CBA Officers & Board of Managers 2026-2027

Officers:

President Trisha M. Rich

Trisha M. Rich is a partner at Holland & Knight LLP, where she serves as Chair of the firm's national Legal Profession Team and as Professional Responsibility Partner in the Chicago office. A litigator, trial attorney, and one of the country's foremost lawyers in legal ethics and the regulation of the legal profession, Ms. Rich brings more than two decades of broad experience assisting clients in navigating complex commercial disputes. She has served as lead or co-lead in more than a dozen trials and arbitrations and has extensive experience representing clients in administrative proceedings. Ms. Rich's litigation experience includes high-stakes matters involving business torts, commercial disputes, contracts, employment matters, negligence and myriad other civil matters. Additionally, Ms. Rich leads Holland & Knight's national Legal Profession Team and regularly counsels lawyers, law firms, in-house legal departments, legal technology companies, investors and other stakeholders regarding the regulation of the practice of law.

Ms. Rich has served in many roles in the Chicago Bar Association and became president of the organization in June 2026. She is also a past president of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, the nation's largest bar association for legal ethicists and professional responsibility lawyers, and she proudly served three terms as a Commissioner on the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.

In her legal ethics and legal regulation practice, Ms. Rich is a nationally recognized leader. Her experience in this space includes extensive work in emerging areas of "New Law," including litigation financing, alternative business structures (ABSs) and the regulation of the business of law. Ms. Rich is often called upon to serve as outside general counsel to law firms, advising on risk management, legal ethics and legal regulatory matters, including complex conflicts and privilege matters, internal investigations, partnership formations and breakups, and law firm data breaches and security. She regularly handles lawyer and law firm litigation, including partnership disputes, disciplinary proceedings, legal fee disagreements, and sanctions and disqualification motions. Ms. Rich also serves as an expert witness in the legal ethics and regulatory space.

Ms. Rich has often been recognized for her work. The Financial Times recently named Ms. Rich to its inaugural FT Law 50 list, recognizing her as one of the 50 lawyers worldwide whose work most significantly shaped the global legal industry in 2026. She has also been named repeatedly to Crain's Chicago Business Notable Litigators and Trial Attorneys, Thomson Reuters Stand-Out Lawyers and Illinois Super Lawyers, and was designated as a National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) Master Advocate in 2023. In 2021, Law Bulletin Media named Ms. Rich among the Top 50 Women in Law, and in 2018, she was recognized in Crain's Chicago Business as a 40 Under 40.

First Vice President Kathryn C. Liss

Katie Liss is the Assistant Dean and Director of The Office of Professional & Career Development and the Executive Director of the Schiller DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center at DePaul University College of Law. Prior to her current position, Ms. Liss practiced solely in domestic relations for over ten years handling cases involving divorce, paternity matters, adoptions, orders of protection, and mediations. She also served as a court appointed Child Representative and Guardian ad Litem in Cook County.  
 
Ms. Liss remains involved in professional organizations that support causes she cases about. Within the Chicago Bar Association, she actively serves on its Board of Managers, Membership and Finance Committees, and Record Editorial Board. She founded the CBA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Committee as well as the Task Force Against Sexual Harassment and Assault and remains committed to both. She previously served as Chair of the CBA's Young Lawyers Section and Co-Chair of its Alliance for Women. Additionally, Ms. Liss serves as a member of the Association of American Law Schools, Chicago Bar Foundation's Board of Directors, City of Chicago's Police Board, Illinois Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness, and Illinois Coalition to Address Intimate Partner Violence-Induced Brain Injury. She served as a past member of the Chicago Bar Foundation's Young Professional Board, Center for Conflict Resolution's Board of Directors, DePaul University's Title IX Hearing Board, Force of Lawyers Against Sexual Harassment (founding member), and Miami University's Pre-Law Alumni Advisory Board. 
  
Ms. Liss received her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and her undergraduate degree from Miami University (Ohio). She also is the proud recipient of the Chicago Bar Association's Alliance for Women’s Alta May Hulett Award and Milton H. Gray Award for Outstanding Project Leadership.  

