2024 Awardees
Honorable William B. Sullivan
Court of Honor
Honorable William B. Sullivan
Court of Honor Award
Jim Covington
Partner Award
Jim Covington
Partner Award
Peter Sellke
Partner Award
Peter Sellke
Partner Award
Thousands of homeowners and tenants across Illinois have saved their homes during the last decade thanks to the programs conceived, organized, and directed by Peter Selke, Director of Strategic Initiatives with the Illinois Housing Development Authority. From the Hardest Hit Fund, launched in 2010 in the wake of the subprime mortgage crisis, to the Illinois Homeowner Assistance Fund, launched in 2022 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, to the Court-Based Rental Assistance Program, which is still giving out grants to tenants and landlords in eviction courts across the state, Peter keeps the programs running and the grant money flowing. When his staff encounter an application issue they can’t solve, it is often Peter who wades into the details and comes up with a solution. Pro bono and legal aid attorneys across the state know that if they need clarity about a program, Peter will not only know or find the answer, but he will take their question directly, whether it’s a personal email or asked during one of the many weekly meetings that he holds with advocates and housing providers. In all interactions, Peter strives to get homeowners and tenants grant funds that will keep them housed. CVLS staff and volunteers are grateful for Peter and IHDA’s partnership over the years and look forward to continuing our joint efforts to preserve and protect housing.
Mary Anne Smith
Lifetime Achievement
Mary Anne Smith
Lifetime Achievement
Mary Anne began volunteering at CVLS’ Loop Legal Clinic in 1978. Ten years later, she founded the Visitation Church Legal Clinic in Englewood. In 2016 the clinic moved to the South Loop to become the Old St. Mary’s Legal Clinic. During those 35 years, Mary Anne has served as the Clinic Chair, attending every clinic session, and working closely with her cadre of loyal volunteers. She made her clinic sessions fun for her volunteers, usually providing donuts or brownies and time to chat. But once they buckled down to work, they got it done—helping hundreds of low-income people from the community resolve a wide variety of legal issues, from simple to complex. Throughout these years, Mary Anne also took her own cases despite her Clinic Chair obligations and her demanding job as General Counsel of IIT. In addition, she also served on CVLS’ Board of Directors from 1985 to 1991, including one year as Board President. During her tenure, she drafted and oversaw passage of a comprehensive overhaul of CVLS’ bylaws.
Mary Anne is the epitome of a pro bono attorney, quietly working year in and year out to resolve the legal issues of people who need her help. She never wanted recognition or special accolades, all she wanted was to have the correct number of clients and volunteers at any given clinic session. As long as her clinic went well, she was happy. She deserves her retirement from pro bono, but she will be missed.
2024 Honor Roll Inductees
Every year CVLS honors volunteers who have distinguished themselves in providing pro bono services to low-income clients. These volunteers exemplify Chicago Pro Bono.
Jeffrey A. Kriezelman
AILA
Jeffrey A. Kriezelman
AILA
Recently retired founding member of Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC, Jeff Kriezelman remains Of-Counsel with his firm and an active pro bono attorney. One of the most respected immigration attorneys in the Chicago area with more than 40 years of experience practicing immigration law, Jeff is well-known for his commitment to community service. He’s donated countless time and expertise through non-profit organizations, including CVLS, providing pro bono representation to those with no means to retain a private attorney. In 2022, he responded to a call for help screening complex immigration cases for the AILA/CVLS Immigration Clinic. Early this year, he graciously offered to mentor an attorney who has taken a pro bono asylum case, ensuring that a young man from Honduras is represented when he appears in Chicago’s Immigration Court.
Helena Loza
Amicus Poloniae
Helena Loza
Amicus Polonie
Helena has been raised in the household of Polish immigrants in Arlington Heights, where she currently attends John Hersey High School. From an early age she showed deep interest in social and legal issues. She started volunteering at Amicus Poloniae, mostly as an interpreter, at the beginning of high school and has not missed even one session over the last 3 years. During that time, Helena has demonstrated a deep commitment to helping those in need. She hopes that her drive and dedication will lead her to a career in law.
