ADR Systems’ Women’s Initiative Committee Hosts Riverwalk Happy Hour for New and Established Clients - ADR Systems

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ADR Systems recently hosted its autumnal Women’s Initiative happy hour at City Winery Chicago Riverwalk to promote and encourage collaboration among women in the legal community. This event highlighted several of ADR Systems’ senior mediators and arbitrators, including Hon. Helaine L. Berger, (Ret.), Hon. Margaret A. Brennan, (Ret.), Hon. Janet Adams Brosnahan, (Ret.), Hon. Elizabeth M. Budzinski, (Ret.), Hon. Lisa R. Curcio, (Ret.), Hon. Kay M. Hanlon, (Ret.),  Hon. Brigid M. McGrath, (Ret.), Hon. Lorna E. Propes, (Ret.) and Hon. Marguerite A. Quinn, (Ret.).

“As female lawyers, we know there aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. We regularly spend part of our evenings and weekends trying to catch up. That’s why it was a great privilege to spend time networking and brainstorming with this group of dynamic women lawyers,” said Judge Quinn, senior mediator and arbitrator at ADR Systems, who joined our panel of neutrals in 2023. “They are smart and some of the hardest-working lawyers we know. When they choose us to mediate or arbitrate their cases, we are honored by their trust.”

ADR Systems’ Women’s Initiative pools together attorneys practicing law in various personal injury, commercial and family law subject areas on both sides of the bar. At past events, the Women’s Initiative has hosted CLE programs about the presence of implicit bias and stereotypes against women in the legal profession and its impact on the mediation process. At others, the Initiative has convened roundtable discussions about strategies going into mediation, preferences in mediator style, how attorneys select a mediator, the merits of in-person and remote proceedings and the underappreciated utility of ex parte pre-mediation sessions.

“These events are valuable not simply for us as mediators and arbitrators,” said Judge Brosnahan, who joined our panel in 2024. “They provide open, receptive opportunities for young women attorneys to come with their mentors and connect with others from different firms. And they provide chances for them to learn about the many opportunities open to them in this profession and the many ways they can serve their clients. We lawyers may be on the opposite side of a case or deal, but we are colleagues first. Occasions like these reinforce that.”

To receive updates on future Women’s Initiative Committee events, please click here.

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Hon. Helaine L. Berger, (Ret.) is an experienced civil litigator who tried cases in Criminal, Chancery, Law and Domestic Relations before serving as a judge in Cook County’s Domestic Relations Division for 19 years. Judge Berger has been active in the legal community, including  President of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. She is  a senior mediator and arbitrator at ADR Systems, concentrating in family law. Judge Berger is flexible and creative in her approach to mediation and has helped ADR Systems launch an innovative fast track mediation program for family law cases.

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Hon. Margaret A. Brennan, (Ret.) served for 19 years in the Circuit Court of Cook County Chancery and Law Divisions and cultivated expansive knowledge of commercial cases such as employment matters involving discrimination and retaliatory discharge, construction and legal malpractice disputes. Colleagues commend Judge Brennan’s intelligence, persuasiveness, remarkable patience, careful case preparation and boundless energy, which contribute significantly to her success as a senior mediator and arbitrator.

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Hon. Janet Adams Brosnahan, (Ret.) served 21 years in the Circuit Court of Cook County. She has expertise in settling a variety of disputes, particularly those relating to medical negligence, toxic tort and product liability issues. Judge Brosnahan also has extensive experience in labor, employment and contract matters. Her warmth and in-depth knowledge make her a well-respected and sought-after neutral.

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Hon. Elizabeth M. Budzinski, (Ret.) was a hard-working, meticulous and highly sought-after trial judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County for 20 years before joining ADR Systems as a senior mediator and arbitrator.  She is skilled at bringing even the most recalcitrant parties to a resolution of their dispute. Attorneys who have settled cases with Judge Budzinski describe her as diligent, fair and someone who can keep the parties talking.

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Hon. Lisa R. Curcio, (Ret.) brings an abundance of real-world experience — real estate, business and banking — to her mediation and arbitration practice. Of over 15 years on the bench, she spent 11 in the Chancery Division where she presided over claims for mechanics liens and all aspects of claims under construction contracts. Before she went on the bench, Judge Curcio represented parties in medical malpractice, premises and product liability and other personal injury matters.  Judge Curcio is regarded as an energetic and pragmatic neutral who helps parties construct suitable solutions to their disputes.

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Hon. Kay M. Hanlon, (Ret.) has expertise in resolving personal injury actions such as medical malpractice, mass torts and product liability, as well as commercial actions such as legal malpractice, eminent domain and subrogation. As a jurist and neutral, Judge Hanlon is always prepared and ready to listen attentively. Her open and friendly demeanor is known throughout the legal community. Her personality is tailor-made for her work as a mediator and arbitrator.

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Hon. Brigid M. McGrath, (Ret.) has handled complex commercial and personal injury case types throughout her 34-year legal and judicial career, including professional malpractice, medical malpractice, insurance coverage and product liability matters. As a senior mediator and arbitrator, she is skilled at diffusing conflict and identifying root causes of disputes. Counsel know Judge McGrath will prepare thoroughly for every case and work diligently toward resolution.

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Hon. Lorna E. Propes, (Ret.) brings 32 years of experience as a civil trial lawyer and 12 as a trial judge to her role as a senior mediator and arbitrator. On the bench, she presided over medical negligence, personal injury, product liability, mass torts, aviation disaster, contract and FELA disputes at trial and in settlement conferences. Her goal with every case is to help litigants see the case from a realistic perspective and urge them to appreciate how compromise is not concession but a path to achieving their goals.

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Hon. Marguerite A. Quinn, (Ret) brings 38 years of legal experience to her role as a senior mediator and arbitrator. On the bench she presided over both commercial and personal injury cases, including one of the largest toxic tort cases in Cook County. She values patience when working with parties to resolve disputes and urges everyone involved in her mediations to intentionally listen to each other.

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I direct all of my attorneys to explore ADR on their files.

David Petrich, Esq.Senior Partner, Sandman, Levy & Petrich
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