Second Vice President Jonathan B. Amarilio

Jonathan Amarilio is a partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. As Co-Chair of the firm’s Appellate and Critical Motions practice group, Mr. Amarilio has garnered a wealth of connections and experience in the business and legal communities. Jonathan represents individuals, businesses, and state and local governments before state and federal appellate courts. He is especially experienced representing clients in the Illinois Appellate Court, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. He also serves as an arbitrator for the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, and has served as a Special Assistant Corporate Counsel for the City of Chicago, and as a Special Assistant Attorney General of Illinois.
 
In his practice, Mr. Amarilio regularly works on high-profile appellate cases for both sides of the bar. His work on these cases has set precedents and driven change in a wide range of areas of the law, such as administrative law, antitrust law, complex asbestos and insurance liability, constitutional law, construction law, contract disputes, data privacy, defamation claims, election law, energy market regulation, gaming law, governmental immunity, investment and tax shelter litigation, medical malpractice and hospital liability, multi-district class action employment claims, personal injury, and railroad liability.
 
Mr. Amarilio was the recipient of the Chicago Bar Association President’s Award for Service to the Bar in 2018 and 2026, the Chicago Bar Foundation Distinguished Service Award in 2019 and, when Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Section, won first place in the nation awards from the American Bar Association for Service to the Bar, Service to the Public, Diversity, and Comprehensive programming. Eager to share his experience with fellow practitioners, he founded the CBA’s national award-winning podcast “@theBar,” and publishes on appellate topics.
 
Mr. Amarilio graduated from American University, and received his J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, where he was captain of the school’s National Trial Advocacy Team and received the award for Distinction in Trial Advocacy Skills from the International Academy for Trial Lawyers.

 

Secretary Andrew Vail

Andrew Vail has spent his entire career as a litigator in Jenner & Block's Chicago office and serves as the Co-Chair of Jenner & Block's Specialized Litigation and Arbitration Practice, among other practice groups. He counsels individuals, businesses, and institutions through high-stakes disputes where regulatory, contractual, reputational, and business concerns intersect, helping clients navigate complex matters that extend far beyond the courtroom. 

Mr. Vail is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is ranked (Band 2) by Chambers USA in its Litigation: General Commercial category. Crain's Chicago Business has profiled him as a Notable Litigator & Trial Attorney and as a Notable Gen X Leader. The National Law Journal has named him a Litigation Trailblazer. And during 2021 and 2022, he served as special prosecutor, appointed by the Honorable Erica Reddick, Presiding Judge, Cook County, Criminal Division. 

After serving as the Chair of Jenner & Block's pro bono program for a number of years, in 2020, he transitioned from that role to begin serving as General Counsel for United Way Metropolitan Chicago. In that role, he helps guide strategic advice and legal counsel to help the United Way and its partners throughout Chicagoland fulfill the organization's mission of improving communities and the common good. In June 2025, on behalf of Jenner & Block, he accepted the United Way Corporate Leadership Award for the firm’s longstanding commitment to United Way and nonprofit organizations across the Chicago region. 

Mr. Vail received the Chicago Bar Foundation and Chicago Bar Association's Maurice Weigle Exceptional Young Lawyer Award and later the Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Award. In 2021-2022, he served as Chair of the Chicago Bar Association's Strategic Planning Committee, which authored a new strategic plan for the CBA. He previously served on the CBA's Board of Managers, for several years chaired its Civil Practice committees, along with serving on the JEC and as the Co-Chair of Pro Bono Week in 2016. 

He currently serves on the boards of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, The Legal Aid Society, The Mikva Challenge, and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law's Center on Wrongful Convictions. He is a member of the Leadership Greater Chicago Signature Fellows Program, Class of 2020.

 

Treasurer Adam Miel Zebelian

Adam Zebelian joined Schiller DuCanto & Fleck after seven years as an Assistant State’s Attorney litigating countless criminal and civil matters. As a prosecutor, Mr. Zebelian made charging decisions, conducted in-depth investigations, handled pre-trial hearings and motions and conducted over a hundred trials, including both bench and jury trials. His extensive trial experience, including financial crimes cases, gives him the ability to try complex matters, as well as the ability and creativity to achieve out-of-court resolutions.

