Justia Legal Services & Lawyers Directory

-Successfully completed over 2,200 estate plans ranging in size to $210 million.
-Assisted in redirecting more than $150 million away from estate taxes and to charities and heirs.
-Eliminated estate taxes in more than 450 estate plans which were otherwise taxable.
-Conducted more than 50 briefings, seminars and workshops on estate and tax elimination planning.
-Co-author of "Combining Life Insurance and Annuity Policies to Create a Financial Engine for a Nongrantor CLAT," Journal of Practical Estate Planning, CCH Incorporated, August-September, 2004.
-Author of "Tax Elimination Planning", "The Ten Most Common Mistakes in Estate Planning", "How a Charitable Trust Can Save You Taxes", and "The New Tax Law- An Update" for a national charity's newsletter.
-Graduate of the Family Wealth Counseling two-year training school on Tax Elimination Planning, and of the Renaissance School of Social Capital concentrating on Charitable planning tools.
-Has for 13 years successfully represented an Illinois based university in assisting donors to make planned gifts, including Gift Annuities, Charitable Remainder Trusts, bargain sale gifts and other planned gifts.
-Has for 13 years successfully represented a national charity, has conducted a national workshop program resulting in Charitable Remainder Trusts, Revocable Living Trusts, Charitable Lead Trusts, Gift Annuities and outright cash gifts.
-Founder and Director of The Good News Foundation, which is an ECFA approved charity devoted to educating Americans about their estate planning options.
-Has for ten years successfully represented a senior assisted living facility in its planned giving programs.
-Completed the Heckerling Institute and the Notre Dame Estate Planning Institute on Estate Planning.

Born: Chicago, Illinois, April 15, 1964

Education: Northern Illinois University, B.S., 1986, Northern Illinois University, J.D., cum laude, 1989

Practice Areas: Family Law; Personal Injury; Automobile Accidents and Injuries; Dog Bites; Motorcycle Accidents; Workers Compensation; Slip and Fall; Products Liability; Truck Accidents; Aviation Accidents; Pharmacy Law

Membership: Illinois State Bar Association; Kane County Bar Association.

Admissions: 1989, Illinois and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois

Miscellaneous Information: Delta Theta Phi. Member, Moot Court Society. Member, Northern Illinois University Law Review, 1988-1989.

Biography:

Mr. Jacobs graduated from Northern Illinois University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1986. Mr. Jacobs continued his education at Northern Illinois University where he graduated cum laude in 1989 and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence degree. Mr. Jacobs became licensed to practice law on November 9, 1989. While in law school, Mr. Jacobs was honored by being appointed to the Law Review and was involved in moot court where he successfully won competitions.

Upon graduation from Law School, Mr. Jacobs began his career as an insurance defense litigation attorney where he represented companies including State Farm, Kemper, Hanover, Andover, McDonalds, Seven-Eleven and Southland Corporation.

In 1991, Mr. Jacobs opened his own law firm in St. Charles, Illinois where he concentrated in general litigation until 2000 when he co-founded the Law Firm of Shaw Jacobs and Associates, P.C. which concentrates in domestic relations law.

In addition, Mr. Jacobs maintains an active practice representing plaintiffs who have been seriously injured as the result of the negligence of another. Mr. Jacobs personal injury practice includes automobile accidents, dog bites, wrongful death and work related injuries.

Mr. Jacobs is a skilled litigator with a proven track record of success and over 18 years of trial experience in both bench and jury trials.

Mr. Jacobs has been a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and is currently a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and the Kane County Bar Association.

CHRIS S. HAAFF owns and operates his own law firm in Crystal Lake, McHenry County, Illinois. He is an experienced litigator and negotiator in all aspects of family law, including divorce, paternity, adoption, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, surrogacy, and qualified domestic relations orders. Chris is a frequent writer and speaker statewide on family law topics, and is involved with both the Illinois State Bar Association and the University of Illinois College of Law. Chris has been recognized as an ISBA “Young Lawyer of the Year” for outside Cook County and selected in the McHenry County Business Journal list of “Top Ten Business Professionals Under Age 40.”

Born: Chicago, IL, May 8, 1978

Education: Western Illinois University, B.A., 1999, Baylor University Law School, J.D., 2002

Practice Areas: Family Law; Divorce; Paternity; Child Custody; Child Support; Visitation Rights; Marital Property Distribution

Membership: Illinois State Bar Association; Kane County Bar Association.

Admissions: 2003, Texas; 2006, Illinois

Biography:

Associate with Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, P.C.; Licensed attorney in Illinois, Texas; Western Illinois University, B.A. (summa cum laude); Baylor (University) Law School, J.D. (concentration in criminal practice). Ms. Duvall currently practices in the areas of divorce, paternity, custody, child support, visitation.

