Practice Areas: Family Law; view more
Licensed in Illinois since: 1985
Education: DePaul University College of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2009 - 2023 Call today:
630-444-0701
Peskind Law Firm
2445 Dean StreetSuite E
St. Charles, IL 60175-4828 Visit website
Details
Attorney Steven Peskind is recognized as one of the top attorneys in the nation. Throughout his career, he has been trusted by politicians, judges, professionals, business owners, and business executives (as well as their spouses) to discretely and professionally represent them in family law matters.
Mr. Peskind brings a high level of expertise and experience to all cases he accepts. His courtroom advocacy skills are unsurpassed; so much so that he is trusted by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy to teach its students, who are also lawyers, how to effectively try divorce cases.
Steven Peskind’s skills have been recognized nationally and internationally. In 2015 the prestigious American College of Family Trial Lawyers elected him as a Diplomate. The American College is limited to the top 100 family law trial lawyers from across the United States. Mr. Peskind is one of only 5 Diplomates located in Illinois and the only Illinois Diplomate whose primary office is outside Chicago. The American College brings together top trial lawyers in America practicing sophisticated and complex family law matters both domestically and abroad. Diplomates, all members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, are chosen based upon their recognized litigation skills and courtroom abilities. Mr. Peskind has also been invited to membership of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, which allows him contacts and resources in the international family law community.
He is also recognized on a statewide level. In 2015, Best Lawyers honored Mr. Peskind by naming him family lawyer of the year in Chicago. The Leading Lawyers Network has designated Mr. Peskind as a Leading Illinois Lawyer since 2003 and Super Lawyers has recognized him as a Super Lawyer since 2008. Peskind Law Firm is rated by US News and World Report as a Tier One Family Law Firm, the highest rating available.
Practice areas
Family LawFocus areas
Adoption, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Dissolution, Divorce, Marital Property, Mediation & Collaborative Law, Paternity, Prenuptial Agreements, Same Sex Family Law
- 100% Family Law
First Admitted: 1985
Professional Webpage: https://www.peskindlaw.com/steven-n-peskind/
Pro bono/Community Service:
- Attorney pro bono advocate for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) 1995 to present
- Copley Memorial Hospital Foundation, (2006-2009)
- United Way Allocations Committee (1990-1992)
- Breaking Free: Not for profit education and treatment of substance abuse. (1987-1990) President of Board 1989-1990
Bar/Professional Activity:
- Member, Advisory Board of the DePaul College of Law Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center, 2008 - Present
- Chair, American Bar Association, Practice Management & Technology Committee of the ABA Section of Family Law, 2008-2010
- Member, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Amicus Curiae Committee, 2010
- Task Force to Review and Recommend Changes to Kane County Custody Rules, Chaired by the Honorable F. Keith Brown, 2004-2005
- Vice-Chair, American Bar Association, Reproductive and Genetic Technology Committee, 2007 – present
- Vice President, Kane County Bar Association, 1996-1998
- Genetics and Human Reproductive Task Force, Illinois State Bar Association, 2005 – present
- Vice Chairman, American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Family Law Section, 1993-1994
- Chair, Kane County Bar Association, Delivery of Legal Services Committee, 1997-1998
- Assembly Delegate, Illinois State Bar Association, 2001-2003
- Member, Amicus Curiae Committee (Illinois Chapter), American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2009-2010
- Co-Developer, Kane County Family Law Mediation Program, Kane County Bar Association
- Fellow, Illinois Bar foundation
- Chair, Reproductive Technology Sub-Committee, Illinois State Bar Association, 2003-2006
- Illinois Family Law Study Committee, created by the Illinois Legislature by HR 1428, which is reviewing the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act and proposing changes to improve Illinois’ divorce and family law
- American Bar Association, Study Committee on Marital and Premarital Agreements
- Member, Rush-Copley Healthcare Foundation Board Member, 2006-2009
- Member, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, 2008-2009
- President, Kane County Bar Association, 1998-1999
- Member, St. Charles Chamber of Commerce
- Member, American Bar Association, Bar Leadership Institute, 1997
- Board Member, Kane County Bar Foundation, 1996-1999
- Assembly Delegate, Illinois State Bar Association, 1990-1994
- Fellow, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2007– present
- Chair, Kane County Bar Association, Family Law Committee, 2001-2002
- Bench/Bar Section Counsel, Illinois State Bar Association, 1992-1994
- Member, AAML journal committee, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2009-2010
- Member, Illinois Appellate Lawyers Association
- Member, Family Law Section Publication Board, American Bar Association, 2009-2010
