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Northwest Suburban Bar Association

  • June 16, 2014 | Events | People
    William F. Kelley installed as president of Northwest Suburban Bar Association

    William F. Kelley was installed as the 58th President of the Northwest Suburban Bar Association on June 12, 2014 during the Association’s annual dinner meeting at Maggiano’s in Schaumburg. His brother and former partner, the Hon. Judge Thomas J. Kelley, administered the oath of office to William Kelley, the officers and Board of Governors.

    Kelley said that he was “humbled and honored to take over the helm as President and that the core focus of the Association  will continue to be fostering an atmosphere of collegiality, civility and respect among members of the bar and bench, while honing their professional skills.” He noted that “Staying on top of the law makes us more effective advocates and advisors.”

    William Kelley is the manager partner of the law firm Kelley, Kelley & Kelley. The law firm of Kelley, Kelley & Kelley is located in Schaumburg and has been serving clients in the northwest suburbs for over 50 years, having been founded by John P. Kelley who passed away in 2009. 

    John P. Kelley was honored with the NWSBA Distinguished Service Award during the annual dinner. William Kelley noted that his father’s “focus and attention to detail, insisting upon impeccable work product, tenaciously protecting his clients, and his modeling of integrity and professionalism to this date remain an incredible inspiration to me, my brothers, his associates and colleagues.”  The Honorable Martin C. Kelley, another brother and former partner of William F. Kelley, accepted the award on behalf of their father.

  • April 2, 2012 | Events
    Northwest Suburban Bar Association to honor Justice Theis

    Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis will receive the Northwest Suburban Bar Association’s 2012 Public Service Award at the association’s Judges’ Night April 26. Reservations are requested by April 19.

    The event will be at Rosewood Banquets, 9421 W. Higgins Road, Rosemont. Cocktails (open bar) and hors d’oeuvres will be available beginning at 6 p.m., with dinner (with a choice of beef, chicken, salmon or a vegetarian entree) served at 7:30 p.m.

    The association also will recognize the recipient of the 2012 Honorable Timothy C. Evans Scholarship.

    Cost is $150 for members and $200 for non-members until April 19, after which the price increases to $165 and $215, respectively. Judges are guests of the NWSBA.

    Justice Theis has served at every level of the Judiciary in the state of Illinois. She was appointed an associate judge in Cook County in 1983. She served there for five years, before being elected in 1988 to the Circuit Court, where she was assigned to the Criminal and Chancery divisions. She presided over hundreds of trials involving murder, robbery, sexual assault and other serious felonies, and also handled civil cases ranging from mortgage foreclosures, to class action cases and other multimillion-dollar lawsuits.

    She served for 17 years on the Appellate Court, including several terms as presiding judge. When Chief Justice Thomas R. Fitzgerald retired from the Illinois Supreme Court in 2010, the Court appointed Justice Theis to serve the remainder of his term. In March 2012, she won the Democratic primary election for the seat and will run in the general election in November.

  • June 29, 2010 | Events
    Northwest Suburban Bar Association marks 50 years during Installation Ceremony
    [caption id="attachment_13415" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The Executive Board of the NWSBA. From left are: Ronald Wittmeyer; secretary; William Kelley, treasurer; Donald Cosley, executive vice president; Judge Joseph Urso, presiding judge in the Third Municipal District of Cook County; Lee DeWald, president; Neil Good, first vice president; and Michael Meschino, second vice president."][/caption] It was both a look back to humble beginnings and a look ahead to a vibrant future as the Northwest Suburban Bar Association installed its officers and Board of Governors on June 17, and also celebrated the association’s 50th anniversary. The Honorable Joseph J. Urso, presiding judge in the Third Municipal District of Cook County, performed the installation and swearing in of new officers: Lee F. DeWald, president; Donald J. Cosley, executive vice president; Neil H. Good, first vice president; Michael A. Meschino, second vice president; William F. Kelley, treasurer; and Ronald F. Wittmeyer, secretary. Judge Urso also installed new members of the Board of Governors: Allen S. Gabe and Colin H. Gilbert, plus Ilonka Ulrich, association attorney; and Jackie LeFevre, parliamentarian, both of whom accepted new terms. On hand to help mark the half-century mark were Judge James Geocaris (retired), longtime presiding judge of the Third District; 26 past NWSBA presidents; and Don Norman, one of the founding members of Northwest Suburban Bar Association. For his pivotal role, new President DeWald presented Norman with the NWSBA Founder Award. DeWald urged members to get involved with the association, to be part of the volunteer spirit that has led to successful CLEs, free legal help for residents and other NWSBA contributions and events. Had he stayed on the sidelines, he never would have met Past President Rich Miller, ISBA President John O’Brien, innumerable judges, or any number of others in the profession, because their paths simply would not have crossed, DeWald pointed out.
  • January 11, 2010 | People
    Downs receives Lifetime Achievement Award from NWSBA
    [caption id="attachment_7249" align="alignright" width="242" caption="Ed and Debra Downs"][/caption] Longtime criminal defense attorney Ed Downs has received the Northwest Suburban Bar Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. The presentation was made in December. Dave Corbett of NWSBA cited Downs as being among "the top shelf of practitioners, a giant among us. Downs is a familiar sight at 26th and California," Corbett said, referring to the criminal courts building for the First Municipal District of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Corbett called the courthouse "sacred ground," adding that it provides a challenging environment for defense attorneys. "His self-effacing manner belies his greatness," Corbett said. "He is a role model to many. Among brilliant trial lawyers, Ed Downs is top shelf. He's a giant among us." He has fought for the rights of all, Corbett said of Downs, adding, "I can't think of a more fitting recipient for this honor." In accepting the award, Downs exhibited the self-effacing manner to which Corbett had referred. Mentioning he had found law school hard, he told attendees, "I'm not that smart." It was a statement with which many would disagree. He earned degrees from Wright Junior College, Loyola University School of Business and Loyola University Graduate School of Industrial Relations, balancing classwork during many of those years with a job as a letter carrier.