Mr. Zebelian began as a prosecutor in the Criminal Appeals Division, where he litigated cases before the Illinois Appellate Court. Adam also served in the Domestic Violence Division, where he prosecuted intrafamily violent crime. He then advanced to the Special Prosecutions Bureau of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he handled matters involving complicated thefts, public corruption, gun crimes and gang involved murders. He also served in the Civil Actions Bureau of the State’s Attorney’s Office, defending the county in both state and federal court.

Mr. Zebelian’s wide-ranging prosecutorial experience enables him to uniquely serve his clients’ emotional and financial needs. Working closely with victims of domestic violence gives him a unique perspective on intrafamily relations and abuse and the complex issues involved. Prosecuting financial and violent felony matters taught him the importance of preparedness and attention to detail throughout every stage of litigation. His sensitivity, good nature, and open mind allow his clients to have a sense of ease during one of the most difficult times of their lives.

After joining Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, Mr. Zebelian continues his dedication to community service. For the last several years, he has volunteered for the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network (“Network”), organizing and executing its annual fundraiser as host committee chair. In 2015, the Network recognized Mr. Zebelian by presenting him with the 2015 Outstanding Partnership award. He has lectured at Chicago – Kent College of Law regarding the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ domestic violence survivors. He also serves on the board of directors of LAGBAC – Chicago's LGBTQ+ Bar Association; the Jr. Board of the Chicago Lighthouse; the Board of Trustees for Chicago House and Social Service Agency; Host Committee Chair for the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network's annual benefit; Unity Award Dinner planning committee for the Diversity Scholarship Foundation; and currently serves as co-chair of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois Family Law Committee. He recently completed serving a two-year, elected term on the Chicago Bar Association's Board of Managers and is past co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association Young Lawyers’ Section Family Law Committee. He is the former board secretary and is currently board vice president of LAGBAC. He is a founding member and board member of Stonewall Sports Chicago, volunteers for the Chicago Alliance for Animals, and serves on the board of directors of Erin's Farm, which is an animal rescue and sanctuary. 

Immediate Past President President Judge Nicole C. Patton

Nichole Patton is a Circuit Court Judge of Cook County, where she is currently assigned to the Law Division – Trial Section. Judge Patton presides over complex civil actions involving personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, products liability, breach of contract, and construction-related injuries. Through innovative case management strategies and a commitment to alternative dispute resolution, she has implemented process improvements that increase efficiency, reduce case backlog, and ensure timely resolution of high-stakes litigation.

Previously, Judge Patton was assigned to the County Division, where she presided over matters involving Mental Health Law, Real Estate Taxation, Civil Asset Forfeitures, Election Law, Name Changes, Adoptions, and Emancipation of Minors. In this capacity, she developed policies and procedures in collaboration with court leadership to ensure alignment with state regulations and best practices while managing cross-functional teams of clerks, administrative staff, and interns.

Prior to her ascension to the bench in June 2018, Judge Patton served as an Assistant State's Attorney with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, Special Prosecutions Bureau – Mental Health Unit, where she prosecuted cases seeking involuntary commitments and treatment for individuals at Cook County Mental Health facilities. Earlier in her distinguished legal career, Judge Patton was the owner of The Law Offices of Nichole C. Patton and served as an associate at Iwan Cray Huber Horstman and VanAusdal, where she concentrated in the areas of medical malpractice and transportation defense. She also served as a staff attorney with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, specializing in personal injury defense and strict liability matters, and as an Assistant State's Attorney in the Cook County State's Attorney's Office from 1996 to 2001.

Judge Patton served as President of The Chicago Bar Association from June 2025 to June 2026. Under her leadership, the Association launched groundbreaking initiatives including the establishment of the Coalition of Chicagoland Bar Associations, which fosters collaboration among over 40 regional bar groups to amplify collective impact. She has also spearheaded the AI 2035: The Legal Profession and the Judiciary in the Age of Artificial Intelligence initiative, promoting innovation, ethical standards, and legal education in emerging technologies. Her past service with the CBA includes co-chairing the CBA's 150th Anniversary Celebration; serving as a past member of the Board of Managers; moderating Civility in the Profession . . . How to Play Nice at the CBA's Annual Basic Skills Program; delivering keynote addresses for the 2024 Law Day Voices of Democracy and the 2022 Law Day Toward A More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change; serving as the featured guest for the Young Lawyers Section Lunch with Judge Nichole C. Patton; and co-authoring The Need for Pro Bono Attorneys in the Courtroom: A Judicial Perspective for the Chicago Bar Association Record.

