LIVE - Family Law with a Global Twist - London 2024

October 17, 2024 to October 18, 2024
Presented by the ISBA Family Law Section

London, England
Thursday, October 17, 2024 – Friday, October 18, 2024
Kingsley Napley LLP, 20 Bonhill Street, London EC2A 4Dn
Thursday: 2:00 – 5:30 p.m. (Complimentary Networking Reception to follow)
Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Complimentary Continental Breakfast and Lunch)

10.5 hours MCLE credit, including 2.25* hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
  • 1.25 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit
  • 1.0 hour Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit
Registration is open to ISBA Members only and limited to the first 60 registrants!
Optional Legal London Tours
Tours will be available the afternoon of Wednesday, October 16, 2024
and the morning of Thursday, October 17, 2024.
(Note: tours are an additional cost and are not included in your CLE registration fee.)

** Details Coming Soon! **
CLE program registrants will receive an email notification
when the L egal London Tours are available for registration.
Lodging (on your own): The law firm of Kingsley Napley LLP is located in an area with multiple hotel venues and public transportation options. As the venue is a law firm, the ISBA is not contracting with a hotel. All participants should choose their own lodging and arrange their own airfare. The following list of lodging options varying in pricing and are within walking distance to the law firm venue. Participants could also secure rental housing such as an Air B&B.
  • Travelodge City Road
  • Montcalm Royal Hotel, Finsbury Square
  • Mondrian Shoreditch
  • Hoxton Hotel
  • Hub by Premier Inn, Shoreditch

Join us in London for this unique conference that explores a myriad of international family law topics!

Families are global. And attorneys who lack knowledge of what occurs outside of Illinois - and even outside of the U.S. – are at a disadvantage when it comes to having the tools necessary to advice their clients. Don’t miss this seminar that addresses relevant practice needs for all family law attorneys from jurisdiction for relocation-support-property division, tax implications and strategies for effective financial settlement, property division and location specific tax impact, support, foreign judgment support enforcement, child abduction, advance financial issues with trial practice techniques, as well as, how to maintain your mental health through all the chaos that is family law. Your practice is impacted by the laws of other jurisdictions. Come and meet experienced practitioners and judges in the United Kingdom and learn the similarities and differences in the standard of practice. Join your colleagues and experience the patchwork of secluded squares, alleyways, and courtyards that have been home to the legal profession since the Middle Ages, when students first came to study and live at the ancient Inns of Court. Network with practitioners, including barristers and judges, and expand your understanding of how you are impacted and how the documents you create impact your clients when analyzed in another jurisdiction.

Program Coordinators:
Hon. Arnold F. Blockman, University of Illinois School of Law, Champaign
Pamela J. Kuzniar, Haid and Teich, LLP, Chicago

Program Moderators:
Hon. Arnold F. Blockman, University of Illinois School of Law, Champaign
Jane Keir, Kingsley Napley, LLP, London
Pamela J. Kuzniar, Haid and Teich, LLP, Chicago
William MacFarlane, Kinglsey Napley LLP, London
The ISBA would like to offer a special thanks to this program’s financial supporters for helping to make this opportunity possible:
Platinum Contributors
Pamela J. Kuzniar
James Godbout, Partner Marcum LLP
Gold Contributors
Soberlink
True Test Labs
Matthew A. Kirsh, Kirsh and Associates, Ltd.
Family Law Software, A Centerbase Company
Silver Contributors
Richard A. Wilson, Richard A. Wilson P.C. Law Offices

Thursday, October 17, 2024

2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Structuring the Financial Settlement (includes 15 minutes of break time)
Complex cases involving businesses and trust assets, division of retirements assets, employment benefits and executive compensation, stock ownership plans, profit sharing, and marital/non-marital tracing, are difficult enough to deal with in Illinois alone. So how do you handle the issues when there are cross-border matrimonial disputes? Don’t miss this presentation as our seasoned professionals explain the art of settlement in complex financial cases. This segment includes one 10-minute break and one 5-minute break.
James M. Godbout, Marcum, Chicago
Jane Keir, Kingsley Napley, LLP, London
Matthew A. Kirsh, Kirsh & Associates Ltd., Chicago
Stephanie L. Tang, Baylor Law School, Texas
Nicholas Yates, 1 Hare Court, London

4:00 – 4:15 p.m. Break (refreshments provided)

