James P. Bartley
James P. Bartley
James P. Bartley is a Partner with Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in school law, municipal law, labor and employment law, and litigation. Mr. Bartley has advised and represented clients in numerous employment law matters, negotiated in excess of 200 collective-bargaining agreements for school districts and municipalities, and handled many arbitrations and employment-related disputes before the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Labor Relations Board, and the EEOC and in state and federal court. He is a member of the Chicago, Illinois State, Nevada, and American Bar Associations and the Illinois Council of School Attorneys. Mr. Bartley received his B.A. from Loyola University and his J.D. with high distinction from The John Marshall Law School.
Maryam T. Brotine
Maryam T. Brotine
Maryam T. Brotine is an associate with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice in special education and students’ rights. Ms. Brotine is a presenter on various school and educational topics for the National Business Institute, the Illinois Council of School Attorneys, and the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago’s Annual Conference for Teachers in Civics. She has been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine; she received the David C. Hilliard Award for Outstanding Committee Service, Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association; and she received the Lawyer Spotlight by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. Ms. Brotine is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, the Illinois Council of School Attorneys, and the National Council of School Attorneys. She received her B.A. from the University of Illinois and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Stewart H. Diamond
Stewart H. Diamond
Stewart H. Diamond is a Partner at Ancel Glink, P.C., in Chicago where he concentrates his practice in representation of local governmental bodies. Mr. Diamond is the originating General Editor of the IICLE® handbooks MUNICIPAL LAW AND PRACTICE IN ILLINOIS and ILLINOIS SCHOOL LAW and has participated in numerous seminars on these subjects. He is one of the authors of the ILLINOIS MUNICIPAL HANDBOOK, published by the Illinois Municipal League. He is also one of the authors of THE HANDBOOK ON ILLINOIS PARK DISTRICT LAW, published by the Illinois Association of Park Districts, and a handbook on township law. He has written many articles on local government law. He drafted one of the first contract and bylaws agreements for a comprehensive intergovernmental self-insurance pool in the United States and currently represents a large number of intergovernmental self-insurance pools. He has taught municipal law at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and is a Past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association Local Government Law Section Council. He is the author of DIAMOND’S RULES OF ORDER,a set of parliamentary rules for governmental bodies and private organizations. In over 50 years of law practice, he has represented, as regular or special counsel, many governmental bodies in the Chicago metropolitan area and in other parts of the state. Mr. Diamond was educated at the University of Chicago, where he received both his A.B. and his J.D., and University College, Oxford, England.
Frank B. Garrett III
Frank B. Garrett III
Frank B. Garrett III is a Partner with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Chicago, where he concentrates in education law and labor and employment law. Mr. Garrett speaks regularly to employers, bar associations, and law schools on a variety of personnel and employment topics and has published several articles on employment discrimination, disability and leave issues, and wrongful termination claims. He has been named an Illinois Super Lawyer and an Illinois Leading Lawyer in employment and school law. Mr. Garrett is a member of the Cook County and Chicago Bar Associations, the American Bar Association (Section on Labor and Employment), and Illinois Council of School Attorneys. Mr. Garrett received his B.A. from Oberlin College and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Philip H. Gerner III
Philip H. Gerner III
Philip H. Gerner III is a Partner with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Chicago, where he counsels and represents school districts and community colleges in collective-bargaining negotiations, union representation petitions, and IELRB proceedings; teacher evaluations, remediations, and dismissals; employee discipline and discharge issues; labor contract administration and grievance arbitration; and other labor and employment issues. Mr. Gerner is a frequent presenter for the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, the Illinois Community College Trustees Association, and other educational employer associations on a full range of labor and employment issues. He has been named an Illinois Leading Lawyer in employment and school law. Mr. Gerner received his B.A. cum laude from St. Lawrence University and his J.D. from Washington University School of Law.
Timothy E. Guare
Timothy E. Guare
Timothy E. Guare is a Partner with Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn, LLP, in Arlington Heights, where he practices in the areas of public sector labor and employment law. He is a frequent speaker at labor and employment conferences and seminars presented in respected forums including the Illinois and National Public Employer Labor Relations Associations, the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law Public Sector Labor Relations Law Program, and IICLE®. A former teacher of mathematics, he has also served as a board member of his local high school district and as education editor in his community’s local press. Mr. Guare received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Margaret Kostopulos
Margaret Kostopulos
