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Women's Bar Association of Illinois

  • May 12, 2016 | Events
    Women’s Bar Association of Illinois to host 102nd Annual Installation Dinner

    The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) will kick off a new term of office on Wednesday, June 8, 2016, during its 102nd Annual Installation Dinner at the Chicago Hilton Towers, located at 720 S. Michigan Avenue. The event will feature keynote speaker Mary Cranston and presentation of the Myra Bradwell Woman of Achievement Award to Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court Rita B. Garman.  The Annual Dinner serves as one of the largest annual celebrations within the Chicago legal community, with over 700 judges, attorneys, corporate supporters and prominent community leaders in attendance each year.  The cocktail reception begins at 5:00 p.m. with dinner to follow at 6:00 p.m. 

  • April 19, 2016 | Events
    Women Leaders: A Discussion on Employment, Labor & Inclusion

    Women Leaders: A Discussion on Employment, Labor & Inclusion will be held on Wednesday, May 4 from 3-5:45 p.m. at Kirland & Ellis, 300 N. LaSalle in Chicago. A reception will follow from 5:45-6:45 p.m. This event is being put on by the Women's Bar Association of Illinois in collaboration with the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms. The ISBA is serving as an Invited Organization.

    Registration and more information is available at https://wbaillinois.org/events/womenleaders/

  • April 4, 2012 | Events
    Women's Bar Association of Illinois to host 98th Installation Dinner on June 7

    The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) will kick off a new term of office on Thursday, June 7, 2012, during its 98th Annual Installation Dinner at the Chicago Hilton Towers. The dinner serves as one of the largest annual celebrations within the Chicago legal community, with over 700 judges, attorneys, corporate supporters and prominent community leaders attending the event each year.

    This year, the WBAI celebrates the installation of its incoming President, Karina Zabicki DeHayes, a partner in the Chicago law firm Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC. Incoming President Karina Zabicki DeHayes was named in the Law Bulletin’s “40 Under Forty”—Illinois Attorneys to Watch in 2008 and was named an Illinois “Rising Star” by her peers in SuperLawyers® magazine for three consecutive years beginning in 2009, a distinction reserved for the top 2.5 percent of Illinois lawyers who are under 40 or in practice for 10 years or less. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Women’s Bar Foundation. At the Dinner, incoming President Karina Zabicki DeHayes will detail the goals for her term and unveil her mission for the upcoming year, “Women and Men Partnering for Excellence.”

  • March 1, 2012 | Events
    Women's Bar Association of Illinois to honor Walker, Pallmeyer at 98th Annual Judicial Reception

    On Thursday, March 1, 2012, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois will host its 98th Annual Judicial Reception. The Judicial Reception, which will be held at the Hotel Allegro from 5:00pm to 7:30 p.m., brings together members of the bench and bar to  celebrate the achievements of the Illinois judiciary.

    This year, the WBAI is pleased to honor two eminent jurists with the presentation of the WBAI’s Mary Heftel Hooton Award: The Honorable Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, of the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, and The Honorable Judge Debra B. Walker, of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Domestic Relations Division. Each year, the WBAI recognizes a select number of distinguished jurists who share in the WBAI’s determined commitment to promoting the success of women attorneys and advocacy for women’s interests by presenting them with this award. The award’s namesake, Judge Mary Heftel Hooton, was a First Municipal District Judge and served as President of the WBAI in 1976. In 1993, she kindly bequeathed her estate to the WBAI, enabling the WBAI to acquire and maintain its current offices in the Chicago Bar Association Building. The WBAI imparts the Mary Heftel Hooton Award in her honor.

  • November 3, 2011 | ISBA News | People
    Paula Holderman receives the 2011 “Women with Vision” Award

    ISBA 2nd Vice President and Winston & Strawn chief attorney development officer Paula H. Holderman will be honored by the Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) with the 2011 "Women with Vision" award. Ms. Holderman will be presented with the award at the WBAI's Joint Professional Dinner on Nov. 3, 2011 in Chicago.

    The "Women with Vision" Awards were first presented in 1997 by the WBAI to honor and recognize women who have demonstrated visionary approaches in their professional endeavors and who have made a contribution to the well-being and empowerment of women.

    Ms. Holderman will take office as ISBA president of the in 2013. Ms. Holderman is also a member of Winston & Strawn's diversity committee as well as a chair of the Women to Women (W2W) initiative.

