AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT December 2019 Donald C. Schiller & Michelle A. Lawless Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP, Chicago, Lake Forest & Wheaton 312-641-5560 | E-mail Donald Schiller | E-mail Michelle Lawless Donald C. Schiller and Michelle A. Lawless of Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP in Chicago, Lake Forest, and Wheaton are in the December Author Spotlight Authors. They are the long-standing authors of IICLE®’s monthly Family Law FLASHPOINTS. Donald Schiller says that, as a young lawyer he “found that IICLE® was unquestionably the best source for continuing legal education.” While the various bar associations had their own programming, Schiller says IICLE®’s programs “consistently provided interesting speakers” from among the top practicing lawyers in Illinois. He discovered IICLE® also published excellent practice books with regular updates. While attending DePaul University College of Law, Schiller says he gravitated toward legal writing. He also contributed to the DePaul Law Review, and a note on legislation he wrote as a 2L sparked his interest in family law. Drawing from his years of experience, Schiller has taught and lectured about family law for many years. “I still remember after about 10 years in practice how proud I was to be invited to speak at an IICLE® program,” said Schiller. He has contributed countless lectures, book chapters, and articles on the topic of family law since, including nearly 20 years’ worth of Family Law FLASHPOINTS. Michelle Lawless, Schiller’s Family Law FLASHPOINTS coauthor, says she has found FLASHPOINTS to be “a critical tool for attorneys practicing in the trenches each day,” and attributes her enhanced ability to stay abreast of current legislation and caselaw to her work authoring the monthly submission with Schiller. Lawless says that analyzing new cases each month and evaluating how each case fits into the current landscape of the practice area is invaluable, especially with the constant evolution of family law over the last several years. Lawless states that she has been “consistently impressed with the quality of CLE programming and publications” offered by IICLE® to Illinois attorneys. “Not only is the wide range of topics year after year impressive, but the quality of presenters and written materials is top tier in all aspects.” Schiller is cofounder of and senior partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP, where he actively handles complex divorce matters. He is a lecturer in law at the University of Chicago, as well as a former President of the Illinois State Bar Association; a former chair of the American Bar Association Family Law Section, the ISBA Family Law Section, AND the CBA Matrimonial Law Committee; and Chair of the national American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers CLE Committee. Schiller received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and his undergraduate degree from Lake Forest College.Lawless, a partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP, has been a member of the firm since 2002, having spent her entire career resolving complex family law matters. She is a graduate of the ABA’s Advanced Trial Advocacy Institute focusing exclusively on business valuations. Lawless is a recipient of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “40 Under Forty” Award and has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2015. She received her J.D. from St. Louis University School of Law and her bachelor of arts degree in journalism from Indiana University.