Attorney Duvall has trial experience and has successfully handled many cases involving divorce and other family law issues, including financial, property and child-related issues

Gary Newland is an experienced trial attorney evidenced by the hundreds of cases he has successfully won at trial. Many of Gary’s cases have been covered by USA Today, Forbes, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, NBC, The Daily Herald, Oprah Winfrey and the list goes on. Many of the clients Gary represents are referrals from other attorneys who are aware of his skills and reputation in the community. He has been an invited guest lecturer to the Bar Association and other legal organizations as well as an author of published articles on legal issues. He has been a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association, Illinois Bar Association, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, Chicago Bar Association and the Northwest Suburban Bar Association and was the youngest person ever elected to the High School Dist 214 School Board.


"A truly gifted and caring professional that will always go the extra mile!"

Gary has successfully tried and settled cases against some of the world’s largest corporations and insurance companies.

Recently Gary won a decision at trial which was appealed by United Airlines for two reasons. The first reason being the verdict was believed by United Airlines to be excessive for a herniated disk. The second reason was payment for holistic treatment (acupuncture) was awarded. Gary prevailed on appeal on all issues.

Recently Gary won a decision that the client of CNA Insurance was not only fully liable for the torn rotator cuff of one of Gary’s clients, but CNA Insurance was guilty of “deceptive claims practices”. The decision was so important because it held CNA accountable based on the claim adjuster’s despicable conduct. The decision sent CNA Insurance and claims adjusters throughout Illinois a strong message that Newland & Newland, LLP is going to take the battle directly to the claim adjusters that use deceptive and improper claim practices.

Gary has obtained millions of dollars for his clients and he has represented people for auto accidents, plane accidents, work related accidents, food poisoning, slip and fall, molestation, dog bites, construction accidents, truck accidents, bus accidents, class actions, mass torts and the list goes on.


"In a time when people are so cynical about lawyers and the legal system, it’s understandable - they haven't met Gary Newland."

Gary began his career working for one of the top 5 largest law firms in the country where he assisted in the defense of Fortune 500 companies in mass tort litigation. Thereafter he used his skills to help individuals to protect their rights, stop abuses of large corporations and insurance companies. During his career he also made time to work at Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic helping those who could not afford attorneys. He also was a prosecutor in Chicago. Gary has been brought into cases by other law firms on many occasions for his trial experience for the sole purpose of being the trial lawyer.

As an undergraduate from Loyola University in Chicago, Gary was admitted to the Blue Key National Honors Society, the Jesuit Honor Society, the Political Science and History Honor Society and was also present in the Pre-Law Society. After graduating with honors from Loyola University he was admitted into Loyola Law School and Graduate School to study both political science and law. He was presented with his Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola in 1993.

Gary is a personal injury lawyer or some people like to say PI attorney or personal injury attorney. He also represents clients that have had a work injury otherwise commonly known as a work comp claim. In fact he has experience representing those with personal injury, federal tort claims, medical malpractice and work comp. As a lawyer he has represented people suffering from mild brain injury, traumatic brain injury(TBI), spinal cord injury, herniated disc, occipital nerve injury, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), reflex sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), torn meniscus, torn bicep, eye injuries, hearing loss injury, tinnitus injury, traumatic amputation, 2nd degree burns, 3rd degree burns, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), neuropathy, lead poisoning, back injuries, frozen shoulder, scars, broken bones and other types of injuries.

* For references click on the link below to AVVO and for case results click on case results below.


"I highly endorse this lawyer's work. Gary is an exceptional lawyer who has outstanding strategy and trial skills. Gary is organized, creative, and works very hard to attain his client's goals. I have had the chance to work on a case with Gary as the opposing counsel, and he was brillaint is his argument and presentation at trial. I would recommend Gary as an attorney becasue of his tenacity for hard work. "

Richard Schmack was born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in Berwyn, Illinois. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from North Central College in Naperville, Illinois in 1977 with double majors in Political Science and History. In 1980 he received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.

Upon graduation from law school in 1980, Richard was admitted to the Illinois Bar and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. He is a member of the Federal Trial Bar. Richard has made DeKalb County his home since1985. He, his wife, Jackie, who is his office manager, and their sons reside in Sycamore.

Prior to opening his private practice in 1989, Richard served as an Assistant DeKalb County State's Attorney, handling misdemeanor and traffic prosecution, as well as child support enforcement. In his capacity as the civil assistant, Richard represented DeKalb County in lawsuits in Federal and State courts, served as legal advisor to all departments of County government, and represented the County's Zoning Board of Appeals, gaining valuable knowledge of the County's zoning ordinances and regulations.

In private practice Richard is a general practitioner well versed in the areas of Adoptions, Bankruptcy, Criminal Misdemeanors and Felonies, Traffic, DUI, Guardianships, Juvenile Law, Real Estate, Wills & Estates, and Zoning.

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