Margaret Kostopulos is a Partner at Ancel Glink, P.C., in Chicago, where she focuses on labor and employment law and school law. She is a member of the Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations and the Illinois Council of School Attorneys. She is a member of the Illinois Public Employer Labor Relations Association and has conducted training programs before IPELRA and other state associations on Illinois labor law issues. She has been named by Chicago Magazine and Illinois Super Lawyers as one of the top labor and employment lawyers in the state. Ms. Kostopulos received her B.A. from Loyola University and her J.D. from The UIC John Marshall Law School.
Keri-Lyn J. Krafthefer
Keri-Lyn J. Krafthefer
Keri-Lyn J. Krafthefer is an Equity Partner at Ancel Glink, P.C., in Chicago, where she focuses on local government law, election law, and labor and employment law. She was named by Chicago Magazine as one of the top 50 female attorneys in the State of Illinois; one of the top 10 Leading Lawyers in government, municipal, and administrative law; and an Illinois Super Lawyer. Ms. Krafthefer received her B.A. from the University of Illinois and her J.D. from The UIC John Marshall Law School.
Rachel E. Lutner
Rachel E. Lutner
Rachel E. Lutner is a Partner with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Chicago, where she focuses on labor and employment law. Ms. Lutner has conducted management and employee training sessions and seminars on harassment, workplace policies, human resources functions, union avoidance, civility in the workplace, and investigating and resolving other complaints. She is also an author and speaker on labor and employment issues. Ms. Lutner received her B.A. from Carleton College and her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Colette L. McCarty
Colette L. McCarty
Colette L. McCarty is an associate at Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Champaign, where she concentrates her practice in education law with a focus on student issues. Ms. McCarty is a frequent presenter on topics dealing with student and school issues and has spoken for the Illinois Community College Chief Student Services Officers and the Large Unit District Association and Robbins Schwartz Administrators’ Academy. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Council of School Attorneys, and the National Council of School Attorneys. Ms. McCarty received her B.A. magna cum laude from the University of Illinois and her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Thomas M. Melody
Thomas M. Melody
Thomas M. Melody is a Partner with Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in school law and municipal law. His experience includes collective bargaining, advising employers on all facets of labor and employment law, and defending employers against all types of employment claims at both the administrative and judicial levels. Mr. Melody is a Leading Lawyer, is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, and is on the Executive Committee of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys. He received his B.A. and his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago.
Susan E. Nicholas
Susan E. Nicholas
Susan E. Nicholas is an associate with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in their Decatur and Champaign offices, where she focuses her practice on employee benefits and education law. Ms. Nicholas has been a presenter at the annual IASB/IASA/IASBO Conference as well as the Chicago Bar Association on matters concerning school law. She was named an Illinois Emerging Lawyer. Ms. Nicholas is a member of the Decatur and Illinois State Bar Associations. She received her B.A. from Illinois Wesleyan University and her J.D. magna cum laude from Southern Illinois University School of Law.
Everett E. Nicholas, Jr.,
Everett E. Nicholas, Jr.,
Everett E. Nicholas, Jr., is with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Decatur, where he focuses on education law. Mr. Nicholas has represented clients in arbitrations, unfair labor practices, administrative review actions, as well as all types of trials and appellate matters. On behalf of school districts, he has successfully prosecuted numerous tenured teacher dismissals, prosecuted and defended many detachment and consolidation cases, and represented districts in litigation challenging student expulsions, reductions in force, due-process violations, and civil rights issues. He has served on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Education Law Council three different times, serving as Chair twice. He has also served as Chair of the Local Government and House Committees of the Chicago Bar Association and as a member of the ISBA Labor Law Committee. He was recognized by his peers as being in the top five percent of Illinois attorneys in a survey by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, listed in Leading Lawyers.com, and named an Illinois Super Lawyer. Mr. Nicholas received his A.B. from Wheaton College and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Joseph J. Perkoski
Joseph J. Perkoski
Joseph J. Perkoski is a Managing Partner with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Chicago, where he concentrates in employment discrimination matters, collective-bargaining negotiations, employee discipline/dismissal matters, IELRB procedures, and labor arbitration. Mr. Perkoski has made several presentations on the labor issues in the transactional side of the project, adjusting school district priorities to meet current economic reality and revenue uncertainty, and other topics for the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, the Northwestern Personnel Administrators Group, the Illinois Association for Employment in Education’s Annual Conference, and more. He is an Illinois Super Lawyer and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Chicago Bar Association, and the Council of School Attorneys. Mr. Perkoski received his B.A. with honors, his M.A., and his J.D. from Ohio State University.
Robert E. Riley
Robert E. Riley
