Cailee J. Alderman
Cailee J. Alderman
Cailee J. Alderman is an associate with López Law Group, P.C., in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice on family and adoption law. Ms. Alderman served as Vice-Chair (2017 – 2018) and Chair (2018 – 2019) of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee. She earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, where she was a Family Law Fellow.
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. Ms. Ballard was recognized by Leading Lawyers Network as a Top Lawyer in Adoption and Reproductive Technology. She has also been selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer and received the Lead Counsel Rating. Ms. Ballard is a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. She graduated magna cum laude from the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering and cum laude from Northwestern University School of Law, where she was elected to the Order of the Coif.
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. Ms. 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 of Desai & Miller, in Chicago, practices both in adoption and in the areas of gamete donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy. Ms. Desai is a member of the Board of Directors for the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and is on the Board of Directors for the Kevin J. Lederer Life Foundation. She is also a member of the American Bar Association’s Assisted Reproductive Technology Committee, the Illinois State Bar Association, and the Chicago Bar Association. Ms. Desai received her law degree from Loyola University Chicago and her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Genie Miller Gillespie
Genie Miller Gillespie
Genie Miller Gillespie has her own practice in Chicago concentrating exclusively in adoption, guardianship, and issues relating to children and families. She serves as President of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, has been recognized as an Illinois Leading Lawyer and Super Lawyer, and was recognized as a CCAI Angel in Adoption (2016). She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and a member of the Chicago and American Bar Associations. Ms. Gillespie earned her A.B. from Washington University and her J.D. from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.
Clarke M. Gillespie
Clarke M. Gillespie
Clarke M. Gillespie is a Partner with Gillespie Law Group, LLC, in Chicago, where he concentrates his practice in adoption, probate litigation, and guardianship. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. Mr. Gillespie earned his B.A. from the University of Chicago and his J.D. with high honors from Chicago-Kent College of Law IIT.
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. Mr. 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, child protection, and family law. Ms. Hannah is a member of the Chicago, Cook County, Illinois State, and American Bar Associations. 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. Ms. Hannah also was certified by The Hague Academy of International Law.
Tiffany Arrott Horstein
Tiffany Arrott Horstein
Tiffany Arrott Horstein is the Principal Attorney for Family Forward Law, LLC, in Chicago, where she concentrates her practice on adoptions, assisted reproductive technology, child abuse and neglect, and minor guardianships. Ms. Horstein is a member of the of the Justice Entrepreneur Project, the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee, and the Illinois Association of Independent Attorneys. She earned her B.S. summa cum laude from Loyola University Chicago and her J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Ms. Horstein holds a Certificate in Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution and is a certified mediator through the Center for Conflict Resolution.
Michelle M. Hughes
Michelle M. Hughes
Michelle M. Hughes is a Partner in the Law Offices of Michelle M. Hughes, P.C., in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on adoption. She is a member of the American Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and a member of the Chicago Bar Association, where she served on the Adoption Law Committee (Vice Chair 2010, Chair 2011) and was Cochair of the Confidential Intermediary Advisory Committee. Ms. Hughes 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.
Hon. Maureen Ward Kirby
Hon. Maureen Ward Kirby
Hon. Maureen Ward Kirby is a Circuit Court Judge with County Division, Circuit Court of Cook County, in Chicago. For the past ten years she has been assigned to the County Division, where she hears, among other things, adoption, election, tax, and civil mental health matters. She has presided over hundreds of adoption matters. Judge Kirby currently serves on the Illinois Supreme Court Special Advisory Committee for Justice and Mental Health Planning, the Community Trust Committee of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, and as a certified new judge mentor. She is a frequent lecturer on civil mental health issues. She earned her B.A. magna cum laude from Boston College and her J.D. from Loyola University Chicago Law School.
Diana E. López
Diana E. López
Diana E. López has been the Owner/President of López Law Group, P.C., in Chicago, since its inception in 2010. She focuses her practice on adoption law and matrimonial law. As an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Office of Cook County State’s Attorney, Ms. López prosecuted complex cases in juvenile court and complex child support enforcement cases. She is a member of the Board of Greenlight Family Services and a member of the Chicago Bar Association Adoption Law Committee. Ms. López earned her J.D. from Loyola University College of Law with a Certificate in Child and Family Law.
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. Ms. 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.
Todd J. Ochs, M.D.
Todd J. Ochs, M.D.
Todd J. Ochs, M.D. is a general pediatrician in Chicago. 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.
Robert R. Parker
Robert R. Parker
Robert R. Parker is a Partner at Parker & Parker, in Peoria, where he concentrates his practice in adoption and nursing home neglect. He is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. Mr. Parker has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star (2015 – present), has been named an Emerging Lawyer by the Leading Lawyers Network (featured in 2016 as “Peoria’s Savvy Adoption and Family Law Counselor”), and was highly ranked by Leading Lawyers among all under-40 downstate attorneys (2020). He earned his B.A. from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, as a James Scholar, and his J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law, earning honors for Trial Team and serving as Vice President of the Student Bar.
Denise J. Patton
Denise J. Patton
Denise J. Patton is the sole practitioner at the Law Office of Denise J. Patton, in Palatine, where she devotes her practice to adoption law, surrogacy, and egg donation. Ms. Patton is a member and Vice Chair (2015 – 2016) and Chair (2016 – 2017) of the Chicago Bar Association’s Adoption Law Committee and a Fellow of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys. Ms. Patton earned her J.D. from DePaul Law School.
Christina M. Schneider
Christina M. Schneider
Christina M. Schneider is Special Assistant General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services, Office of Legal Services, in Chicago. Her work focuses on adoption and guardianship. She is a Past Chair of the Child Law Section Council of the Illinois State Bar Association, former Vice Chair of the Chicago Bar Association Adoption Law Committee, and former Vice President of Friends of Franklin Fine Arts Center. Ms. Schneider received her B.A. from Columbia College and her J.D. from The John Marshall Law School.
Jane Turner
Jane Turner
Jane Turner is the Executive Director of the Adoption Center of Illinois, in Chicago. She has been with the Family Resource Center since January 1990, when she began as one of the agency’s first home study workers. She earned her M.A. from the University of Chicago School of Social Services Administration.
Kathleen M. Vannucci
Kathleen M. Vannucci
Kathleen M. Vannucci is a Shareholder at the Law Office of Robert D. Ahlgren and Associates, P.C., in Chicago, where she focuses her practice on immigration. She serves on the Board of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) – Chicago Chapter and was recognized by AILA as a Michael Maggio Pro Bono Honoree (2015) and as an Advocacy Honoree (2016). Ms. Vannucci also serves on the Loyola University Chicago School of Law Board of Governors. 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 2020 Edition

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Cailee J. Alderman

Shelley B. Ballard

Linda S. Coon

Nidhi Desai

Genie Miller Gillespie

Clarke M. Gillespie

Chris S. Haaff

Judith Hannah

Tiffany Arrott Horstein

Michelle M. Hughes

Jenny R. Jeltes

Hon. Maureen Ward Kirby

Diana E. López

Sheila A. Maloney

Todd J. Ochs, M.D.

Robert R. Parker

Denise J. Patton

Christina M. Schneider

Jane Turner

Kathleen M. Vannucci

Adoption Law 2020 Edition