4:15 – 5:30 p.m. Maintaining Your Mental Health in the Practice of Family Law*
(1.25 hours Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit*)
Being a family law attorney requires more than your ability to successfully negotiate, litigate, and mediate. It requires you to maintain your own mental health and functionality despite the chaos and pressure generated by your practice, including witnessing clients undergoing various kinds of trauma, or your own personal loss. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain the perspective of a psychiatrist, psychologist, and counselor as they explain how to maintain your own mental health and successfully navigate the stressors of your career.
Annmarie Carvalho, The Carvalho Consultancy, London
Dr. Louis Kraus, Psychiatrist, Rush University Medical Center, Northbrook
Dr. Ruth Kraus, Clinical Psychologist, Northbrook

5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Complimentary Networking Cocktail Reception

Friday, October 18, 2024

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Complimentary Continental Breakfast

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. International Relocation
Get the information you need regarding international relocation as our speakers discuss moving from the U.S. to the U.K (and vice versa), as well as the relevant factors to explore when deciding the best interest of the minor child. Topics include: the burden of proof necessary to successfully relocate, the current case law on relocation, practice tips for ensuring the child returns to the non-residential parent for parenting time, and the issues that can arise with competing jurisdictions (based on the UCCJEA) when the parties have not established a permanent residence. Sample parental allocation judgments that provide for long distance parenting time are provided.
Connie Atkinson, Kinglsey Napley LLP, London
Hon. Arnold F. Blockman, University of Illinois School of Law, Champaign
Joy Brereton, 4 Paper Buildings, London
Stephanie L. Tang, Baylor Law School, Texas

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Support Enforcement of Foreign Judgments
In the U.S., most individual child support cases are managed at the state level, with help from the federal Office of Child Support Services (OCSS) on an as-needed basis. But enforcing child support in foreign countries can be tricky. This segment offers a road map for evaluating, assessing, and enforcing support orders in foreign judgments, and explains what the 2007 Hauge Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance has done to help this situation. Additional topics include: what happens when a country is not a Hague Convention Country or a Foreign Reciprocating Country, how family support and maintenance is handled, and the Child Support Initial Jurisdiction Factors under UIFSA.
Charlotte Hartley, 1KBW, London
Jessica Patchik, DuPage County’s State’s Attorney’s Office, Wheaton
Hon. Maureen Schuette, 3rd Judicial Circuit, Edwardsville

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break (refreshments provided)

10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Surrogacy
Although medical technology has advanced and surrogacy is more widely accepted as a family building process, not all countries are advancing at the same pace. As such, the legal protections that intended parents expect in the U.S. may not be available in other countries. For instance, some countries may not allow pre- or post-birth parentage orders, which may prevent foreign intended parents from placing their name on the birth certificate or cause a surrogate to have inherent parental rights. On top of this, family conflict may arise at any time. Don’t miss this panel presentation that addresses the issues surrounding international surrogacy and how to work to ensure that your client returns home with their child. Topics include: ensuring that your client is recognized as the birth parent; how to secure uniform acknowledgment of parentage regardless of where your client travels; how to retain unused embryos for future use (or destruction) for your client; which courts to use to enforce the contract; and more.
Connie Atkinson, Kinglsey Napley LLP, London
Hon. Pamela E. Loza, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Andrew Powell, 4 Paper Buildings, London
Richard Wilson, Richard A. Wilson P.C. Law Offices, Chicago

11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch (provided)

12:45 – 1:45 p.m. Child Abduction Cases
The Hague Abduction Convention is an expedited summary proceeding that encourages the prompt return of a child to their habitual residence, but other complex laws and procedures can complicate this goal. Join us for an in-depth discussion on both Hague and Non-Hague abduction cases, as well as best practice tips when advising your client.
Hon. Anna M. Benjamin, 6th Judicial Circuit, Urbana
Michael Edwards, 4 Paper Buildings, London
Joy M. Feinburg, Davis Freidman LLC, Chicago

1:45 – 2:45 p.m. The Impact of Addiction
Addition impacts parenting across the globe. This session discusses how practitioners and judges address this issue, including the tools you can use to present evidence of addiction. Additional topics include: orders that remedy addiction issues and ensure child safety, the available testing methods, and how to draft effective orders that demand testing and set limits that trigger parenting loss. How to enforce these orders is also discussed.
Charlotte Bradley, Kingsley Napley LLP, London
Hon. Jeanne M. Reynolds, Circuit Court of Cook County, Skokie
Mandy Saligari, Charter Harley Street, London
Nancy Chausow Shafer, Sage Counsel LLC, Highland Park