Judge Patton's commitment to access to justice is reflected in her service as a board member of The Chicago Bar Foundation, where she has been committed to developing solutions to access to justice issues since 2020. She served as a member of the CBF's Pro Se Advisory Committee and as Co-Chair for the 15th Annual Pro Bono Week, entitled Connecting with Communities. Her board memberships have also included the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra and Respond Now, an organization that provided food, shelter, and counseling for residents of the south suburbs of Chicago. She is the Past President of The Lawyers Club of Chicago.

An advocate for legal education and professional development, Judge Patton serves on the adjunct faculty at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and formerly taught at Prairie State College. She regularly engages in public speaking, continuing legal education, and professional forums to represent the judiciary, share insights, and build thought leadership in law and governance.

Judge Patton has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Outstanding Service Award from the Illinois Judicial Council, the Presidential Award of Excellence from The Chicago Bar Association, the Trailblazer Award from the Black Law Students Association of UIC School of Law, the Distinguished Service Award from the Illinois Judicial Council, and The Chicago Bar Association's Vanguard Award.

She maintains active membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (Chi Omega Omega Chapter); Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated (South Suburban Chicago Chapter); and The Links, Incorporated (West Towns (IL) Chapter), through which she continues to support service, leadership, and community engagement.

Judge Patton earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law and her Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Chicago State University. She graduated cum laude from Alabama State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. She is admitted to practice in Illinois and Georgia.
Board of Managers:

Judge Jorge L. Alonso

Judge Alsonso serves in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois.

 

 

 

 

James V. Campbell

James V. Campbell serves as a proud advocate for cancer victims in asbestos cases. A graduate of Washington University School of Law, Mr. Campbell is licensed to practice law in Illinois, Missouri, and Louisiana, and has represented clients in many other states on a temporary basis. Since graduating from law school in 2012, Mr. Campbell has successfully challenged some of the largest corporations on behalf of his clients. He has been recognized by Forbes as one of the “Best Mesothelioma Lawyers” in Chicago for his work on behalf of clients affected by mesothelioma. 

Outside of the courtroom, Mr. Campbell is active in the legal community. He currently serves on the Chicago Bar Association’s Judicial Evaluation Committee and as Chair of the Trial Practice Committee. Mr. Campbell also serves as a member of the Assembly for the Illinois State Bar Association, and as a frequent mentor to law students and early career attorneys.  

Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Campbell also serves as President and Director for Payton Alumni Community and Endowment, a nonprofit organization that provides financial, educational, and networking support to current and former students at Walter Payton College Prep. Payton is a public high school in Chicago founded in 2000. Inspired by its namesake, "Sweetness," Payton encourages curiosity, character, courage, and compassion in its students.

Mr. Campbell is deeply committed to strengthening the Illinois legal community through service, mentorship, and professional leadership. 

Elizabeth Carpenter

Elizabeth Carpenter is an associate in DiCello Levitt’s Chicago office, where her practice is focused on protecting the environment. Combining her commitment to environmental law with her knowledge of public policy, she provides clients with a deeper understanding of the evolving environmental issues that shape their cases.
Ms. Carpenter is part of the DiCello Levitt team working with several states in investigating and addressing poly- and perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) contamination. DiCello Levitt’s environmental team works with state attorneys general in pursuing claims against PFAS and AFFF manufacturers and PCB manufacturers for damage that these contaminants have done to state natural resources and the environment.
She also represents public clients in litigation seeking to hold the world’s largest fossil fuel companies accountable for decades of deception concerning climate change and the costs and other consequences that climate change is imposing on those governments.

She is a member of the discovery committee in In re Bio-Lab Class Actions, a case in which DiCello Levitt was appointed Co-Lead Counsel on behalf of more than 90,000 residents and business owners in Conyers, Georgia, and the surrounding area who have been affected by a catastrophic chemical fire.