Leo M. Hill
BMO
Nikki Massouras
HEL.Las
Selwyn M. Skevin
JUF Evelyn R. Greene Legal Service
Selwyn M. Skevin
JUF / JCLS Community Legal Services
Selwyn has been a valued member of the JUF Evelyn R. Greene Legal Services program since its early days at the JUF, when he brought his enthusiasm for helping those in the community with family and foreclosure issues. An added and incredibly significant gift he brought is the ability to speak Russian to our many clients from the former USSR. All this with a natural sensitivity and humor. Giving back to the community has always been of supreme importance to Selwyn. Whether it is as a volunteer attorney or volunteering at JUF’s Uptown Cafe, which is a kosher anti-hunger program for the needy. He has written heartfelt missives to attorneys to encourage them to volunteer for our program. If the world needs repairing in some fashion, Selwyn will brainstorm some way to solve the problem. His keen ability to quickly research and assess issues caught the attention of leadership at the program and he was tapped to be the vice chair, then chair and he currently is ending his role as emeritus chair of the JUF program. Our favorite punster, mundane meetings are elevated by his sharp wit and levity. Selwyn is a unique blend of skilled problem solver and compassionate advisor to clients and staff alike.
Kendra Fogarty
In-House Panel
Kendra Fogarty
In-House Panel
A new CVLS volunteer, Kendra accepted a challenging and complex estate planning case. From the very beginning, she was committed to creating an estate plan that fit the unique needs of her client, carefully creating estate planning documents that left no room for interpretation. Sadly, the client died shortly after executing the documents. Kendra handled the aftermath brilliantly, ensuring that her client’s wishes were followed. Kendra continues to share her superior estate planning knowledge as a CVLS volunteer.
Kelly Hancock
In-House Panel
Kelly Hancock
In-House Panel
Kelly started her CVLS journey at CVLS in 2022, taking her first probate case for a client facing foreclosure. Kelly opened a decedent’s estate for the woman which allowed her to work with the lender on the foreclosure and save the family home. Since then, Kelly has helped other CVLS clients with a variety of issues from an adult adoption to helping a US veteran obtain a legal name change. Recently, Kelly has expanded her volunteering to include CVLS’ Probate Court Appointment Program (PCAP). CVLS is thankful for Kelly’s continuous support of Chicago families in need.
Robin Evans
SIJS
Robin Evans
SIJS
Robin Evans, an Associate at Katten, focuses her practice on insolvency and restructuring. In her scant free time, she is a powerhouse volunteer for both CVLS and the NIJC on our Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) programs. Robin is a go-to attorney for urgent SIJS cases, as she is always able to move quickly and efficiently to help immigrant youth obtain this life-changing benefit before they age out of eligibility. Robin has accepted numerous cases in collar counties, navigating on her own unfamiliar clerks’ offices, courthouses, and procedures to get the job done.
Bill Roberts
GAL for Minors
Sara Shanti
GAL for Minors
Sara Shanti
GAL for Minors
Sara Shanti has handled numerous GAL cases, advocating for a child’s best interest through CVLS’ Minor GAL program. Sara is always willing to take cases, no matter how complex the matter, tight the deadline or difficult the family conflict. Sara is known at CVLS for representing teenagers in challenging home environments who often have behavioral concerns. Sara meets with the minors and builds a bond with them. She becomes not only their advocate, but their confidant. She has always been willing to go above and beyond to make sure the minors she represents are safe, healthy and heard. Sara’s kindness radiates from her, making her a favorite among minors, CVLS staff, and the court.
Nusra Ismail
GAL for Minors
Nusra Ismail
GAL for Minors
Nusra is an Associate in Vedder Price’s Litigation practice area and a member of the firm’s Government Investigations and White Collar defense team. Over the past five years, Nusra has expertly handled or supervised more than a dozen Minor GAL cases, many of which were complicated, bitterly contested, and challenging. When CVLS needs help, Nusra is one of our go-to volunteers, and has been instrumental in establishing and mentoring a core team of CVLS GALs at Vedder. Nusra puts her heart into her cases, truly giving them the same time and attention she would give any other matter, treating each family’s unique situation with a thoughtful, empathetic, neutral, and kind approach.
Robert J. Hovey
Adult GAL
Robert J. Hovey
Adult GAL Program
Bob took his first case with CVLS in 2017 in the Adult GAL program and has continued to take 16 adult GAL cases since. Bob and I first met via telephone to chat about the case of Est of K.L, which was being transferred out of Cook to Will County. We discussed some procedural details of his case first and then he offered to help me on two of my own transfer cases! Bob routinely checks in and I really enjoy our practice conversations. In addition to Adult GAL cases, Bob took a post-adjudication annual report on ward case and most recently he reached out to take a PCAP case. Bob is dedicated, sincere, and conscientious, and it is an understatement to say he is an asset to CVLS.