- Member, Rush-Copley Hospital Medical Ethics Committee, 2007-2009
- Executive Member, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Trial Practice and Techniques Committee, 2008-2009
- Illinois, 1985
- Member, University Club of Chicago
- Executive Counsel, American Bar Association, Family Law Section, Reproductive Technology and Genetics Executive Committee, 2006
- Secretary/Treasurer, Kane County Bar Association, 1995-1996
- Member, Illinois State Bar Association, Family Law Section Counsel 2000- 2006
- Illinois Chapter Board of Managers, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2010-2013
- Chair, Kane County Bar Association, Family Law Committee, 1993-1995
- Member, New Lawyers Division Section Counsel, 1991-1993
- Member, Law Practice Management Committee (National), American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2009-2010
- Co-Developer, "Families First legal Aid Program", Kane County Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association, Faculty, Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute, 2010
Honors/Awards:
- Member, Scribes (American Society of Writers on Legal Subjects) in recognition of excellence in published legal writing , 2005 – present
- Commendations by DePaul College of Law Family Law Center for outstanding contribution to the practice of family law, 2003-2004
- Recognized as “Super Lawyer”, 2008
- Recognized as “Super Lawyer”, 2011
- Awarded the Michael S. Cohen award, by IICLE, for Continuing Commitment and Contribution to Professional Education of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2013
- Best Lawyers 2015 Lawyer of the Year in the Practice Area of Family Law in the Chicago Area, 2015
- Member, Leading Lawyer Network, selected by other lawyers in the State of Illinois as being one of the top 5% of family lawyers in the state, 2003-2010
- Nominated, "Law and Leading Attorney" in the field of IllinoisFamily Law, 1996
- Recognized as “Super Lawyer”, 2009
- Recognized as “Super Lawyer”, 2012
- Chosen as a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers., Fellow, 2016
- Election as one of approximately 2,000 members to the American Law Institute (ALI), 2006–present
- Recognized as one of the Top Family Lawyers in Illinois, Crain’s Business Magazine, April, 2005
- Recognized as “Super Lawyer”, 2013
- Recognized as “Super Lawyer”, 2010
- Recognized as one the “Best Lawyers in America” He is the only lawyer in Kane County, Illinois recognized in the Best Lawyers directory., 2013
- Elected as Diplomate to the American College of Family Trial Lawyer which consists of the top 100 Family Law Trial Lawyers in America., Diplomate for ACFTL, 2016
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Presenter: KIDS program (Kane County Family Court) lectures on divorce and its impact on children
- People's law School (1990, 1992)
- Author: Peskind Family Law Insights Blog ( a weblog on a variety of family law topics) found at: www.PeskindFamilyLawInsights.com
- Author: Surviving the Tsunami, How to Stay High and Dry in Troubled Times. Published by Voices and Views, The Newsletter for the Commission on Women for the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Vol. 13, No 4, Fall, 2008
- Author: Child Custody Litigation Illinois Institute of Legal Education: Investigation and Discovery; (1998, Supplement 2000, 2004, Supplement 2006), and Jurisdiction for Original Custody and Removal of Child from State of Illinois (2006 Edition)
- Co-Author: Of the House Bill ultimately adopted as the Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act (2005 – 2006)
- Author: Regulating non-traditional childbirth-the Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act Illinois State Bar Family Law Journal Vol. 48, No. 2, January, 2005
- Author: Determining the Undeterminable: The Best Interest of the Child Standard as an Imperfect but Necessary Guidepost to Determine Child Custody. Northern Illinois University Law Review, spring, 2005
- Author: The Pendulum has Swung: the Upside-Down World of the Law of Maintenance in Illinois. The Newsletter of the Illinois State Bar Section on Family Law December, 2005
- Author: "Mother Knows Best" Judicial Deference and the Child's Best Interests DuPage County Bar Journal January, 2004
- Author: Who's Your Daddy?: An Analysis of Illinois' Law of Parentage and the Meaning of Parenthood Loyola University Chicago Law Journal Vol. 35 No. 3 Spring, 2004
- Author: Family law Starting points: The Fundamentals of 11 Practice Areas (Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education 1994, 2000, 2004)
- Keynote Speaker: Oklahoma Bar Association Family Law Section, "Redefining the Practice of Family Law" November, 2010
- Eckert Revisited: The Supreme Court's Review of Collingbourne and the Second District Appellate Court's application of the law of removal. Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Newsletter, February, 2003
- Assistant Editor: American Bar Association Family Law Litigation Newsletter 1998-1999
- Speaker: AAML Fall CLE Program Advanced Family Law, "Removal Update after Collingbourne", 2010
- Author, Effective Presentation of a Motion for Temporary Support (ABA Family Law Litigation Newsletter, Spring 1999)
- Speaker: ABA Annual Meeting, San Francisco, California: Hot Tips: Why Blog? Incorporating blogging into a family law practice.