Prior to joining DiCello Levitt, Ms. Carpenter was the sole judicial law clerk for the Acting Presiding Judge of Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, where she assisted on more than 200 written opinions, and served as the Motion Section Pool Clerk Coordinator. While studying at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, she worked as a research assistant to professors James Thuo Gathii and Steven Ramirez and as the head law clerk for a nationally recognized, Chicago-based plaintiffs’ law firm.

Ms. Carpenter is dedicated to serving in volunteer positions which advance the rule of law and democracy. She is the co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Environmental Law Committee, where she coordinates and teaches CLE for Chicago attorneys seeking greater expertise on emerging environmental law issues. She also serves on the Chicago Bar Association’s Board of Managers. On the state level Ms. Carpenter serves on the League of Women Voters of Illinois Board of Directors and in the General Assembly of the Illinois State Bar Association. Her pursuit of environmental advocacy and justice also led her to serve on the League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region Board of Directors as a representative of the State of Illinois.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven R. Decker

Steven R. Decker received his B.A. from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from De Paul Law School in 1977. Immediately thereafter he began a private law practice with a focus almost exclusively on criminal law in Cook County. During his 48 years of active practice in both state and federal courts, he has tried thousands of cases, five capital murder cases, and served a multitude of clients. Recognizing his obligation for professional involvement, at various times, he has served as both the chair and the co-committee chair for both the CBA ‘s Criminal Law and the In-Court Referral Committee. The In-Court Lawyer program approves qualified experienced attorneys for assignments on cases in the Circuit Court of Cook County. He is also a member of the judicial evaluation committee of the Decalogue Society of Lawyers. His community involvement is performed in his role as chair of the Northbrook Zoning Board of Appeals, which he has held for 17 years.

 

Octavio Duran

Octavio Duran is the founder and principal attorney of Duran Law Offices, where he represents individuals and families in catastrophic personal injury, commercial trucking, wrongful death, premises liability, and motor vehicle collision cases. He is passionate about advocating for those whose lives have been changed by negligence and is known for his strategic, thorough approach to complex litigation.

A longtime supporter of the Chicago Bar Association, Mr. Duran proudly served in the Young Lawyers Section throughout his entire ten years of eligibility, ultimately serving as Chair of the Young Lawyers Section. During his tenure, he helped organize charitable fundraisers, networking events, and community service initiatives benefiting a wide range of causes throughout Chicago. He is excited to return to the Chicago Bar Association as a member of its Board of Managers and to continue supporting the organization's mission of advancing the legal profession and serving the community.

Outside the courtroom, Mr. Duran serves as Member Secretary of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) and Vice President of the Chicago Spartans, the official Michigan State University alumni club serving the Chicago metropolitan area. Through these organizations, he promotes mentorship, professional development, scholarship fundraising, and community engagement.
Mr. Duran believes the practice of law extends beyond representing clients—it also means strengthening the profession and giving back to the community. Whether advocating for injured clients, mentoring fellow attorneys, or leading nonprofit organizations, he is committed to making a meaningful and lasting impact.

 

Kevin Gerow

Kevin Gerow is a Partner at Zumpano & Patricios, which is a full-service firm with offices in Miami, New York, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and Chicago. The firm also has several satellite offices abroad. Mr. Gerow is an experienced litigator who has achieved multimillion-dollar verdicts in arbitration matters and in the court system.

His practice includes representing hospitals in managed healthcare disputes and a multitude of other businesses in various litigation and transactional matters. He also has over thirteen years of experience representing members of the beverage alcohol hospitality industry with licensing, regulatory enforcement, trade practice, and litigation.

Mr. Gerow serves on the Chicago Bar Association's Board of Managers and previously served as Chairman of the CBA's Food and Beverage Law Committee. He is the Secretary of a local not-for-profit organization.

 

William T. Gibbs

William T. Gibbs is an Equity Partner at Corboy & Demetrio that represents individuals in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases arising from participation in sports, automobile collisions, railroad negligence, aviation disasters, construction negligence, medical negligence, premises liability, and dangerous products.
In 2020, he was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to serve on its Committee for Jury Instructions in Civil Cases. He is in his second term on that committee.

