Peter J. Birnbaum, President and Chief Executive Officer of Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc., (ATG®) was recently reappointed by Governor JB Pritzker as the Chief Justice of the Illinois Court of Claims, an action later confirmed by the Illinois Senate. Deborah Frank Feinen, ATG Vice President – Downstate Operations, was recently reelected for her third term as mayor of Champaign, IL, in a contested election where she earned 75% of the vote. 

Peter J. Birnbaum has served as a judge on the court since 2004 and was first appointed Chief Justice in 2015. With this appointment, Peter is the only known person to have been appointed to four separate terms by four different Governors. Congratulations, Peter! 

The Illinois Court of Claims was established by the legislature in 1889 as a forum of limited jurisdiction to render decisions on monetary claims and lawsuits against the state. Birnbaum is one of seven judges on the Court of Claims. They are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Illinois Senate.

“It has been a privilege to serve the people of Illinois through the Court of Claims, which plays an integral role in determining the rights and responsibilities of the state and its citizens. Being confirmed for another term as Chief Justice is a special honor,” Birnbaum said.

During his tenure with the court, Peter has provided leadership in several areas, including cases involving police officers, firefighters, and soldiers killed in the line of duty, persons found to be factually innocent of a crime that resulted in their conviction, significant personal injury cases, and contract disputes.

Birnbaum’s 42-year career at ATG is studded with awards for service and leadership. Among them: the prestigious Academy of Illinois Lawyers – Laureate, in recognition of his lifetime of service to the public and the profession; the Illinois Bar Foundation Distinguished Award for Excellence; and The Chicago Bar Association John Paul Stevens Award. Chicago-Kent College of Law: Past president of alumni board and current member of board of overseers; Distinguished Service Award (2004); Alumni of Distinction (2013). Jesse White Foundation: Longtime board member and president. American Land Title Association: Board of Directors and Treasurer. Peter is also a part-time musician, avid golfer, and devoted dad to two daughters and a son. 

Deborah Frank Feinen, ATG Vice President – Downstate Operations, was recently re-elected for her third term as mayor of Champaign, Illinois. A prominent figure in the community, Feinen's tenure as mayor has been characterized by her commitment to its betterment, as well as her dedication to promoting economic development, social justice, and inclusivity.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to the residents of Champaign for entrusting me with the responsibility of serving as their mayor. I am committed to working collaboratively with residents, local leaders, and community organizations to continue my efforts to make Champaign a prosperous, inclusive, and vibrant city for all."  

The City of Champaign, whose population is 99,000, operates under the council-manager form of government wherein the public elects a City Council and Mayor, who serve as the City’s governing body. The City Council then appoints a professional City Manager, who is the Chief Executive Officer for the City government, implements Council direction, and oversees day-to-day operations.  

Feinen's leadership has been marked by her proactive approach to addressing key issues such as economic development that translated to new jobs, transformative infrastructure projects, and the creation of the city’s first Equity and Engagement Department.

Feinen’s leadership at ATG has been in the top downstate operations position since early 2019. She brought with her more than 25 years' experience as a lawyer including more than 10 years as an active ATG agent. She has an impressive history of service in Champaign County, which includes nine years on the Champaign City Council, 14 years on the Champaign County Board, and many other areas of involvement. In addition to her career, civic involvement, and family life, Deb has served on various boards in the community, including Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana, Amasong, and as a liaison to the Developmental Disabilities Board.  

Deb was elected to the Illinois Land Title Association Board of Directors in 2021 and is a member of the Champaign County Bar Association, Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, Illinois State Bar Association, Champaign County Association of Realtors, Affiliate Member, and US Conference of Mayors. Deb is also an amateur photographer, runner, wife, and mom to two daughters. 

About Attorneys’ Title Guaranty Fund, Inc.

Through its thousands of member attorneys across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, ATG has presided over more than three million home closings and provided homebuyers with competitively priced title insurance since 1964. ATG has built a significant market share by providing excellent service at competitive prices. It has been assigned a Financial Stability Rating® (FSR) of A′ (A Prime), Unsurpassed, by the independent ratings bureau, Demotech, Inc., a rating it has maintained since 1995. ATG was included in the Crain’s Chicago Business list of “Chicago’s Largest Privately Held Companies,” for six consecutive years.  In addition, ATG has a Claims-Paying Ability Rating of A- from the Kroll Bond Rating 
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