Brian is a principal at Berger Schatz. Brian prides himself on his ability to maintain objectivity and calm during what can be the most emotional (and often hostile) points of his clients’ lives. He has a strong sense of what battles are worth fighting in a courtroom and which ones are not. Brian firmly believes that his ability to get along with opposing lawyers and judges generally results in a more positive outcome for his clients. Brian has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® for the practice of Family Law since 2013. Brian is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers as well as a member of the Illinois State Bar Association. He serves on the American Bar Association CLE Committee.

The Honorable Judge Arnold F. Blockman serves as an adjunct professor at the College of Law, teaching family law practice. Judge Blockman presided over the family law division in Champaign County, Illinois from 2000 until his retirement from the bench in September 2016. Since March of 2004 he has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as a faculty member for the Illinois Judicial Conference Seminar Series and the Illinois Judicial Education Conferences. He is a frequent speaker at various Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education and Illinois State Bar Association seminars on various family law issues. He has published articles on various legal issues in a number of publications, including the Illinois Bar Journal and the Southern Illinois Law Journal. He is available for contact at arnoldblockman@gmail.com.

As an experienced trial attorney and partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, Jay Dahlin has successfully handled numerous financial and custodial cases throughout northern Illinois’s domestic relations courts. Dahlin also specializes in international family law litigation. He is a member of the American Society of International Law and is a speaker and author on issues relating to the application of international treaties to domestic relations cases. In 2008, as recognition of his effective client advocacy, the Law Bulletin Publishing Company named him one of Illinois’ “40 Under 40 Attorneys to Watch.” Since 2009, Super Lawyers has named him an Illinois Rising Star. Since 2012, Mr. Dahlin has been recognized as a “Leading Lawyer.” He may be reached at JDahlin@sdflaw.com or by phone at 312-609-5501.

Robert Jacobson is a partner at the Urbana, Illinois law firm of Tummelson Bryan & Knox, LLP, with a significant portion of his work focusing on family law. A 1996 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law, Jacobson has been in private practice for over 20 years. During that time, he has developed one of the largest family law practices in east central Illinois. He has also been retained as an expert witness in divorce cases regarding the division of retirement plans and is regularly appointed as a guardian ad litem to conduct investigations in contested custody matters and make recommendations to the Court as to the best interests of the children involved. Jacobson greatly enjoys family law practice because of its capacity to help people going through a difficult time in their lives. He may be reached at rjacobson@tbklaw.com.

Michael Strauss is a partner at Schlesinger & Strauss, LLC., in Lake County, IL. Michael also serves as a mediator and as a Child Representative or Guardian Ad Litem. Michael is the Vice President on the Board of A Safe Place. Michael has also been elected to the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly and is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section Counsel. Michael was named a Rising Star in the area of Family Law by Super Lawyers Magazine in 2014 – 2017, and recently Michael was awarded the distinction of Super Lawyers 2018. Michael was honored with the 2018 Access to Justice Award given by the Lake County Bar Association and the 2018 Outstanding Achievement award given by the Lake County Housing Authority. He can be reached at straussfamilylaw@gmail.com.

Stephanie L. Tang is a family law attorney, mediator, and collaborative law professional at Kogut & Wilson, L.L.C. She strives to provide personalized attention to her clients by walking them through each step of the litigation or settlement process. Her effective communication and organizational skills help clients feel comfortable and prepared throughout their case. As a certified mediator and Fellow with the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois, Stephanie offers clients alternative means to resolve their divorce outside of the courtroom. Stephanie was previously selected to receive the Avvo Clients' Choice Award in Divorce for outstanding client reviews and as a Rising Star by Illinois Super Lawyers and Emerging Lawyer in Family Law by Leading Lawyers. She is available for contact at stephanie@kogutwilson.com or by phone at 312-565-4100.

Debra B. Walker was elected judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County in November 2008. She is assigned to the Domestic Relations Division, where she currently sits in Expedited Hearings. Judge Walker chairs the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. In 2012, Judge Walker was also appointed to the Access to Justice Commission by the Illinois Supreme Court. Additionally, Judge Walker is a past president of the Illinois Bar Foundation board of directors and a past president of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois. She also served on the board of the National Conference of Bar Foundations from 2013 to 2016. In 2014, Judge Walker was the recipient of the U. of I. College of Law Alumni Loyalty Award. She may be reached at debra.walker@cookcountyil.gov or by phone at 312-603-6024.