Shelley B. Ballard
Shelley B. Ballard
Shelley B. Ballard is the owner and attorney of Shelley B. Ballard PC, in Chicago and Evanston, where she focuses her practice in adoption law. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and both Secretary and Treasurer of the Board of the Midwest Adoption Center. Ballard is also a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee and is currently serving as its Chair (2023 – 2024). She graduated magna cum laude from the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering and cum laude from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif.
Kirsten Crouse Bays
Kirsten Crouse Bays
Kirsten Crouse Bays, an attorney with Crouse Cobb & Bays, in Charleston, devotes her practice to adoption law. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, a member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, and a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. Ms. Bays is also an adjunct professor of family law for Eastern Illinois University. She received her B.S. from Eastern Illinois University, her M.S. from Eastern Illinois University, and her J.D. from Washington University.
Deborah Crouse Cobb
Deborah Crouse Cobb
Deborah Crouse Cobb is a Partner with Crouse Cobb & Bays, in Collinsville, where she concentrates her practice in adoption and assisted reproduction issues. In addition to agency and private adoptions in the United States, she has significant experience with intercountry adoptions, adoptions involving the Indian Child Welfare Act, and contested adoptions. Ms. Cobb also teaches family law courses for Eastern Illinois University. She is a member the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, the North American Council on Adoptable Children, and the National Indian Child Welfare Association. Ms. Cobb has spoken on adoption-related issues at several Illinois Bar Association family law seminars. She is a member of the Illinois State and Madison County Bar Associations. She received her B.A. from Eastern Illinois University, her M.S. from Sangamon State University (now the University of Illinois Springfield), and her J.D. from Washington University School of Law.
Linda S. Coon
Linda S. Coon
Linda S. Coon is a sole practitioner, in Chicago, and retired Executive Director of the federally funded Families’ and Children’s AIDS Network (FCAN). She is a member of the National Board of Foster Care Alumni of America, a Past Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee, and current Cochair of the CBA’s Adoption Law Legislation Subcommittee. Coon was the recipient of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, Advocate of the Year Award (2005). She earned her B.A. from MacMurray College and her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.
Nidhi Desai
Nidhi Desai
Nidhi Desai is a Partner with Desai & Miller, in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on assisted reproductive technology. She worked closely with Illinois House Representative Barbara Currie in a successful legislative effort to enact the Gestational Surrogacy Act. Desai is the Assisted Reproductive Technology Director of the American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, and she sits on the Board of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Legal Professional Group. Desai is also a Board Member of the Chicago Coalition for Family Building. She earned her B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis and her J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago.
Genie Miller Gillespie
Genie Miller Gillespie
Genie Miller Gillespie is a Partner with Gillespie Law Group, LLC, in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice in adoption, assisted reproductive technology, and guardianships. She is the Deputy Adoption Director and Past President of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. Gillespie is a Recipient of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s Angel in Adoption Award. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee. Gillespie earned her B.A. from Washington University and her J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.
Susan Fox Gillis
Susan Fox Gillis
Susan Fox Gillis is an associate judge for the County Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County in Chicago. She is a member of the Special Supreme Court Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning. Judge Gillis received the Lawyer’s Assistance Program John Powers Crowley Award, the CARPLS Golden Gavel Award, and the IIT Chicago-Kent Young Alumni Award. She received her J.D. from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Chris S. Haaff
Chris S. Haaff
Chris S. Haaff is the owner of the Law Office of Christopher Haaff, in Crystal Lake, where he focuses his practice on family law. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and has spoken and written about family law for IICLE^®, the Illinois State Bar Association, and other groups and publications. Haaff earned his B.A. cum laude from Greenville College and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Judith Hannah
Judith Hannah
Judith Hannah, of the Law Office of Judith Hannah, in Chicago, focuses her practice on adoption, guardianships, and child protection matters. Hannah is a member of both the Illinois State and American Bar Associations, and she is an American Bar Foundation Fellow. She earned her B.A. from Oberlin College, her M.S. from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law as a Charles Evans Hughes Fellow and recipient of the Best Written Brief Award in First Year Moot Court Argument. Hannah also was certified by The Hague Academy of International Law.
Michelle M. Hughes
Michelle M. Hughes
Michelle M. Hughesis a Partner in the Law Offices of Michelle M. Hughes, P.C., in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on adoption, arts, and real estate. She is a member of the American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and a member of the Chicago Bar Association, where she served on the Adoption Law Committee (Vice Chair 2010, Chair 2011 – 2012). Hughes is also a former board member of the Association of MultiEthnic Americans. She earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois and her J.D. from the University of Chicago School of Law.
Jenny R. Jeltes
Jenny R. Jeltes
Jenny R. Jeltes is the owner and Principal Attorney at the Law Offices of J. Jeltes, Ltd., in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice on guardianship and estate planning, adoption, and family law. Ms. Jeltes has been a member of the Justice Entrepreneurs Project Advisory Board (Chicago Bar Foundation), a participant in the Chicago Bar Association “Bar Show,” and recognized as a Super Lawyers (2018 – 2019). She is a member of the Illinois State and Chicago Bar Associations. Ms. Jeltes earned her B.A. with distinction from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from Wayne State Law School.
Richard A. Lifshitz
Richard A. Lifshitz