Mr. Gibbs has been selected to The Best Lawyers in America since 2022. He earned the elite designation "Lawyer of the Year" in Mass Torts/Class Actions in Chicago by Best Lawyers in 2024. He has been selected to Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America since 2023 and to Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers since 2020. In 2025, Crain's Chicago Business selected him for its elite Notable Litigators & Trial Attorneys.

In 2026, he was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of The Society of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only group of the city's top litigators. He also currently serves on the Board of Managers and Executive Committee for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association. Bill also serves on the Chicago Police Advisory Board, the Chicago Advisory Board of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, and The Mike Adamle Project Advisory Board.

Mr. Gibbs launched Corboy & Demetrio’s national sports liability practice in 2011 when he filed one of the earliest CTE lawsuits on behalf of the family of Chicago Bears legend, Dave Duerson. He has since represented hundreds of former professional football and hockey players in concussion and CTE litigation against the sports leagues, including several former Chicago Bears and Blackhawks players.

Mr. Gibbs serves as Co-host of Corboy & Demetrio's video podcast, Masters of Trial Law. He has previously served as a regular contributor to the Sporting Judgment section of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, where he wrote the column, Sports Torts.

Mr. Gibbs obtained a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.A. from the University of Portland, and a J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. While at the University of Notre Dame, he was a defensive back on the varsity football team. 

Martin D. Gould

Martin D. Gould is a Founding Partner at Gould Grieco & Hensley (SGGH), where he leads some of the firm’s most complex litigations while also Co-Chairing the firm’s Sexual Abuse Practice Group. He has litigated in over 25 jurisdictions in both state and federal court. Throughout his career, Mr. Gould has played a key role in securing hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of individuals and classes of victims and their families in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, wrongful death, and institutional sexual abuse. At the heart of his practice is a fierce commitment to helping survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and trafficking find justice, financial compensation, and closure through the legal system.  

Mr. Gould has helped secure over $450 million in global abuse settlements and has been a driving force behind institutional reforms that have strengthened safety protections nationwide. His results include some of the largest individual recoveries in the country, helping survivors reclaim their voices and hold powerful institutions accountable. In just the past 18 months, he has helped clergy abuse survivors recover more than $50 million. He also represents survivors of catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death and has played a key role in securing numerous record recoveries and verdicts. Those include a $44.7 million jury verdict against the City of Chicago in a police misconduct case, a $21.3 million verdict for a family after a fatal municipal vehicle crash, and numerous eight-figure settlements in product liability, workplace, and medical malpractice cases.  

Mr. Gould earned his J.D. cum laude from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was a published member of the LAW REVIEW. He serves on the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association and holds leadership roles with the National Crime Victims Bar Association and Child USA — organizations dedicated to assisting survivors of abuse. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, where he was a four-year member of the Northwestern Varsity Wrestling Team.

Noah J. Graf

Noah J. Graf is an attorney in general private practice, primarily engaged in complex corporate litigation matters. Earlier in his legal career, he served as Assistant Counsel to the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives in Springfield. At the Chicago Bar Association, Mr. Graf is a past Chair of the Legislative Committee (2021-2025) and of the Civil Rights and Constitutional Law Committee (2014-2015). He has a dedicated commitment to public interest practice, particularly legislative advocacy.

Outside of the legal sphere, Mr. Graf is a skilled independent genealogist. He is a Board Member and Secretary of the Italian Parish Records organization, a volunteer advocacy group dedicated to preserving and facilitating open access to historic genealogical and archival resources in Italy. 
 
Mr. Graf is a graduate of Loyola University School of Law (J.D.) and of Northwestern University (B.A. - History).  He is also a proud alumnus of St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.

Elizabeth A. Kaveny

Elizabeth A. Kaveny is a managing partner at Kaveny Sarmas Injury Lawyers. She has achieved great success in plaintiff’s personal injury and medical malpractice for the past 
25 years. She is well-known and respected in the legal community for her hard work and the outstanding recoveries she obtains for her clients, both in settlements and jury verdicts.

Elizabeth was a principal in the law firms of Propes & Kaveny and Burke, Wise, Morrissey & Kaveny. Taking the best from great mentors and trial attorneys that came before her, Elizabeth established the law firm of Kaveny Sarmas in 2019, where she continues her high-quality representation of victims of medical negligence, motor vehicle and trucking accidents, workplace injuries, and general personal injury.

Sarah F. King

Sarah F. King is a partner at Clifford Law Offices, where she concentrates her practice in complex medical malpractice litigation. She has served as attorney of record in many of the firm's most significant trials, including a record-setting $101 million Illinois birth injury verdict—the largest medical malpractice verdict of its kind in Illinois. Sarah has also secured numerous other significant verdicts and settlements on behalf of individuals and families harmed by medical negligence. Much of her practice focuses on cases involving mothers and babies, reflecting her longstanding commitment to patient safety and accountability in healthcare. 

Beyond her litigation practice, Ms. King is deeply committed to advancing the legal profession through leadership, mentorship, and public service. She is a Past President of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois, where she championed initiatives supporting women lawyers, judicial engagement, and equity within the legal profession. She also serves as Secretary and a member of the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, where she co-founded the organization's Women's Caucus and serves as Co-Editor of the Medical Malpractice Trial Notebook. In 2024, she was appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to its Committee on Character and Fitness.

Ms. King is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America®, Illinois Super Lawyers®, Lawdragon, Forbes, Crain's Chicago Business, and Chicago Lawyer for her achievements in trial advocacy and leadership.

She earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from DePaul University College of Law, where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif. She received her bachelor's degree from Loyola University Chicago.

 

 

Jennifer F. Kuzminski

Jennifer F. Kuzminski is a member attorney at Aronberg Goldgehn, where she serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group and Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is also a founding Co-Chair of The Chicago Bar Association’s Family Office Committee and was recently appointed to The Chicago Bar Association Board of Managers. She was a faculty member for Illinois Institute of Continuing Education (IICLE) for their Estate Planning Short Course in 2025 and 2026. She was recently recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business on its 2026 Notable Women in Law list.

Ms. Kuzminski represents high-net-worth individuals and families in sophisticated estate planning, legacy navigation, and wealth preservation matters. Her practice includes complex estate and gift tax planning and compliance, including the preparation of gift and estate tax returns and representation in audit examinations; business succession planning; asset protection; charitable gift planning, including not-for-profit formation; and estate administration. She also advises clients on family office formation and governance. Jennifer’s Legal Lean Sigma Yellow Belt Certification in Legal Process and Project Management further supports her commitment to delivering an efficient, best-in-class client experience with strong outcomes.

Ms. Kuzminski is committed to pro-bono and community service. Her current focused effort includes serving on the Board of Directors of LiftUp Communities, a forward-thinking non-profit organization that provides wraparound services for low-wage workers and their families through an innovative, self-sustaining model. LiftUp’s mission is to reduce immediate barriers while building long-term, multi-generational resilience. Previously, she provided no-cost legal services to seniors and clients of the Center for Disability and Elder Law, as no-cost income tax preparation for low-income clients through Ladder Up, an organization that provides tax assistance and financial resources to qualifying individuals and she assisted with renewals of DACA applications through Heartland Alliance.

Ms. Kuzminski graduated from University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and received her Juris Doctor from the DePaul University College of Law, where she was Justice of Phi Alpha Delta - Story Chapter.

Kenneth Matuszewski

Kenneth A. Matuszewski is a registered Patent Attorney and an Attorney at Bamert Regan PLLC with a background across several technical backgrounds, including life sciences, software, electrical, and mechanical technologies. His practice focuses on complex and high-value intellectual property litigation in federal district court and before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He leverages his experience working with clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to early-stage startups to obtain favorable outcomes during litigation and while drafting and prosecuting patent applications. Representative technologies he has worked on include gaming technologies, cancer treatments, blockchain, opioid treatments, medical devices, microphones, drones, gene therapies, pollution control technologies, and power tools. 

