Mediator Resume

Retired Chicago appellate court justice, chancery judge, local government and election attorney with experience in all areas of civil disputes. Skilled in real estate, banking, commercial, tort, breach of contract, and related disputes. Presided over thousands of banking, loan, and breach of contract cases, many involving large commercial properties. Proficient in complex multi-party litigation. Available to serve as a court-appointed neutral to handle discovery, FOIA, and related disputes.

Attorney, Arbitrator, Mediator, Court-Appointed Neutral, Administrative Law Judge

Arbitrator, 2023-Present; Justice, Illinois Appellate Court, 2012-2023; Associate Judge, Chancery Division, Circuit Court of Cook County, 2007-2012; Partner and Associate, Robbins Schwartz, 1998-2007; Partner and Associate, Odelson & Sterk, 1988-1988; Attorney, Sole Practitioner, 1985-1988; Chief of Staff to a Cook County Commissioner, 1982-1985, Chief of Staff to an Illinois State Representative, 1979-1982.

Extensive judicial experience in all civil matters, including: commercial; legal malpractice; banking; business, partnership, and contract disputes; insurance coverage disputes; personal injury/tort; zoning; governmental and election matters; and employment disputes. Frequent speaker on legal ethics issues. As an appellate court justice, wrote more than 800 dispositional opinions and Rule 23 orders, many on complex civil matters. Counsel on numerous appeals in the Illinois state and federal court systems. Taught courses for five years as Adjunct Professor of Law at The John Marshall Law School (now the University of Illinois Chicago Law School). Wrote a 300-page bench book on mortgage foreclosure law which is used by hundreds of Illinois judges. Editor-in-chief for over 20 years of the leading treatise on Illinois election law. Before joining the bench, was listed as a “Super Lawyer” in the field of Cities and Municipalities Law. Served as general counsel or special counsel for numerous Illinois municipalities, school districts, community college boards, and other governmental bodies. Named a Local Government Fellow by the International Municipal Lawyers Association.

Over 35 years of experience as an attorney or judge, handling virtually all types of civil disputes. Participated in numerous judicial mediations either as counsel for a party or as a judge. As a judge, presided over mediations in banking, real estate, divorce, and other civil matters. Completed 40-hour mediation training administered by the National Judicial College. Successfully mediated a complex dispute between a crypto tax attorney and a high-volume crypto buyer client. Received “Court of Honor” award from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services for handling of self-represented litigants in the courtroom. Served as chair of the Mediation Committee of the Illinois Appellate Court, First District.

As a judge, presided over mediations in banking, real estate, divorce, and other civil matters.

Pre-mediation briefs will usually be requested in advance of the mediation session. My general approach to mediation is let each party privately summarize the nature of the dispute, and then conduct joint and separate sessions as needed to assist the parties toward resolution. I respect party autonomy in mediation and only share my views of the respective parties' positions as a neutral when requested or when it appears that it will assist with resolution. Unless otherwise requested, I will usually provide my own evaluation of each party’s likely expected litigation outcomes, based on my extensive judicial experience, to help facilitate resolution.

Proficient in the various online platforms, such as Zoom and GoToMeeting. Willing to conduct arbitrations virtually. Willing to receive all submissions and evidence in electronic format; paper submissions are neither required or desired. Fluent in standard Microsoft suite of programs, including Excel. Experienced in navigating electronically stored information and documents. As an undergraduate mathematics major, took many programming courses and worked part-time as a tutor in the university computer lab.

University of Illinois Chicago Law School (JD, Dean’s Academic Scholarship recipient-1985); University of Illinois (MPA, PAA Honor Society-2017); DePaul University (BS, Mathematics, cum laude-1981).

Admitted to the Bar: Illinois (1985); U.S. District Court: Northern District of Illinois (1985); U.S. Court of Appeals: Seventh Circuit (1987); U.S. Supreme Court (1989).

Chicago Bar Association; Appellate Lawyers Association; Catholic Lawyers Guild of Chicago; appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to several special topic committees.

Authored over 30 scholarly articles, book chapters, and related publications in the fields of appellate practice, judicial decision-making, local government and election law, and other topics in the civil arena. By appointment of the Illinois Supreme Court Education Committee, taught judges at numerous conferences over the course of 17 years. Speaker at many other conferences and seminars in Chicago, downstate Illinois, and other national locations for over 30 years. A sample of these publications and presentations follows. PUBLICATIONS Behind the Scenes of Norman v. Reed with Justice Stevens: How a Local Chicago Political Battle Resulted in an Unlikely (And Rare) Supreme Court Case on the Rights of New Political Parties, Journal of Supreme Court History (November 2025) Editor-in-Chief, Illinois Election Law, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2024 and prior editions) Administrative Office of Illinois Courts Mortgage Foreclosure Benchbook (2023 and prior editions) Tips for Effective Appellate Advocacy, Chicago Bar Association Record (2023) Federal Court Halts New Judicial Campaign Donation Law, Illinois Judges Association Alert (2022) New Election Law Targets Judicial Campaign Fundraising, Illinois Judges Association Gavel newsletter (2022) Rules of the Appellate Court of Illinois, First Judicial District, Illinois Appellate Court (2021) Working Remotely as an Appellate Justice, Chicago Bar Association Record (2020) Luddites Beware: Appellate Court Practice in the Electronic Age, Chicago Bar Association Record (2019) SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS What Justice Stevens’ Private Papers Reveal About Norman v. Reed, Chicago Bar Association Election Law Committee (2024) Civil Update, Administrative Office of Illinois Courts Appellate Court Conference (April 2023 and prior years) Ethics for Law Clerks, Administrative Office of Illinois Courts Appellate Court Conference (April 2023) Campaign Ethics, Administrative Office of Illinois Courts Educational Conference (2022 and prior years) COVID and the Courts, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (2021) How to Not Get Reversed on Appeal, Domestic Relations Division Judges of the Circuit Court of Cook County (2019) Review of Section 9(g) of the Illinois Condominium Property Act, Condominium Law Subcommittee of the Chicago Bar Association Real Property Law Committee (2019)

Greater Chicago, IL metropolitan area.

Hourly Rate: $450.00 Daily Rate: Not provided Study Rate: $450.00/hr Cancellation: Not provided Cancellation Period: 2 Days Comment: Compensation rates, established by the AAA, are set forth in the applicable Consumer Mediation Procedures.

English

United States of America

Glenview, Illinois