I am an attorney and counselor at law, litigator, and trial attorney with over 39 years of experience. I have spent most of my career in courtrooms representing individuals, businesses, and professional clients from all backgrounds, social and financial status, and ethnicities, in a wide range of diverse legal matters and disputes. My goal has been to protect client’s rights, freedom, and solve legal problems.
I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. My parents were blue collar; my sister and I were the first in the family to attend college and graduate school. However, my parents were smart, able people. In fact, my mother became a life-master in Bridge with just a high school diploma and my father opened a successful, small retail business without as much as a year of college, high school degree or single business class. My father also spent four years fighting overseas in the Pacific corridor involved in some of World War II’s bloodiest and horrible battles. Somehow, he made it home a corporal and a leader. They have inspired me.
Greater inspiration came from my maternal grandmother, a strong woman ravaged by rheumatoid arthritis for most of her adult life yet with immense passion and strength; never once complaining about her plight. She led me to understand fully the meaning of overcoming challenges, persistence and how achieving one's goals, such as prevailing in a legal proceeding, requires steady, strong, smart and determined effort. Often this means overcoming obstacles and challenges each step of the way to being successful.
Law School:
Northwestern University Law School (now Northwestern Pritzker School of Law), J.D., cum laude
College: Northern Illinois University, B.S. Finance w/ honors.
Admitted:
Illinois Bar
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
Partner: Schwecter, Pearlman & Stein, Ltd
Associate: Chatz, Sugarman, Abrams, Haber & Fagel
Associate: Lord, Bissell & Brook (now Locke, Lord)
Cook County Assistant States Attorney, Felony Division
Member:
Chicago Bar Association
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
American Bar Association
Illinois Bar Association
Passed General Securities licensing exam [Series 7 Securities License]