Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

Founded in 1994, the law firm of Sullivan Taylor & Gumina is dedicated to providing compassionate family law services to people throughout Chicago's western suburbs. Our attorneys bring an uncommon diversity of personal and legal experience to our clients' family law matters. As former public defenders, teachers, child advocates, state's attorneys, and therapists, we are able to help people work through the legal, emotional, and financial issues associated with complex family law matters.

Serving DuPage, Kane, Kendall & Will counties. Practice focused on domestic relations law: family law, divorce, separation, maintenance (alimony), custody, child support, domestic violence, pre-post-and ante-nuptial agreements.
I began my law career clerking then interning with the Kane County State's Attorney's Office (2001-2003) then since passing the bar I have focused my attention on family law.
Prior to law school I worked as a child advocate for abused and neglected children in Addison Illinois (1996-2000). From 1995-1996 I worked with the elderly population in an in-patient Alzheimer's/Dementia facility in Arlington Heights.

Licensed in the Illinois courts and the Federal General Bar since 1991, Ms. Harry's practice focuses primarily on the areas of family law and criminal/traffic defense. Ms. Harry is proud of her ability to assist her clients with the resolution of their problems while making representation affordable.

Ms. Harry graduated Cum Laude from Millikin University, Decatur, Illinois in 1988 and from DePaul University College of Law, Chicago, Illinois in 1991. She became licensed in Illinois in 1991 and joined a local DuPage County firm practicing in the areas of criminal defense, family law, estate planning and bankruptcy. Ms. Harry formed her own law firm in 1995 and continues to practice successfully today in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Ms. Harry is an active member of the DuPage County Bar Association. Her previous appointments with the county bar include serving as the former Chair of the Professional Responsibility Committee, the former Chair of the Bankruptcy Committee, on the subcommittee for the Family Law Trial Advocacy Workshop for Practicing Attorneys and as a member of the Legal Referral Service Committee. Ms. Harry also supports the DuPage Legal Aid Foundation by volunteering her services as an attorney and raising funds by participating in the Annual Judge's Nite Show.

I am a native Chicagoan, and moved to DuPage County in 1972.

I attended DePaul Law School full-time in the evening, while working for one of the major trust companies in the Chicago Loop. I therefore received extensive training and experience in Estate Planning, Probate and Tax matters, and have practiced in those areas for over 30 years.

My first employment after law school was with a Chicago law firm that specialized in Real Estate and Real Estate Development matters. I worked for them for several years, adding extensive experience in both residential and commercial real estate transactions and commercial real estate development to my legal expertise.

As a private practitioner in DuPage County, I continued practicing in these fields, and added representation of clients in divorce and other domestic and family related matters. I have now represented hundreds of clients relative to dissolution of their marriages. Several judges have also appointed me as Guardian ad-litem or attorney for children in troubled situations or in complex divorce cases.

I feel that my expertise in each of these areas compliment the other. For example, complex divorces often involve real estate or business holdings, with the accompanying valuation and ownership issues. Sometimes, a trust for the benefit of children is appropriate. In doing estate planning, there is often the need to plan appropriately for the second marriage situation. Real estate clients also often need to appropriately plan their estates, and to take title to their home in a manner that is consistent with their ultimate estate desires.

I was admitted to practice in the courts of Illinois in 1971 and the U.S. Federal Court in 1971, and admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court in 1992. I am a member of both the Illinois and DuPage County Bar Associations.

I have been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn for some years, and am presently the President of the club. As such, I recently accepted, on behalf of our club, the Family Shelter Services Civic Partner of the year award. We work closely with Family Shelter Services and other organizations to provide benefits to children in need.

My primary hobby is the study of history, particularly of the American Civil War period. I am the past president of two Civil War Round Tables (Chicago and Salt Creek, which meets in Glen Ellyn, Illinois), and a member of three Round Tables (Chicago, Salt Creek and Milwaukee). I have also given presentations, on a number of topics, to round tables throughout the midwest.

