards to all different aspects of law in general. For instance, I found particularly intriguing that despite being the best criminal defense attorney around, Juliet had experience in handling divorce cases and in dealing with DCFS investigations. Juliet’s role as a counselor to her clients has more meaning to her than just serving as their legal counselor. Juliet takes her responsibility serving as a counselor to her clients very seriously, which is very evident in how she prepares her clients for their court appearances, depositions, etc. Juliet was able to get me through my case, despite being a client who was not only undergoing the extreme stress of divorce, but a father who also feared the possibility of losing his two minor children. With the assistance of Juliet’s remarkable abilities and intelligence as my attorney, I was able to settle my case; a case which in the end provided me with sole custody of my two minor children. According to an article published by the US Census Bureau, only 18.3% of fathers serve as custodial parents of their children across the nation. Juliet took those long odds and flipped them on their backside, fighting for me at a time when I thought nobody else could. This is why I would recommend Juliet to anyone who needs someone in their corner during a time of need; she will fight for you until the end...and win!

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Resume

AVVO RATING 9.5 (Superb)

Work Experience

attorney partner
Boyd & Kummer LLC
2008 - Present

Partner
Stasko & Boyd LLC
2006 - 2008

Partner
Richardson Stasko Boyd & Mack
2003 - 2006

Associate
Komie & Associates
1998 - 2003

View all work experience

Education

University of Dayton School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1998

University of the Witwatersrand
BA
1992

Associations

Illinois State Bar Association
1998 - Present

Languages Spoken

Afrikaans

English

Honors and Awards

Super lawyer business litigation
Super lawyer Business Edition
2012

Super Lawyer
Illinois Super Lawyers
2011

Super lawyer
Super lawyer Corporate Counsel
2011

Super Lawyer
Illinois Super Lawyers
2010

Super lawyer
Super Lawyer Corporate Counsel
2010

Super lawyer
Illinois Super Lawyers
2009

Super lawyer
Super Lawyer Corporate Counsel
2009

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Speaking Engagements

Traffic Law Update - webinar
Traffic Case Law Update and Legislative Update
2014

Small & Solo Firm Conference
Landmines in Opening Your own Practice
2013

International & Immigration law Section Update
Hot Topic - Changes to the Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 - Is Your Business in Compliance
2013

International & Immigration Law
Immigration Law and Legislation Update
2013

Young Lawyers Division
Client Retainer Agreements, Bank Accounts
2012

Young Lawyer Division
Starting Your Own Law Firm: A Nuts and Bolt Primer
2012

Traffic Law Update
Ethical Concerns in Preparing Your Client For Alcohol Evaluations & Assessments
2012

Representing Foreign Born Clients
Immigration Issues For Criminal Defense Attorneys
2012

International & Immigration Law Presentation
What If Your Client is Foreign Born
2012

Young Lawyers Division
Hanging Out a Shingle: A Primer on Building A Practice
2011

Traffic Law Update
DUI, Traffic and Secretary of State Related Issues
2009

Winter CLE Fest
Case Law Update Panel Discussion
2008

Traffic Law Update
DUI and Traffic Issues
2008

Traffic Law Update
General Traffic Law
2008

Traffic Law Update
Hot Topicss
2008

Traffic Law Update
Collateral Consequences of Guilty Pleas
2007

Traffic Law Update
Immigration Consequences of Guilty Pleas, Traffic Law Update
2006

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Attorney endorsements

Received (7)

Given (2)

Endorse Juliet

Blake Horwitz

Criminal defense Attorney | Mar 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Juliet is very intelligent and aggressive. She will fight for a client to the end. A great quality."

Larry Davis

DUI and DWI Attorney | Aug 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Elizabeth Butler

Business Attorney | Jun 09
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Ms. Boyd is committed to getting the best outcome for her clients. She is very knowledgeable in the areas of the law in which she practices. ."

Michael Waddington

Criminal defense Attorney | May 21
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse Juliet. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Keith Scherer

DUI and DWI Attorney | Apr 28
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Juliet has been a colleague for nearly 10 years. I entrust her with referrals every chance I get, including my family members and closest friends. Her combination of charisma, candor, toughness, and intellect is unmatched among Chicago attorneys, so I'd easily grade her as an A+. I learn something from her every time we talk. I'm proud to call her an ally."

Scott Kummer

Litigation Attorney | Feb 28
Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have worked with Juliet Boyd, for Juliet Boyd and been a partner of Juliet Boyd for many years. She is a top notch litigator in criminal, civil, commercial and real estate matters. I highly recommend her."

Sarah Toney

Criminal defense Attorney | Feb 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Juliet is a wonderful lawyer that I wouldn't hesitate to send a client to. We have worked together on cases in the past as well as presented together at seminars where she often is asked to speak. She is not only knowledgeable, but she cares for her clients and fights hard for their rights. She's very well respected and well liked, and I highly recommend her."

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Scott Kummer

Litigation

Keith Scherer

Criminal defense

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Juliet E. Boyd

About Juliet

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