Ashley Reed
Adult GAL Program
Ashley Reed
Adult GAL Program
Ashley has taken nine cases with CVLS’s Adult GAL Program since August 2022 (less than two years) and that is just a portion of all the cases she’s volunteered on with CVLS. I first “met” Ashley via email when I reached out to ask her if she was available to take one case by offering her two option and she immediately agreed to take both! She also informed that she would be petitioning for GAL fees for CVLS on her Estate of E.J. case. Later, when I saw the award, it was clear she had spent many, many hours on the case that become complex and required lots of negotiations. Some of our cases can become complex, and we are grateful for Ashley’s experience and determination.
Renata Seward
Adult GAL Program
Renata Seward
Adult GAL Program
I met Renata when we both appeared before Judge Outlaw on two separate matters via Zoom. Renata had been volunteering on a CVLS post-adjudication case of Estate of E.A., but this is just one of 19 cases Renata has volunteered on at CVLS since she became a volunteer in 2009. She has taken cases in family law, decedent’s estates, mortgage foreclosure, torts, SSI, and most recently eight Adult GAL cases. Renata is one of a handful of bilingual Polish-English speaking attorneys in working in Probate Division, and she is often tapped to take pro bono cases with Polish-speaking parties. Renata and her husband Edward run a storefront firm, yet she still gives so much of her time to CVLS! Renata brings a lot of compassion and thoughtfulness to her cases.
Colleen Breems
Child Rep
Colleen Breems
Child Rep
Colleen is an award-winning partner at Beermann LLP and the co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section Family Law Committee. She has been a volunteer with Chicago Volunteer Legal Services since 2017 and has focused her private practice and pro bono work exclusively in the area of family law. In addition to having volunteered on over a dozen Minor GAL cases, Colleen has been a force in the Child Rep Program for the last seven years, often taking some of our most complex and contentious cases. Already a member of the Domestic Relations Division’s paid Child Rep list, Colleen continues to volunteer with CVLS and has an active pro bono caseload.
Zachary Hunsinger
Child Rep
Zachary Hunsinger
Child Rep
Zach has been a volunteer with CVLS since 2014 and has taken pro bono cases in the areas of adoption and probate law, but his primary focus at CVLS has been representing children. He has dedicated his private and pro bono careers to supporting low-income families, leaning on his dual J.D. and social work backgrounds to effectively communicate with clients and parties in contested cases. A busy solo practitioner as well as a Senior Director at Safer Foundation, we are thankful for Zach’s commitment to advocating for children in domestic relations matters.
Jackie Zarack Koriath
Chancery Appointment Program
Jackie Zarack Koriath
Chancery Appointment Program
CVLS’s Chancery Appointment Program is just one of the many beneficiaries of the wisdom, tenacity, and passion that volunteer Jackie Zarack Koriath brings to her advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence. As Director of Housing Advocacy at The Network, Jackie lends her talents and expertise to legal aid advocates across the state when they encounter complex legal and policy questions about the housing rights of survivors. But when CVLS approached Jackie about taking over a complex litigation in federal court, she went beyond her usual adviser role and took on a challenge uniquely suited to, but also particularly demanding of, her prodigious abilities. CVLS thanks Jackie for her individual and ongoing efforts to protect and preserve housing for some of Illinois’ most vulnerable residents.
Joyce Wixson
Chancery Appointment Program
Joyce Wixson
Chancery Appointment Program
Generosity, compassion, a wealth of knowledge, and endless support for CVLS are a few words to describe Joyce Wixson. Joyce has been a long-time volunteer and supporter of CVLS going back as far as 2011. Joyce is a pleasure to work with, works tirelessly, and is always there for our clients, especially ones facing unexpected hardships prolonging the need for legal representation. Even when a seemingly simple case gets complicated, Joyce never gives up and gets positive results for our clients. Joyce volunteered countless hours with CVLS to help save our clients' homes from foreclosure. CVLS staff and CVLS clients are forever grateful for Joyce’s unwavering support.