Written by Admin | Feb 9, 2021 6:00:00 AM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2021 | SERVING CHICAGO’S LEGAL COMMUNITY FOR 165 YEARS | CHICAGOLAWBULLETIN.COM VOLUME 167, NO. 16 Schiller DuCanto & Fleck marks 40th year with new office Jessie M. Molloy form of a divorce case involv- experience with financial siding judge of the Domestic jmolloy@lawbulletinmedia.com ing a millionaire real estate matters became critical to his Relations Division of the developer. family law success in 1977 Cook County Circuit Court. Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, “I was representing the when the Illinois Marriage “It just kept growing,” which bills itself as the largest man, who had built a large and Dissolution of Marriage Schiller said. “We didn’t expect family law firm in the coun- shopping center in the sub- Act became law. it to grow so fast, but we were try, celebrated its 40th urbs and condo develop- The questions in divorce very fortunate to receive the anniversary last week. ments, and Joe was shifted at that point from level of respect and support “It’s unbelievable 40 years representing his wife. It was “‘who did what to whom?’ to we got from the public.” have passed since Joe a very complex case. My ‘where’s the money and how The firm is still growing DuCanto and I decided to client’s income was over $10 to divide it?’” DuCanto said in today. Last week it moved start this firm,” said Donald million a year, and there were the 2006 interview. into an office at 321 N. Clark C. Schiller, who still serves as lots of tax issues involved, Schiller said their respec- St to accommodate its 46 chairman of the firm. “We which was Joe’s specialty. tive backgrounds in business attorneys and other staff. dreamed of becoming a large The case went on for almost law quickly offered an advan- “Our founders had a vision firm, but we never thought a year, and we developed a tage. of what they wanted this firm we would be this big.” deep respect for each other “Before the law changed, to be — they wanted to Schiller and DuCanto and decided to go ahead and divorce law was much less recreate the deep bench of joined forces in 1981 after form a partnership.” complex. Both parties kept experience large firms had in working the opposite sides DuCanto died in 2013 at anything that was only in a family law focused prac- of a big case. 85 years old. But in a 2006 their name, and anything tice,” said Meighan A. Har- “We were both very busy at interview with the Daily Law they both owned was split mon, the firm’s managing the time and had thought we Bulletin, DuCanto, said that down the middle,” he said. partner. “It’s a different needed more help,” Schiller by 1981 he was less inter- “The biggest issue was usu- world than it was 40 years said. “A mutual acquaintance ested in personally trying ally figuring out how much ago, so we want to foster an of ours, David Linn, who had cases, inspiring him to part- alimony the wife would get environment that makes that been a divorce lawyer and ner with Schiller, “a budding paid and for how long.” vision effective in 2021.” became a circuit court judge, young divorce attorney who Within a year of its found- Harmon said the space is had suggested we might loved trials.” ing the firm was up to five designed to facilitate team- work well together — but we DuCanto started his career attorneys. Among the early work — once staff fully needed more of a push.” in tax law and moved into additions in 1982 was Charles returns to in-person work That push came in the family law in the 1960s. His J. Fleck, who served as pre- after the pandemic. Copyright © 2021 Law Bulletin Media. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from Law Bulletin Media.Donald C. Schiller Meighan A. Harmon Anita M. Ventrelli Karen Pinkert-Lieb “It’s a very beautiful, cus- women equity partners,” “We told them, ‘No, these in family law at another firm tom designed space which Harmon said. “There’s been are the best lawyers coming who once compared our jobs we think is going to be ideal a lot of progress made in the out of law schools,’” Schiller to me by saying ‘I work in a for our practice.” last 20 years, and that is said. “And we went ahead M.A.S.H. unit, you work in a “As the firm grows, it’s not 100% attributable to the and added more.” teaching hospital,’” she said. as intimate as it once was,” vision of our founders. They Ventrelli started as a clerk Kimberly A. Cook spent 13 Harmon said. “We wanted a wanted to make it possible with Schiller in 1988 while years of her career at Schiller space that will encourage for women attorneys who still in law school. before starting her own contact and collaboration as were moms to succeed, so “When I was younger they mediation business, Dovetail we continue to grow.” they encouraged us and didn’t have as many attor- Conflict Resolution, last After having no women in hung in there with us. It’s neys, and they relied on the month. equity partner roles for the awesome.” clerks to do everything we “My career thus far has first two decades, now half of Schiller said it took “a long were possibly allowed to do been defined by what I Schiller DuCanto Fleck’s time” to happen. — no depositions or court learned at Schiller,” Cook equity partners are women. “There weren’t a lot of appearances or actually said. “I think the most impor- The firm’s executive commit- women lawyers in the early advising clients — but every- tant thing I learned was that tee comprises Schiller, Har- ‘80s. There was only one at thing else we did. It was a you don’t have to be the mon and partners Karen the firm in our first year, then great learning experience,” loudest person in the room Pinkert-Lieb and Anita M. another joined after a year or she said. “We really hit the to be the most effective. Don Ventrelli. two,” he said. ground running.” is the epitome of that. There Harmon said the transfor- In those days, the founders As a young associate, she were a lot of things I gained mation was a strategy had to push back against was able to draw connections there, but that’s a hard les- decades in the making. clients who did not want with colleagues on opportu- son for a lot of people to “When I came to the firm women lawyers handling nities in any given case. learn, and it serves lawyers in 2001, there were no their cases. “I have a friend who works and their clients well.” Copyright © 2021 Law Bulletin Media. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission from Law Bulletin Media.