Robert E. Riley is a Partner with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Chicago, where he concentrates in advising and representing units of local government (including school districts, community colleges, and municipalities), corporations, and insurers in labor and employment matters. Mr. Riley has been a speaker for the Illinois Association of School Boards, the Illinois Association of School Administrators, the Illinois Community College Business Managers Association, and the Council on Education in Management and has spoken at numerous seminars for school district superintendents, board members, and business managers. He is a member of the American, Illinois State, and Chicago Bar Associations, the Chicago Council of Lawyers, and the State Judicial Evaluation Committee. Mr. Riley received his B.A. from Western Illinois University and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
James D. Rock
James D. Rock
James D. Rock is an associate at Ancel Glink, P.C., in Chicago, where he focuses on local government, municipalities, special districts, and schools. His extensive background in governmental finance and his former administrative experience with the College of Lake County and Round Lake Area Park District are valuable components of his representation of public bodies. He counsels clients on issues that arise in day-to-day representation, including matters related to board practices and procedures, finance, grant procurement, First Amendment issues, and intergovernmental cooperation. Mr. Rock received his B.S. from Central Michigan University, his M.A. from Northern Illinois University, and his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School.
Caroline A. Roselli
Caroline A. Roselli
Caroline A. Roselli is a Partner with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Chicago, where she practices in the areas of education, special education, and student discipline. She counsels school districts and colleges concerning student discipline, student records, policy development, students’ rights, and other student-related matters. She represents public school districts at IEP meetings, due-process hearings, mediations, student expulsion and suspension hearings, and residency hearings. She was named an Illinois Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine. She is a member of the National and Illinois Councils of School Attorneys and the Chicago and Illinois Bar Associations. She received her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and her J.D. cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Laura M. Sinars
Laura M. Sinars
Laura M. Sinars is a Partner with Robbins, Schwartz, Nicholas, Lifton & Taylor, Ltd., in Chicago, where she focuses on education, special education, and student discipline. She counsels and represents public school districts at IEP meetings, due-process hearings, mediation, and student expulsion and residency hearings. Ms. Sinars has defended district decisions regarding evaluations, services, and placement of special education students in due-process hearings. She has successfully removed dangerous students from the regular education environment and also prevailed in hearings to defend against parents’ unilateral private placements. She has assisted clients in building residency and discipline cases involving students and has successfully defended districts’ decisions in state and federal courts and before federal and state agencies, including the Department of Education, the Illinois State Board of Education, and the Office for Civil Rights. Law & Politics Magazine selected her as a 2005 Illinois Super Lawyer in the specialized area of schools and education law. Ms. Sinars received her B.A. and her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame.
Gregory T. Smith
Gregory T. Smith
Gregory T. Smith is a Partner at Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins, Ltd., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in municipal and local government law. He was named an Emerging Lawyer in 2015 – 2018. Mr. Smith received his B.S. from DePaul University and his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he was on the Dean’s List and an Associate Editor of the Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property.
Scott F. Uhler
Scott F. Uhler
Scott F. Uhler is a Partner at Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in school, municipal, library, and election law. He is a member of the National and Illinois Councils of School Attorneys and of the Chicago Bar Association School Law Committee. He has also been named a Leading Lawyer since 2005. Mr. Uhler received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Illinois, his Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois, and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
Allen Wall
Allen Wall
Allen Wall is a Partner with Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins, Ltd., in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of general litigation and municipal, library, and school law. Previously, Mr. Wall was a Senior Assistant General Counsel for the Chicago Board of Education. He received his B.A. magna cum laude from Williams College, his Masters from Duke University, his Masters and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University, and his J.D. from the University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill School of Law.

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School Law (Illinois): Personnel and Student Issues 2015 Edition

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James P. Bartley

Maryam T. Brotine

Stewart H. Diamond

Frank B. Garrett III

Philip H. Gerner III

Timothy E. Guare

Margaret Kostopulos

Keri-Lyn J. Krafthefer

Rachel E. Lutner

Colette L. McCarty

Thomas M. Melody

Susan E. Nicholas

Everett E. Nicholas, Jr.,

Joseph J. Perkoski

Robert E. Riley

James D. Rock

Caroline A. Roselli

Laura M. Sinars

Gregory T. Smith

Scott F. Uhler

Allen Wall

School Law (Illinois): Personnel and Student Issues 2015 Edition