After a hectic few months, Edwardsville trial lawyer Jeffrey S. Hebrank is looking ahead to a year of continuing challenges.

A partner in Hepler, Broom, MacDonald, Hebrank & True, he spent a fair portion of his time this spring in Springfield, advocating for positions of the defense bar in sessions of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees.

And on June 29, he was installed as the 43rd president of the Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel during its annual meeting in Chicago.

A 1982 graduate of the St. Louis University Law School, Hebrank practiced with Walker & Williams in Belleville for five years before a year in the Highland partnership of Hebrank & Williams.

He joined the Hepler firm in 1988, when its name was Burroughs, Simpson, Hepler, Broom & MacDonald. One partner, Gordon R. Brown is a past president of the IADTC.

Hebrank's practice is focused on asbestos and toxic tort litigation, products liability, construction accidents and municipal liability.

“Lady Justice is blindfolded,” he reminds jurors, “so she doesn't know white or black, young or old, rich or poor. The Illinois common law system is based on fairness. Everyone should be treated the same.”

Hebrank personifies the mission of the association, in court and in the legislature, “to preserve the integrity of the common law jury system.”

Other officers of the IADTC include President-elect Gregory L. Cochran of McKenna Storer, Chicago, Vice Presidents Rick Hammond of Chicago and Kenneth F. Werts of Mt. Vernon, and Secretary-Treasurer Anne M. Oldenburg of Chicago.