  • April 5, 2011 | Events
    Lisa Madigan, Jan Schakowsky to receive awards at WBAI's 97th Installation Dinner
    On June 9, the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (“WBAI”) will begin a new term of office with its 97th Annual Installation Dinner at the Hilton Chicago, located at 720 S. Michigan Avenue in Chicago.  The event begins at 4:00 p.m. with a President’s Reception, followed by cocktails at 5:00 p.m. and a formal dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. The WBAI’s Annual Installation Dinner is one of the largest annual celebrations within the Chicago legal community, with over 700 judges, attorneys, corporate supporters, and prominent leaders attending each year.  Participants and speakers at this year’s Dinner include keynote speaker Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas L. Kilbride, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, and Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.  Incoming WBAI President Deane Beth Brown, a partner in the Chicago law firm of Beermann Swerdlove LLP, will also detail her goals for the 2011-2012 bar year and unveil her mission for the WBAI, “Promoting Women Leaders in the Legal Community.” To receive more information on the WBAI or the Annual Installation Dinner, to become a sponsor of this event, or to purchase an individual ticket, please contact the WBAI office at 312-341-8530 or visit the WBAI website at www.wbaillinois.org.
  • June 2, 2010 | Practice News
    Women's Bar Foundation taking applications for $15,000 public service stipend
    The Women's Bar Foundation (WBF), has announced the availability of applications for the 3rd Annual WBF Public Service Stipend Award. “The escalating cost of a law school education makes it difficult for many new women lawyers to accept employment in the public service arena,” said WBF President Bernadette Barron. “As a not-for-profit organization founded to support women lawyers, the WBF’s Public Service Stipend Award may be used to offset law school debt; thereby reducing the graduate’s overall financial strain. We believe that this is significant.” “The WBF’s 2010 Public Service Stipend Award of $15,000.00 will provide immediate financial support to a recent woman graduate of an Illinois law school who is pursuing a career in public service. One of our key strategic initiatives is to support legal service in the public interest areas,” said President Barron. Candidates are invited to complete and submit an application NO LATER THAN July 6, 2010 to the address below:
    • Bates McIntyre Larson, Esq.
    • Scholarship and Stipend Award Director
    • Women’s Bar Foundation
    • c/o Perkins Coie LLP
    • 131 S. Dearborn Street, Suite 1700
    • Chicago, Illinois 60603-5559.
    For further information on the WBF Public Service Stipend application, see www.womensbarfoundation.org.
  • February 1, 2010 | People
    Women's Bar Foundation elects officers and directors for 2010
    Tthe Members of the Women's Bar Foundation (WBF) recently elected/re-elected as Directors of the Foundation, for three -year terms ending January 2013, the following members of the Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI): Sarah Breitlander, Anne McGovern Burkhart, Karina DeHayes, Dawn M. Gonzales, Bates McIntyre Larson, Susan Schwartz and Tracey Stokes. At the Annual Meeting of the Foundation's Board of Directors, held immediately after the Foundation's Members Meeting, the following individuals were elected as Officers for the year 2010:
    • President - Bernadette Barron
    • Vice President - Shelley DeRousse (Event Co-Chair)
    • Bernadette Freeman (External Affairs)
    • Carol A. Hogan (Fundraising)
    • Bates McIntyre Larson (Scholarships)
    • Catherine Basque Weiler (Event Co-Chair)
    • Secretary - Rosa M. Silva
    • Treasurer - Mary Melchor
    The Women's Bar Foundation was created in 1966, and established as a non-profit organization in 1968, for the purpose of funding scholarships for deserving women law students attending Illinois law schools. For further information on the WBF, see www.womensbarfoundation.org.
  • October 2, 2009 | Events | ISBA News
    E. Lynn Grayson wins WBAI's "Women with Vision" award
    ISBA member E. Lynn Grayson will be presented with a "Women with Vision" award by the Women's Bar Association of Illinois at the 68th Annual Join Professional Reception on Thursday, Nov. 5 at the Hotel Allegro. The event starts at 5 p.m. Grayson was nominated by the ISBA's Women & the Law Committee. Click here to view her bio. Individual tickets for the reception and award presentation are $85 for current members, $100 for non-members and $125 at the door. Contact Eriana Spencer Echols at (312) 341-8530 or e-mail wbai@wbaillinois.org.
  • August 10, 2009 | Events
    WBAI seeks nominees for "Women with Vision" awards
    The Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) is seeking nominations for its 2009 "Women with Vision" Awards. The awards will be presented at the WBAI Joint Professional Dinner, on Thursday, November 5, 2009. The "Women with Vision" Awards were first presented in 1997 by the WBAI to honor and recognize women who have demonstrated visionary approaches in their professional endeavors and who have made a contribution to the well-being and empowerment of women. Nominees may be chosen from various professions, including law, medicine, academics, public office, business/entrepreneur, trades/labor, journalism, community/religious service, etc. WBAI members are invited to apply for or nominate candidates for the "Women with Vision" Awards. Please submit a statement no more than four 81⁄2" by 11" pages, about a candidate's specific qualifications and resume to: Women with Vision Committee, WBAI, 321 S. Plymouth Ct., Suite 4S Chicago, IL 60604. Application statement, resume, which may include press clippings and copies of published articles, must be received by noon on Wednesday, September 16, 2009. Any materials submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. All submitted material will remain the property of the WBAI.