2:45 – 3:00 p.m. Break (refreshments provided)

3:00 – 4:00 p.m. Client Reputation Management*
(1.0 hour Professionalism, Civility, or Legal Ethics credit*)
No one ever expects their divorce to become a media circus, yet it can happen all too easily. Once a divorce becomes public knowledge, every little detail is scrutinized. This applies to local doctors, police chiefs, mayors, school principals, lawyers, and, of course, celebrities. Learn how to safeguard your client’s reputation in an environment where anyone can publish negative content with a few clicks on their smartphone, while getting best practice tips on how to avoid it from the start. A discussion on how to address the media’s presence is included.
Dana Green, Vice President and Assistant General Counsel, The New York Times, New York
Hon. Pamela E. Loza, Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago
Helen Morris, Kinglsey Napley LLP, London

4:00 – 5:00 p.m. The Thungsten Prenup
In the U.S., there is no uniform law that controls prenuptial agreements, because matrimonial law varies by each state. As result, couples face challenges enforcing a prenuptial agreement in different states due to conflicting laws. These challenges become even more complex when navigating cross-border prenuptial agreements due to the application of foreign laws and multijurisdictional issues. It has become commonplace for couples from different countries to marry, and there are many reasons why these couples may need to consider an international prenuptial agreement (such as owning assets in different countries, having multiples residences and/or nationalities, or the location of their business activities). Learn how to draft a valid, travel-worthy prenup with this informative segment, while also gaining the insights you need to advise your clients on this sensitive topic.
Hon. Anna M. Benjamin, 6th Judicial Circuit, Urbana
Matthew A. Kirsh, Kirsh & Associates Ltd., Chicago
William MacFarlane, Kinglsey Napley LLP, London
Hon. Mr. Justice Moor, High Court Judge, London

5:00 – 5:30 p.m. Interactive Conference Review (With Prizes)
Don’t miss this interactive presentation in which our panelists propose questions to the audience based on a culmination of the subjects presented throughout the conference. Prizes are given to participants who offer the correct answer; however, the panelists will provide the correct answer and elaborate as an overview and summation of the conference topics.


*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval

By registering for and attending this ISBA event or program I affirm that:
  • I will comply with all state and CDC guidance related to hand sanitation, social distancing, and use of face coverings as appropriate for my vaccination status;
  • If applicable, I will follow more stringent local or venue requirements regarding hand sanitation, distancing, vaccination, testing, and face coverings in place at the location, and at the time of, the meeting.
  • I will not attend the event or program if I have tested positive for COVID-19, am experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. If at any time I begin to experience symptoms of COVID-19, or am in contact with someone experiencing symptoms, I will immediately leave the event or program;
  • I understand that there is an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 in any public place or gathering, and that recommended safety protocols continue to evolve. I agree to waive and release any and all claims I, or my guests, may have against the ISBA arising out of or connected in any way with exposure to Covid-19 (and its variants) at the event or program.

Program Information

  • Fees (lunch provided):
    • ISBA Member - $475
  • A full refund is available for cancellation requests received by ISBA by September 1, 2024, less a $100 administrative fee.
  • Please Note: MCLE credit is available to registrants only on the day of this live event – and you must attend the entire program to earn MCLE credit. All registrants will receive access to a recording of the event a few days after the program, but credit is NOT available for the recording.
  • From time to time at ISBA CLE events, the ISBA, it’s vendor partners, or others may take photographs or video of participants, attendees, and guests for use in their marketing or promotional materials or news publications. By registering for this event, you are consenting to the use of your, and your guests’, photograph, video-recorded likeness, and name without compensation. Any photographs or video taken will be the sole property of the ISBA or entity taking the photographs.

Artificial Intelligence and the Effects on Minorities

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the Illinois State Bar Association
Coordinated by Black Women Lawyers’ Association, Women’s Bar Association of Illinois, Asian American Bar Association,
The Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago, and South Asian Bar Association


1.0 hours MCLE credit, including 1.0 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Diversity and Inclusion credit


Original Program Date: November 2, 2023*
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 5, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Don’t miss this discussion on the bias against minorities in artificial intelligence when making predictions, and what engineers can do to minimize implicit bias when creating AI. Additional topics include: how AI works (in general), the aspects of facial recognition to be aware of (including surveillance and privacy issues), and using AI in the workplace.