- Speaker: Is it authentic? The Procedure and Foundation for the Admission of Digital Evidence for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Columbus Day Seminar, October, 2011
- Speaker: ABA Family Law Section, Fall meeting, Montreal, Quebec: Reconceptualizing the Practice of Family Law in the 21st Century. (2009)Speaker: ABA Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois: "Hot Tips: Presentation on Law Practice Management", 2009
- Speaker: Is it Authentic? The Procedure and Foundation for the Admission of Digital Evidence, for the Kane County Bar Association Seminar, May, 2012
- Speaker: Law Practice Management during Troubled Financial Times (David Peskind Memorial Family Law Seminar), 2008
- Co-Speaker: Conducting Effective Expert Witness Cross Examination: How to Impress the Judge for the American Bar Association Section of Family Law, Section of Litigation, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division, and the ABA Center for Continuing Legal Education. Co-presented with Attorney Anita Ventrelli, of Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck, June, 2012
- Speaker: Maintenance – How much and How Long? (Gitlin on Divorce Family Law CLE. Divorce Basics presented at an Expert Level by Experts. April), 2008
- Speaker: Evidentiary Foundations and Admitting Social Media, Email and Other Digital Evidence for the Illinois State Bar Association 8TH Annual Solo and Small Firm Conference, Sept , 2012
- Speaker: 10 Things a Divorce Lawyer Needs to Know About Taxation — A Primer. (David Peskind Memorial Family Law Seminar), 2007
- Speaker: Foundations for Electronic Evidence, for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fall CLE Program, October, 2012
- Speaker: Maintenance Roundtable (Kane County Bar Association), 2007
- Co-Speaker: Trial Tactics: How to Make Trials Less Trying, for the Ohio Association of Magistrates (OAM) Fall Conference, October 2012. Co-presented with Attorney Anita Ventrelli, of Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck.
- Speaker: Trends in Maintenance Awards 2000 – 2005 (Kane County Bar Association), 2005
- Co-Speaker: Stafford PowerPoint Webinar, Family Law Evidentiary Issues: Navigating the Rules of Evidence and Ways to Authenticate, Admit and Restrict Admission of Evidence and Testimony in a Divorce Case, November 2012. Co-presented with Attorney Anita Ventrelli, of Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck., 2012
- Speaker: Current Issues in Child Custody Law (Northern Illinois University Law Review Symposium, March), 2005
- Speaker: “Wax On, Wax Off” 10 Principles of Evidence Every Divorce Lawyer Needs to Know for the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) Seminar on Business Valuation, Financial and Tax Issues in Divorce, January, 2013
- Speaker: The Illinois Gestational Surrogacy Act (Illinois State Bar Association), 2004
- Speaker: Objection! 10 Principals of Evidence Every Divorce Lawyer Needs to Know, for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers – Missouri Chapter Biennial Institute, Family Law Symposium, April, 2013
- Speaker: Illinois statutory Basis of Parentage (Kane County Bar Association), 2004
- Author, Divorce in Illinois, 2014
- Speaker: The implications of In re Marriage of Collingbourne of child removal cases in Illinois (Kane County Bar Association), 2003
- Moderator: "Dividing Retirement Plans in Divorce" (Kane County Bar Association), 2002
- Moderator: Calculation of Child Support and Maintenance in Family Law Cases (Kane County Bar Association), 2001
- Speaker: Speech to newly admitted Illinois Attorneys at swearing in ceremony, Elgin, Illinois, May, 1999
- Speaker: Discoverability of Mental Health Records (Kane County Bar Association, 1998
- Speaker: Extraordinary Family Law Remedies (Kane county Bar Association), 1992
- Speaker: Hearsay in family law cases (Kane County Bar Association), 1993
- Speaker: Contempt Proceedings (Kane county Bar Association), 1994
Educational Background:
- Graduate, West Aurora High School, 1978
- Tulane University, B.A., 1982
Office location for Steven N. Peskind
2445 Dean Street
Suite E
St. Charles, IL 60175-4828
Phone: 630-444-0701
Selections
15 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2009 - 2023
