Alum Awarded for Immigrant Rights Work

Berto Aguayo ’16 was awarded the Exemplar of the Bar Award from the Chicago Council of Lawyers on June 23 for his work in defending immigrant rights.

Aguayo was one of five attorneys honored for this vital work during The More Perfect Union Fund Luncheon at the University Club of Chicago.

An intellectual property attorney at K&L Gates in Chicago, Aguayo was among the principal organizers of the Rapid Response Network at the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois. 

According to the Chicago Council of Lawyers, the network partnered with community organizations and nearly 100 attorneys to provide legal support to immigrant communities impacted by ICE enforcement activities during Operation Midway Blitz. Aguayo and other attorneys established “support and accountability mechanisms for immigrant families,” the council noted.

Aguayo graduated from Dominican University with high honors and bachelor's degrees in political science and economics. He earned his Juris Doctor from Pritzker School of Law in 2024.

Aguayo is the co-founder and executive director of Increase the Peace, an organization dedicated to violence prevention, mentorship and connecting youth to job opportunities and civic leadership training.