Moderator: Reena Bajowala, Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Chicago
Kwanwoo Lee, UnitedHealth Group, Chicago
Shannon Stokes, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Chicago



*Originally presented as part of the ISBA’s 2023 Minority Bar Conference. Find more sessions in this series in the ISBA On-Demand CLE catalog.



Pricing Information
  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $35 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $70
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Using Artificial Intelligence to Resolve Small Claims Cases (and Changing/Adopting Ethics Rules to Reflect the Use of AI)

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure
Sponsored by the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company


1.50 hours MCLE credit, including 1.50 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: March 30, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 5, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Participants will better understand the potential for the application of Artificial Intelligence in the courts and the resolution of disputes. Topics cover the benefits of AI including increased efficiency, cost reduction, and improved access to justice; the challenges presented by AI including ethical concerns, potential biases, and accountability issues; developing measures to ensure that AI applications maintain fairness, impartiality, and adherence to the rule of law; integrating AI into the judicial system; the impact of AI on the judicial system; the various AI applications including document analysis, legal research, and case prediction tools; and much more.


Moderator: Nelson M. Rosario, Rosario Tech Law, LLC, Chicago
Hon. Michael J. Chmiel, Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit, Woodstock
Prof. Daniel W. Linna, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
Hon. E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Circuit Court of Cook County, Chicago



Pricing Information
  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $52.50 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $105
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Courts - An Overview

ISBA Members: Use your 15 hours of Free CLE credits to order this program –
just use the green button next to the “Add to Cart” button below!
Presented by the ISBA Civil Practice and Procedure
Sponsored by the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company


1.25 hours MCLE credit, including 1.25 hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following category: Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit


Original Program Date: March 30, 2023
Accreditation Expiration Date: ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­March 5, 2026 (You must certify completion and save your certificate before this date to get MCLE credit)


Participants will better understand the impact of AI on the judicial system and the challenges and opportunities presented by its application in the courts. Topics include defining AI and understanding how it works; how AI organizes and structures information; whether AI can advise or predict; the risk of unpredictable case outcomes; regulating AI; adopting a risk-based approach; assuring ethical standards including respect for fundamental rights; non-discrimination, impartiality, and fairness; and much more.


Dory Reiling, Amsterdam District Court (ret.) Netherlands (via pre-recorded video)
George S. Bellas, Bellas & Wachowski, Park Ridge
Hon. Eugene G. Doherty, Illinois Appellate Court, Fourth District, Rockford
Caroline Marouzek Cozzi, Bellas & Wachowski, Park Ridge
Ronald D. Menna, Fischel Kahn, Chicago



Pricing Information
  • Please Note: You must attend the entire program in order to earn MCLE credit for this seminar.
  • ISBA sponsoring section members get a $10 registration discount (which is automatically calculated in your cart when you log in to register).
  • Fees:
    • ISBA Member Price of $43.75 is displayed below when you login and program is eligible for Free CLE member benefit.
    • Non-Member Price $87.50
    • New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - $25
    • Law Students – Free


How could generative AI radically transform the legal industry?

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Until now—possibly. 

From: 
ABA Journal

Owner and executive of a Telemarketing company convicted of fraud

Following a two-week trial, members of a jury in southern Illinois returned guilty verdicts on multiple federal fraud charges against the owner/CEO and a former executive of a health insurance telemarketing company based in South Florida.

From: 
WSIU

Champaign County to appoint new judge to meet rising population

The Champaign County Courthouse will soon be home to a new judge. Rob Jacobson, a partner at local law firm Tummelson, Bryan and Knox, will don the robes on March 1 and be sworn in as an associate judge at the Champaign County Courthouse.

From: 
The News-Gazette

Democratic Party politics loom large over fight for Cook County Circuit Court Clerk

Incumbent Iris Martinez took on her own party and won four years ago. Now, she faces another tough fight from her own party for reelection.

From: 
WBEZ

Ex-Illinois lawmaker abruptly pleads guilty to fraud and money laundering, halting federal trial

Former Illinois lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate William “Sam” McCann abruptly pleaded guilty on Thursday to nine felony counts of wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, halting his federal corruption trial over misusing up to $550,000 in campaign contributions.

From: 
WAND