40 The Future of Family Law Since 1981
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“Our forty-year anniversary provides a great opportunity for us to celebrate our past success and embrace our bright future.” Donald Schiller Senior Partner
Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP was established in 1981. Our firm’s founding partners Donald Schiller, Joseph DuCanto and Charles Fleck shared a vision to redefine the matrimonial and family law practice while building a law firm that was second-to-none. They envisioned a firm that offered sophisticated legal and financial analysis, combined with a personal approach based on the belief that everyone involved in a divorce-related case – clients, spouses, and children – should be treated with respect and compassion. Since our founding, we have performed at the highest level of our profession while continuing to evolve to meet the challenges, needs and expectations of our clients. Our firm abides by a “big stick” ideology: whereby our attorneys conduct themselves with the utmost civility, yet will also fight aggressively if necessary. It is a balance that we work hard to keep, especially in an area of practice that is so complex and emotionally driven. 1
At Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, who we are sets us apart. We handle cases with a team approach. Our attorneys have complimentary experiences and skill sets including expertise in tax issues, banking and finance, the psychology of custody matters — and all work together to serve the varied needs of our individual clients. We are the embodiment of “the whole being greater than the sum of its parts”. Since our firm was founded forty years ago, we have maintained a close-knit team of exceptional attorneys who are also remarkable people. In keeping with that tradition, we are pleased to introduce our five new partners: Brett Buckley, Jacqueline Stephens Breisch, Elaine Knowles, Brendan Hammer, and Kathleen McNamara. Additionally, we welcome four new associates to our team: Shaska Dice, Chimene Granados, Christina Perez-Tineo, and Brannon Simmons. Each of these attorneys share our firm’s passion for excellence and are committed to the highest level of professional and ethical standards. 2
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That’s how many attorneys we have on our roster — making us the largest family law firm in the country.
Brett Buckley Partner “People come to our office at the outset of a divorce case vulnerable and exposed, both emotionally and financially. My goal is to make sure our clients are protected on all fronts and are well-prepared to begin a new chapter in their lives. My clients expect superior results and that’s something I take seriously.” bbuckley@sdflaw.com 847.604.6078
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Jacqueline Stephens Breisch Partner “I understand what it is like to go through this process by virtue of living through my own parents’ divorce. That, more than anything, made me conscious that representing clients requires not simply a mastery of the law, but the ability to not only hear but really listen. I strive to blend my knowledge of the law with superior communication skills to achieve the best possible results for my clients.” jbreisch@sdflaw.com 312.578.7105
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Elaine Knowles Partner “I help each client create realistic goals and develop individual case strategies to achieve the best possible results.” eknowles@sdflaw.com 312.609.5516
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Brendan Hammer Partner “In litigation, preparation and analysis are necessary but not sufficient. Ultimately, successful trial court advocacy is about skillfully mastering the art of persuasion. Every client is unique and every case has a different story waiting to be told. It’s my job to find that story and tell it well.” bhammer@sdflaw.com 312.578.6129
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Kathleen McNamara Partner “My philosophy is that the dissolution of a marriage should not equate to the dissolution of a family. It is natural for emotions to run high during divorce, however I advise my clients to envision not only their future but their children’s as well.” kmcnamara@sdflaw.com 312.578.7105
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Shaska Dice Associate “Going through a family law matter can be one of the most grueling experiences in a person’s life. Compassionate advocacy is my goal. I strive to minimize the stress, anxiety and uncertainty my clients may feel by providing them with all the tools necessary to make informed, rational decisions about their future.” sdice@sdflaw.com 312.609.5567
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Chimene Granados Associate “Coupled with compassion and empathy, my analytical thought process allows me to zealously advocate for my clients in order to achieve a resolution tailored to their goals.” cgranados@sdflaw.com 312.609.5526
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Christina Perez-Tineo Associate “I clearly communicate options while listening to your priorities. This dialogue allows us to pursue the best approach to achieve your specific goals and set you up for your next chapter.” ctineo@sdflaw.com 312.578.7108
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As we moved into the new year, we also moved into our new
office: 321 North Clark Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, Illinois.
To put it simply, we’re a top-tier law firm that exemplifies commitment: to its attorneys, to the community, and above all to the clients it serves. We help individuals and families who are often at their lowest point, and give them hope and the promise of a new chapter in their lives. We know, that if their challenges are handled properly and appropriately, we are giving them a fresh start, and that’s what keeps us coming to work every day. Forty years is a long time for any business. For a family law firm, it’s all the more remarkable. Certainly, it’s a different world today than it was forty years ago. We are excited about our future and confident that we have the right team and approach to be successful for decades to come. As we begin to celebrate our forty-year anniversary, we take pause to reflect on what our team has accomplished. We deeply value our client and partner relationships and consider many of them to be our friends. We would not be where we are today without them. 24
3 Our Locations
321 North Clark Street, Suite 1200 Chicago, Illinois 60654 312.641.5560 One Conway Park, 100 N. Field Dr., Suite 160 Lake Forest, Illinois 60045 847.615.8300 310 S. County Farm Road, Suite 300 Wheaton, Illinois 60187 630.665.5800
sdflaw.com
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