Richard A. Lifshitz is the Principal of the law firm of Richard A. Lifshitz LLC, in Chicago, where he practices primarily in adoption. From 1976 through 1978, he was an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Child Abuse Unit of the Juvenile Court. He has been in private practice since 1978. In adoption matters, in addition to representing traditional families, he has represented single parents and gay and lesbian couples. Mr. Lifshitz has been involved in every type of adoption and is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. He has completed approximately 3,000 adoptions during his career. He represented the former adoptive parents in the “Baby Richard” case from 1991 through 1995. Mr. Lifshitz has been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer repeatedly. He graduated from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri.
Diana E. López
Diana E. López
Hon. Diana E. López is a Cook County Circuit Court Judge. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association Adoption Law Committee, and in 2023 she received the Illinois Judges Association Presidential Service Award. Judge López is an adjunct professor at DePaul University School of Law, where she teaches courses on adoption law. Judge López earned her J.D. from Loyola University College of Law with a Certificate in Child and Family Law. She attended the Supreme Court’s Judicial College Committee on Judicial Education’s 2023 Advanced Judicial Academy, which focused on the Theory and Practice of Justice in a Pluralistic Society.
Sheila A. Maloney
Sheila A. Maloney
Sheila A. Maloney is a sole practitioner, in Downers Grove, concentrating her practice on adoption and assisted reproductive technology cases. In addition to her adoption practice, she handles residential real estate, probate, and guardianships matters. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and a Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys. Maloney is a member of the Chicago and DuPage County Bar Associations. She earned her B.A. summa cum laude from DePaul University and her J.D. from The John Marshall School of Law.
Kathleen Hogan Morrison
Kathleen Hogan Morrison
Kathleen Hogan Morrison is a Chicago attorney, concentrating in adoption, assisted reproduction technology law, and parentage matters. She is a Past President of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and has served on its Board of Trustees. She has been selected by her peers to be a member of the Leading Lawyers Network and its advisory board, as well as a member of Illinois Super Lawyers. Ms. Morrison was selected as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Illinois and she was designated an Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. She has served as Chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee, was chosen as an expert witness for the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission for the Illinois Supreme Court, and served on the Review Committee for the Joint Council on International Children’s Services. In addition, she has represented parties in contested adoption matters, which were referred to her by lawyers, agencies, judges, and former clients. She is has been a frequent speaker and author on issues of adoption, foster parenting, permanency planning, and termination of parental rights. She is admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court and all other Illinois courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.
Todd J. Ochs, M.D.
Todd J. Ochs, M.D.
Todd J. Ochs, M.D. is a general pediatrician in Chicago, where he is also on the faculty at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He is an adoptive parent of both intercountry and special needs children. He has seen over a thousand internationally adopted children in his practice and adoption clinic, has done thousands more referral reviews, and has spoken to thousands of adoptive parents. He is a Founding Member of the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Section on Adoption and Foster Care and served on its Executive Committee for six years. He also has served as a member of the Advisory Board of Illinois NOFAS and as the Treasurer for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (2014 – 2018). He graduated from the University of New Orleans, attended medical school at Loyola University Chicago, and completed his residencies at the University of Illinois (Chicago) and Cook County Hospital.
Denise J. Patton
Denise J. Patton
Denise J. Patton is the sole practitioner at the Law Office of Denise J. Patton, in the Village of Lakewood, where she devotes her practice to adoption law, surrogacy, and egg donation. Patton is a member and Past Chair (2002, 2017) of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee and a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys since 2002. Patton earned her J.D. from DePaul Law School.
Christina M. Schneider
Christina M. Schneider
Christina M. Schneideris Special Assistant General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services, Office of Legal Services, in Chicago. Her work focuses on child welfare, adoption, and guardianship. She is a member of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee and a Past Chair of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Child Law Committee. Schneider received her B.A. from Columbia College and her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School.
Jane Turner
Jane Turner
Jane Turneris the Executive Director of the Adoption Center of Illinois, in Chicago. As Executive Director, she is involved in all adoption services, but she has a particular focus on international adoption primary provider services. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and is an Illinois Licensed Social Worker. Turner earned her M.A. from the University of Chicago School of Social Services Administration.
Kathleen M. Vannucci
Kathleen M. Vannucci
Kathleen M. Vannucciis a Shareholder at the Law Office of Robert D. Ahlgren and Associates, in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on immigration. She is a member and former Chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) — Chicago Chapter and was recognized by AILA as the 2016 Advocacy Award Honoree in recognition of outstanding efforts in support of AILA’s legislative and media advocacy agendas. Vannucci is also an adjunct professor of Immigration Law and Policy at Loyola University Chicago School of Law and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. She earned her B.A. summa cum laude from Loyola College and her J.D. cum laude from Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

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Adoption Law (ARCHIVED 2016 EDITION)

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Shelley B. Ballard

Kirsten Crouse Bays

Deborah Crouse Cobb

Linda S. Coon

Nidhi Desai

Genie Miller Gillespie

Susan Fox Gillis

Chris S. Haaff

Judith Hannah

Michelle M. Hughes

Jenny R. Jeltes

Richard A. Lifshitz

Diana E. López

Sheila A. Maloney

Kathleen Hogan Morrison

Todd J. Ochs, M.D.

Denise J. Patton

Christina M. Schneider

Jane Turner

Kathleen M. Vannucci

Adoption Law (ARCHIVED 2016 EDITION)