Our firm takes a team approach to resolving family law matters. By assigning a partner, an associate, and a paralegal to every client, we ensure that there is always someone in the office to answer our clients' questions and resolve legal matters. In addition, if necessary, we employ service counselors, business evaluators, forensic accountants, financial planners, psychiatrists, and psychologists to ensure our clients receive the best possible legal advice and representation possible.

We are strongly committed to building relationships with our clients. We understand that family law matters do not end when a divorce is final. Child custody and child support issues often continue until the children are in college and spousal support matters can continue for a lifetime. Our services go beyond the initial divorce proceeding. We ensure that our clients have the resources to manage divorce settlements, with an eye toward the secure enjoyment of their life.

Susan Marie Pesch has been an attorney licensed in Illinois since 1991. Ms. Pesch has concentrated her practice in all areas of family law since she began her own practice 16 years ago. Built largely on referrals, Pesch Law Office handles a variety of domestic relations matters, including divorce, paternity, child custody, child support, day care expenses, maintenance claims, and name change petitions. Also, Susan is experienced in post-decree issues such as seeking parent contribution to college expenses and enforcement/modification of child support.

Ms. Pesch has represented clients in DuPage County and Kane County throughout her legal career. 100% of her practice is devoted to family law. Susan is also qualified to act as a Guardian ad Litem/GAL or Child Representative, serving the best interest of the children in a contested custody case. Her name is maintained on the Court approved list of individuals available for appointment as Guardian ad Litem. In addition, Ms. Pesch has been trained and certified as a family law mediator. In her role as mediator, she helps parties reach their own agreement without litigation on issues regarding custody and visitation.

Brad Cahow has been practicing law in Kane, Dekalb, McHenry, DuPage, Cook, Will and nearby counties since 1981. Brad provides legal services in the following areas:

REAL ESTATE LAW

Brad has represented several thousand real estate clients in residential sales and purchases. He prepares contracts and provides title insurance services. His experience also includes loan modifications, short sales, and landlord tenant disputes

FAMILY LAW

Brad had years of experience in both uncontested and contested divorces, custody disputes, visitation rights, child support issues and adoptions.

ESTATE LAW

Brad prepares Wills, Revocable Living Trusts, Powers of Attorney for Heatlh Care and Property, Living Wills. His practice also includes Probate.

PERSONAL INJURY AND WORKERS COMPENSATION

If you suffer a personal injury or are hurt at work, Brad will assist you in recovering damages from the party responsible for your injury.

TRAFFIC AND CRIMINAL LAW

Brad provides representation in traffic, misdemeanor, driving under the influence, and non-violent felony cases.

CIVIL LITIGATION

Brad repsesents small claims litigants, debt collection defendants, landlords, tenants, and contract litigants.

INITIAL CONSULTATION IS FREE

Debra J. Braselton is an experienced family law attorney with a unique background and a career built around families. Debra's first career was as a certified nurse midwife at a large teaching hospital in Chicago. During her career as a nurse midwife, Debra gained a wealth of knowledge and experience with families, particularly with families in crisis. Debra's clients benefit from her experience and enjoy her unique sensitivity to the personal nature of their family law matters.
Debra handles cases involving divorce, custody, visitation, domestic violence, guardianship, and adoption in Cook, Dupage, Kane, and surrounding counties. She is adept at counseling her clients as to the proper course of action and regularly handles trials, pretrial conferences, evidentiary hearings, and contested motions in her cases. Debra is also a skilled negotiator – as comfortable developing and presenting a complex settlement proposal as she is evaluating and responding to a settlement proposal presented by her opponent. Whether she's handling litigated cases or negotiating settlements, Debra's skills help achieve the best possible results for her clients.
An advocate of alternative dispute resolution in family law matters, Debra was among the first attorneys in Illinois to receive training in collaborative law. Approximately half of Debra’s divorce practice is comprised of collaborative cases, and she is actively involved in the Illinois and international collaborative law professional organizations.
Debra achieves an out-of-court settlement in 95% of her divorce cases, a success rate she attributes to meticulous case preparation, excellent client communication, and a willingness to aggressively try the case when settlement options have been exhausted.
Debra demonstrates her commitment to professional responsibility through her active involvement in local bar associations, not-for-profit divorce educational organizations, and as a hearing officer for the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission.