Events
Judges' Lunch Presentation
The new year is off to a great start! Honorable Abbey Fishman Romanek presented “The State of the Union: The Domestic Relations Division in 2026”. Join us for educational and networking events soon!
2025 AAML Illinois Holiday Party
The leadership team of AAML Illinois wishes everyone happy holidays and a great 2026. Our annual holiday party was festive and fun. Click this link to see photos from the event and feel free to post and tag on your social channels.
AAML Illinois Chapter Fellow Named 2025 Fellow of the Year
AAML Fellow, Steven Peskind, received the AAML fellow of the Year during the AAML Annual Business Meeting at Loews Chicago Hotel. The Fellow of the Year is bestowed upon members who exhibit exemplary service to the Academy.
$5,000 grant to wings, Advocates for Survivors of domestic violence.
Left to right: Rebecca A. Darr, WINGS President & CEO, Rachel Martin WINGS Foundations & Corporate Grants Manager, Stuart G Gelfman, Partner Birnbaum, Gelfman, Sharma & Arnoux LLC, in his capacity as President, AAML-Illinois, Sarah Swiston WINGS Media and Communications Manager and Michelle Chase WINGS Grant Assistant.
AAML Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant for funding year 2024 to WINGS Program, Inc. WINGS, the leading support and advocacy organization for survivors of domestic violence, helps provide housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to break the cycle of domestic violence.
$5,000 challenge grant to support Feeding Illinois
Lisa Nyuli (left), partner, Ariano Hardy Ritt Nyuli Richmond Lytle & Goettel P.C. and member of the Board of Managers (AAML), presents a check to Stephen D. Ericson (right), executive director of Feeding Illinois, and Julie Yurko (center), executive director of the Northern Illinois Food Bank, to support hunger relief.
The Chapter’s $5,000 grant was designed to attract another $5,000 in contributions. This challenge exceeded its goal, with donations to Feeding Illinois totaling $11,166.75 for the purchase of more than 89,000 meals for Illinois residents facing hunger and food insecurity.
Photo: Tom A. McDonald
$5,000 grant to the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
James M. Quigley (left), partner, Beermann LLP, in his capacity as president of the Illinois Chapter of the AAML, presents a check to Susan Shulman (right), executive director of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic in Highland Park, Ill. The $5,000 grant was awarded by the AAML Foundation, which provides funds to charitable organizations across the country that help families and particularly children adversely affected by the breakup of the family unit.
Photo: Shin Lim
Community Outreach
An integral part of the Illinois Chapter’s mission is supporting not-for-profit organizations and initiatives by professional associations which build bridges between family lawyers and the public. The Chapter is committed to increasing understanding of—and access to—family law.
Charitable support
The Illinois Chapter has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the AAML Foundation and other charitable groups. Organizations benefitting from these donations include:
- The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
- Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center
- Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
- Crisis Center for South Suburbia
- Feeding Illinois
- Food for the Poor
- Illinois Bar Foundation
- North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
- SHALVA
- WINGS Program, Inc.
$5,000 grant to wings, Advocates for Survivors of domestic violence.
Left to right: Rebecca A. Darr, WINGS President & CEO, Rachel Martin WINGS Foundations & Corporate Grants Manager, Stuart G Gelfman, Partner Birnbaum, Gelfman, Sharma & Arnoux LLC, in his capacity as President, AAML-Illinois, Sarah Swiston WINGS Media and Communications Manager and Michelle Chase WINGS Grant Assistant.
AAML Foundation awarded a $5,000 grant for funding year 2024 to WINGS Program, Inc. WINGS, the leading support and advocacy organization for survivors of domestic violence, helps provide housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to break the cycle of domestic violence.
Photo: Tom A. McDonald
$5,000 challenge grant to support Feeding Illinois
Lisa Nyuli (left), partner, Ariano Hardy Ritt Nyuli Richmond Lytle & Goettel P.C. and member of the Board of Managers (AAML), presents a check to Stephen D. Ericson (right), executive director of Feeding Illinois, and Julie Yurko (center), executive director of the Northern Illinois Food Bank, to support hunger relief.
The Chapter’s $5,000 grant was designed to attract another $5,000 in contributions. This challenge exceeded its goal, with donations to Feeding Illinois totaling $11,166.75 for the purchase of more than 89,000 meals for Illinois residents facing hunger and food insecurity.
$5,000 grant to the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
James M. Quigley (left), partner, Beermann LLP, in his capacity as president of the Illinois Chapter of the AAML, presents a check to Susan Shulman (right), executive director of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic in Highland Park, Ill. The $5,000 grant was awarded by the AAML Foundation, which provides funds to charitable organizations across the country that help families and particularly children adversely affected by the breakup of the family unit.
Photo: Shin Lim