Mr. Matuszewski has been deeply involved with the Chicago Bar Association throughout his legal career and served as the Chair of the Young Lawyers Section during the 2024-2025 bar year. He also co-founded and co-chaired the Young Lawyers Section's Racial Justice Coalition, served as the first Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning @theBar blog, and currently sits on the Young Professionals Board of the Chicago Bar Foundation. A firm believer that learning is a lifelong process, Kenny graduated with a B.S. in Computer Science from Oregon State University. Previously, he double-majored in Biological Sciences and Spanish at the University of Notre Dame and earned his J.D. at Chicago-Kent College of Law.

 

Judge Thomas Morrissey

Judge Morrissey serves in the Circuit Court of Cook County where he hears jury trials. He received his B.A. degree from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, cum laude, and his J.D. degree from DePaul University College of Law. He served as an Assistant Attorney General, General Law Division from 1985-1990. He served in private practice from 1990 to 2021. 

Judge Morrissey was elected as an Associate Judge in 2021. He first served in the Traffic Division and then served in Room 1401, handling post judgment proceedings in the First Municipal District before his assignment to a jury trial courtroom. Judge Morrissey presently also serves as the Chair of The Municipal and Law Division Committee of the Chicago Bar Association. 

 

Judge Michael Mullen

Judge Michael T. Mullen is the Presiding Judge of the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County where he hears a wide variety of civil cases that require the interpretation of contracts, statutes and insurance policies, as well as cases that involve requests for equitable remedies and injunctive relief, including declaratory judgment and class actions.
While in private practice for 20 years, Judge Mullen obtained in excess of $100,000,000.00 in personal injury verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients. Judge Mullen was previously an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division where he was a Chief of the Criminal Division and prosecuted cases that involved narcotics trafficking, tax evasion, bank, mail and wire fraud, as well as public corruption. Judge Mullen has received the Illinois Judges Association Presidential Leadership Award (2024), the Trial Lawyer Excellence Award-Jury Verdict Reporter (2012) and the United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award for Sustained Superior Performance in 1988 and again in 1990. Additionally, in 2026, Judge Mullen was named as the “Celt of the Year” by the Celtic Legal Society. In 2026, Judge Mullen also received the Chicago Bar Association’s Distinguished Committee Chair Award for his contributions as the Committee Chair of the CBA’s Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy and Cybersecurity Committee.
Judge Mullen has been listed in Who’s Who in America Law (2000); Who’s Who in America (2004) and Who’s Who in the World (2004). In 1995, Judge Mullen was elected and served as a Trustee of the Village of Western Springs, Illinois and from 2006 to 2012 he served as the Chairman of the Western Springs Board of Police and Fire Commission. Judge Mullen obtained his J.D. from the Loyola University School of Law in 1981 and presently serves as a director of both the Western Golf Association and the Illinois Judges Association.

 

Ryan M. Nolan

Ryan M. Nolan is an attorney at Nolan Law Group who represents clients in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases. His area of practice includes aviation accidents, brain injuries, carbon monoxide exposure, and transportation-related incidents. He began working with the firm in 2011 and continued working there throughout his time at DePaul University College of Law. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics and history from Vanderbilt University. He currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Aviation Committee and previously served as a Special Project Coordinator and Director for the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section. 

 

 

Brandon E. Peck

Brandon E. Peck is a Partner with Peck Ritchey, LLC. He represents individuals, families, financial and medical institutions. Mr. Peck advises fiduciaries charged with the administration of estates and trusts as well as guiding them through the probate process. He vigorously represents all parties in contested guardianships including minors and disabled adults. 

For the past five years, Mr. Peck has been selected by his peers in multiple statewide surveys of Illinois attorneys as a “Super Lawyer,” an attorney to whom other attorneys would refer their family. From 2015-Present he has also been selected by Leading Lawyers Magazine as a top emerging lawyer in Elder Law, Trust, Will and Estate Planning. He also was a contributor to the book Alzheimer’s and the Law, which was published by the American Bar Association in 2013. 

Mr. Peck was an active member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Section for which he served as the Chair of the Section from 2018-2019. Brandon lectures frequently in the areas of trust and estate litigation, guardianships, special needs and estate planning before his colleagues and other professionals, including at The Chicago Bar Association, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, as well as numerous hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and community organizations. He is authorized to practice law in Illinois and in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

 

View a list of Chicago Bar Association Presidents and Executive Directors